History VideoGame / NeedForSpeedRivals

''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between Creator/GhostGames and Creator/CriterionGames, and published by Creator/ElectronicArts. The twentieth installment in the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series, it is the debut title for Ghost Games, who would establish itself as the primary developer of the series for all subsequent non-mobile installments up until 2020, during the entire [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames eighth generation]]. The game was released for Platform/MicrosoftWindows, Platform/PlayStation3, Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/Xbox360, and Platform/XboxOne in November 2013, and is the final ''Need for Speed'' game for both the [=PlayStation=] 3 and the Xbox 360.

''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between Creator/GhostGames and Creator/CriterionGames, and published by Creator/ElectronicArts. The twentieth installment in the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series, it is the debut title for Ghost Games, who would establish itself as the primary developer of the series for all subsequent non-mobile installments up until 2020, during the entire [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames eighth generation]]. The game was released for UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in November 2013, and is the final ''Need for Speed'' game for both the [=PlayStation=] 3 and the Xbox 360.

* MinimalistCat: ''Rivals'' only features 2 characters; Zephyr and F-8. Unless you also count Officer John [=McManis=].

Players take on the role of a Racer or Cop, with each side of the law offering its own play style. If the player chooses to start as a racer, they take on the role of a street racer who eventually becomes the best racer in Redview County, under the nickname of Zephyr. If the player chooses to start as a cop, they take on the role of a newly initiated police officer.

* CallBack: Many of the VanityLicensePlate designs are for locations from previous games, including Olympic City (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnderground Underground]]''), Bayview (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnderground Underground 2]]''), Rockport (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'' 2005 and ''World''), Palmont City (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedCarbon Carbon]]'' and ''World''), Tri-City Bay (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUndercover Undercover''), Seacrest County (''Hot Pursuit'' 2010), and Fairhaven City (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted2012 Most Wanted]]'' [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted2012 2012]]). They have been reused for all subsequent titles beginning from the Showcase Update of [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeed2015 the 2015 reboot]].

''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between Creator/GhostGames and Creator/CriterionGames, and published by Creator/ElectronicArts. The twentieth installment in the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series, it is the debut title for Ghost Games, who would establish itself as the primary developer of the series for all subsequent non-mobile installments up until 2020, during the entire [[UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames eighth generation]]. The game was released for UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/Xbox360 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in November 2013, and is the final ''Need for Speed'' game for both the [=PlayStation=] 3 and the Xbox 360.

The Racers of Redview Country have become more public in their criminal acts, and have become more dangerous, committing more acts of damage to property as they wreak havoc on the streets. The Redview County Police Department (RCPD) respond by increasing their punitive measures and attempts to bust Racers and bring them to justice, resulting in public backlash. Later on, an officer named John [=McManis=] is injured as a result of attempting to keep up with the Racers. Public outcry swings back in support of [=McManis=] and the RCPD, and the officer swears revenge on racers. However, further increase in police intimidation and accusations of "excessive force" results in the officer being placed under probationary suspension, with the FBI Vehicle Response Team (VRT) being brought in as replacements. Zephyr continues to evade justice and continues to race despite the new tougher law enforcement.

* BrokenBridge: The game does this at the beginning of the game during the tutorial missions. After those are completed however, the whole of Redview County can be accessed.
* TheBusCameBack: Ferrari cars. In perhaps the biggest example across the ''Need for Speed'' franchise, after appearing in all but ''Porsche Unleashed'' in the First Era, due to licensing issues, Ferrari missed the entire Second Era, and appeared only as a console-exclusive [[DownloadableContent DLC]] pack in ''Shift'' before returning in full force in this game.
* CallBack: Many of the VanityLicensePlate designs are for locations from previous games, including Olympic City (''Underground''), Bayview (''Underground 2''), Rockport (''Most Wanted'' 2005 and ''World''), Palmont City (''Carbon'' and ''World''), Tri-City Bay (''Undercover''), Seacrest County (''Hot Pursuit'' 2010), and Fairhaven City (''Most Wanted'' 2012). They have been reused by Ghost Games for all subsequent titles beginning from the Showcase Update of the 2015 reboot.

[[JustForFun/TheOneWith The one]] where ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'' gains a plot annd becomes an open-world BloodSport.

