After clocking up more than 20 hours driving around the North Island over the last few weeks, the idea of cruising scenic roads of the United States doesn't seem that appealing. But in a souped-up 1967 Shelby GT500? Give me the keys.
It's the same old story: you're framed for your brother's murder and sent away to prison for a very long time only to be let out a few years later by an FBI agent. The deal is you have to work undercover and infiltrate the 510 Crew, a gang grown around Detroit's illegal street-racing scene, bringing down the men who killed your brother. It helps that your character is a very good driver.
You slowly gain a reputation and sabotage 510 Crew's plans in the process. It's all very Fast and the Furious, minus the bad acting.
With challenges and tasks ranging from smuggling goods to street racing you slowly impress the Crew and work your way through several cities around the states, with many actual roads to drive and fellow online drivers to form a crew with or race against.
The map is huge, including Detroit, Seattle, New York City, Las Vegas and Miami, and thankfully you don't have to drive it all, with the nifty option to transport you straight to your destination. That would have been handy during my seven hour journey from Napier to Auckland in post-Christmas traffic.