[[JustForFun/TheOneWith The one]] where ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'' becomes an open-world BloodSport.\\\

[[JustForFun/TheOneWith The one]] where ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit Hot Pursuit]]'' becomes a BloodSport.\\\

* MeaninglessVillainVictory: VillainProtagonist example: The ending of cop career reveals that RabidCop F-8 got fired for [[DrivesLikeCrazy his reckless actions]] and [[PoliceBrutality excessive force]],
[[TheBadGuyWins despite having managed to take down Zephyr]].

* FaceHeelTurn: The VillainProtagonist RabidCop "F-8", [[NearVillainVictory after having nearly-killed "Zephyr"]] [[TheBadGuyWins and took down many other racers]], [[PyrrhicVictory got expelled from Police for use]] [[PoliceBrutality excesive brutality]] as it's implied [[AlasPoorVillain "Zephyr" was dead because of him]]. Then, "F-8" reappears again [[HeWhoFightsMonsters taking the place of "Zephyr" as the new top racer in Redview County]]. Given that "F-8" was already a villainous RabidCop in the first place, that would be more of a Heel–Heel Turn.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: [[spoiler:[[TheBadGuyWins How F-8's police career]] [[PyrrhicVictory ends]], though only in terms of cutscenes as [[KarmaHoudini you're still on the force post-story]].]]
* TheMostWanted: The game is about racers and cops in which you have to choose a side. If you're a racer, you compete to become the most wanted and get famous. On the other hand, if you're a cop, you've to chase racers until you get with the top racer, the most wanted on the police list, and receive the help of the FBI [[spoiler:even when your character becomes a RabidCop and eventually [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming in what]] [[PyrrhicVictory you tried to stop]].]]

* PoliceBrutality: F-8 starts out as a RabidCop, but his increasingly brutal ways result in [[PyrrhicVictory him being fired at the end of]] [[YouBastard the cop career]].

* PyrrhicVictory: VillainProtagonist example: The ending of cop career reveals that RabidCop F-8 got fired for [[DrivesLikeCrazy his reckless actions]] and [[PoliceBrutality excessive force]], [[TheBadGuyWins despite having managed to take down Zephyr]].

* FaceHeelTurn: The VillainProtagonist RabidCop "F-8", [[NearVillainVictory after having nearly-killed "Zephyr"]] [[TheBadGuyWins and took down many other racers]], [[PyrrhicVillainy got expelled from Police for use]] [[PoliceBrutality excesive brutality]] as it's implied [[AlasPoorVillain "Zephyr" was dead because of him]]. Then, "F-8" reappears again [[HeWhoFightsMonsters taking the place of "Zephyr" as the new top racer in Redview County]]. Given that "F-8" was already a villainous RabidCop in the first place, that would be more of a Heel–Heel Turn.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: [[spoiler:[[TheBadGuyWins How F-8's police career]] [[PyrrhicVillainy ends]], though only in terms of cutscenes as [[KarmaHoudini you're still on the force post-story]].]]
* TheMostWanted: The game is about racers and cops in which you have to choose a side. If you're a racer, you compete to become the most wanted and get famous. On the other hand, if you're a cop, you've to chase racers until you get with the top racer, the most wanted on the police list, and receive the help of the FBI [[spoiler:even when your character becomes a RabidCop and eventually [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming in what]] [[PyrrhicVillainy you tried to stop]].]]

* PoliceBrutality: F-8 starts out as a RabidCop, but his increasingly brutal ways result in [[PyrrhicVillainy him being fired at the end of]] [[YouBastard the cop career]].

* PyrrhicVillainy: VillainProtagonist example: The ending of cop career reveals that RabidCop F-8 got fired for [[DrivesLikeCrazy his reckless actions]] and [[PoliceBrutality excessive force]], [[TheBadGuyWins despite having managed to take down Zephyr]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: This is basically the open-world version of ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit'' (2010).

* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: These two ''Rivals'' conceal their true identity under their alias; Zephyr and F-8.

* WideOpenSandbox: Unlike ''Hot Pursuit'' (2010), players actually drive around this game's county to do races and pursuits. Players can also do billboard jumps and speed traps like in ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted'' (2012), as well as speed zones like in ''VideoGame/{{Forza}} Horizon''.

* BrokenBridge: ''Rivals'' does this at the beginning of the game during the tutorial missions. After those are completed however, the whole of Redview County can be accessed.

* FaceHeelTurn: In ''Rivals'' the VillainProtagonist RabidCop "F-8", [[NearVillainVictory after having nearly-killed "Zephyr"]] [[TheBadGuyWins and took down many other racers]], [[PyrrhicVillainy got expelled from Police for use]] [[PoliceBrutality excesive brutality]] as it's implied [[AlasPoorVillain "Zephyr" was dead because of him]]. Then, "F-8" reappears again [[HeWhoFightsMonsters taking the place of "Zephyr" as the new top racer in Redview County]]. Given that "F-8" was already a villainous RabidCop in the first place, that would be more of a Heel–Heel Turn.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: In ''Rivals'', the Racers are technically breaking the law, are doing property damage up in the hundred-thousands of dollars, and have even almost killed a cop, but [[AnarchyIsChaos they're doing this]] because they feel the RCPD is turning Redview into a PoliceState. The RCPD is also shown as morally grey, as [[PoliceBrutality they are not above using below-the-belt tactics]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist to curb the criminal activity in the county and]] [[VillainWithGoodPublicity keep their citizens safe and sound.]]
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: [[spoiler:[[TheBadGuyWins How F-8's police career]] [[PyrrhicVillainy ends in]] ''Rivals'', though only in terms of cutscenes as [[KarmaHoudini you're still on the force post-story]].]]
* TheMostWanted: ''Rivals'' is about racers and cops in which you have to choose a side. If you're a racer, you compete to become the most wanted and get famous. On the other hand, if you're a cop, you've to chase racers until you get with the top racer, the most wanted on the police list, and receive the help of the FBI [[spoiler:even when your character becomes a RabidCop and eventually [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming in what]] [[PyrrhicVillainy you tried to stop]].]]
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[spoiler:Zephyr in ''Rivals'' finishes his last event in a high-speed collision with a police roadblock. He seems to have been critically wounded, [[NotQuiteDead but then his car's engine starts...]]]]
* OrderVersusChaos: ''Rivals'' mostly tends to boil down as an EvilVersusEvil example, with the notorious RCPD representing [[VillainWithGoodPublicity order]] and the illegal street racers representing [[AnarchyIsChaos chaos]].
* OutsideTheBoxTactic: Starting a Hot Pursuit event as a Cop in ''Rivals'' forces a shortcut scene where the racers speed on by before you're allowed to drive and catch up to them... However, if you take the time to block the entire road off with spike strips, the racers will pass over them in that same scene, losing their tires and taking damage like normal, making the event much easier. Demonstrated [[https://youtu.be/OqIQWq36uGs?t=6m21s here]].
* PoliceBrutality: F-8 starts out as a RabidCop, but his increasingly brutal ways result in [[PyrrhicVillainy him being fired at the end of]] [[YouBastard the cop career]] in ''Rivals''.

* VanityLicensePlate: ''Rivals'' allows players to change the actual plate designs. Said designs [[CallBack show locations of past games in the series]]. They would be reused for all of Ghost Games's later entries.
* VillainProtagonist: [[EvilVersusEvil Both Zephyr and]] [[RabidCop F-8]] from ''Rivals''. [[spoiler:Especially F-8, who is so vile as an officer that RCPD kicked him out after the cop career story]].
* WeaponizedCar: ''Rivals'' takes the concept of pursuit weapons like [=EMPs=] and spike strip cannons introduced in ''Hot Pursuit'' (2010) further with its Pursuit Tech system. All six weapons from 2010 make a return (spike strips are Cop-only this time around), alongside electrostatic fields (allowing both sides to block EMP lock and zap anything that touches them), omnidirectional pulses for racers and forward pulses for cops, and stun mines for racers.

[[caption-width-right:350:You... are my Rival.]]

''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between Creator/GhostGames and Creator/CriterionGames, and published by Creator/ElectronicArts. The twentieth installment in the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series, it is the debut title for Ghost Games, who would establish itself as the primary developer of the series for all subsequent non-mobile installments up until 2020, during the entire UsefulNotes/EighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. The game was released for UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/Xbox360 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in November 2013, and is the final ''Need for Speed'' game for both the [=PlayStation=] 3 and the Xbox 360.

''Need for Speed Rivals'' is a 2013 racing video game developed in collaboration between Creator/GhostGames and Creator/CriterionGames, and published by Creator/ElectronicArts. The twentieth installment in the ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series, it is the debut title for Ghost Games, who would establish itself as the primary developer of the series for all subsequent non-mobile installments up until 2020. The game was released for UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/Xbox360 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in November 2013, and is the final ''Need for Speed'' game for both the [=PlayStation=] 3 and the Xbox 360.

The Racers of Redview Country have become more public in their criminal acts, and have become more dangerous, committing more acts of damage of property as they wreak havoc on the streets. The Redview County Police Department (RCPD) respond by increasing their punitive measures and attempts to bust Racers and bring them to justice, resulting in public backlash. Later on, an officer named John [=McManis=] is injured as a result of attempting to keep up with the Racers. Public outcry swings back in support of [=McManis=] and the RCPD, and the officer swears revenge on racers. However, further increase in police intimidation and accusations of "excessive force" results in the officer being placed under probationary suspension, with the FBI Vehicle Response Team (VRT) being brought in as replacements. Zephyr continues to evade justice and continues to race despite the new tougher law enforcement.

As a result of Zephyr's actions with the Agera, the mayor of Redview County puts all police back on active duty, as well as keeping the VRT. F-8 gives up his vigilante persona, receiving an invitation to join the VRT instead of returning to regular duty. The increase in police activity, as well as civil unrest due to claims of police brutality while busting racers, causes Zephyr to openly challenge F-8 and the rest of the RCPD, claiming they are the ones who cause the damage in the community and that it would be better if the Racers were allowed to race unimpeded. From here, the ending splits into two, depending on whether the player took the role of a Racer of a Cop.

* BalanceSpeedStrengthTrio: In the Cop storyline, you can choose every mission by choosing one of the three kind of police vehicles: Patrol, Enforcer and Undercover. The former has the highest acceleration, the middle has more strength and durability, and the latter has the max control, being these three cars the speed (Patrol), the strength (Enforcer) and the balance (Undercover).

* TheBusCameBack: Ferrari cars. In perhaps the biggest example across the ''Need for Speed'' franchise, after appearing in all but ''Porsche Unleashed'' in the First Era, due to licensing issues, Ferrari missed the entire Second Era, and appeared only as a console-exclusive [[DownloadableContent DLC]] pack in ''Shift'', before returning full force in this game.

* TheMostWanted: ''Rivals'' is about racers and cops in which you've to choose a side. If you're a racer, you compete to become the most wanted and get famous. On the other hand, if you're a cop, you've to chase racers until you get with the top racer, the most wanted on the police list, and receiving help of the FBI [[spoiler:even when your character becomes a RabidCop and eventually [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming in what]] [[PyrrhicVillainy you tried to stop]].]]

* OutsideTheBoxTactic: Starting a Hot Pursuit event as a Cop in ''Rivals'' forces a short cut scene where the racers speed on by before you're allowed to drive and catch up to them... However, if you take the time to block the entire road off with spike strips, the racers will pass over them in that same scene, losing their tires and taking damage like normal, making the event much easier. Demonstrated [[https://youtu.be/OqIQWq36uGs?t=6m21s here]].

* ProductPlacement: The Ford Motor Company is ''everywhere'' in the game (to SigilSpam levels); there is a racer hideout with the Ford logo on the walls as well as advertisements for the Mustang to the left and right of it, three of the game's twenty-five [[CosmeticAward achievements]] are tied to Ford cars, the Mustang from the then-unreleased [[Film/NeedForSpeed2014 film]] is one of Zephyr's vehicles, and the first DLC car added to the game was the 2015 Ford Mustang via a free update.
* PyrrhicVillainy: VillainProtagonist example: The ending of cop career reveals that RabidCop F-8 got fired for [[DrivesLikeCrazy his reckless actions]] and [[PoliceBrutality excessive force]], [[TheBadGuyWins despite have managed taking down Zephyr]].