Need For Speed: Apocalypse

Need For Speed: Apocalypse is a racing video game developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on April 20, 2013 as the twentieth installment in the Need For Speed franchise, succeeding Most Wanted 2 and preceding Rivals. The game was available for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, and Wii U. Its title implies that it is a post-apocalyptic-inspired take on Need For Speed, further indicated by the post-apocalyptic scenery on all the courses on the game. It is also the first game in the series since Hot Pursuit 2 to feature arcade-style races while still maintaining elements from later installments as well.

## **Gameplay**

The following game modes are featured in Need For Speed: Apocalypse:

* **Test Drive Mode:** Test drive mode allows the player to take one of the available cars out for a drive. This one differs compared to the test drive mode featured in Need For Speed: High Stakes. For one thing, this test drive mode lets the player go around the course as many times as they want instead of just one lap. The player can also turn around and go the opposite direction without getting a "wrong way" message. In addition, police chases are added to this in the event the player is caught speeding. The event ends with either the player exiting or being busted by the police. The only thing that remains the same as the High Stakes test drive mode is the inclusion of traffic.
* **Single Race Mode:** In single race mode, the player is pitted against opponents with similar cars as what they're driving. Here, the player can select the course they want to race on, time of day, weather conditions, direction, number of opponents, and number of laps. Like in test drive mode, traffic and police are still present. While single race mode can be used for practice, it does not grant the player any rewards.
* **Career Mode:** Here, the player competes in races that grants them prize money, unlocks new cars, upgrades, and customization options for purchase as well as new courses to race on. Unlike other career modes in the Need For Speed series, this one is based on player levels and series of races, which is the same thing as what Electronic Arts's Real Racing 3 mobile game has. The player earns more money when they reach each level and complete each series. Police and traffic play a role in this game mode as well.
* **Hot Pursuit Mode:** Hot pursuit mode returns for Need For Speed: Apocalypse, and as usual, the player can play as either a racer or the police. Like career mode, this mode grants the player rewards when they have either escaped from the police in ten consecutive races as a racer or arrested ten racers in a row as the police. Doing so unlocks new police cars the player can pursue racers with.
* **Head-To-Head Mode:** Head-to-head mode puts the player in a two-lap race against another racer on a course of the player's choosing.
* **Drag Race Mode:** Drag race mode puts the player in three drag races in a row on a quarter-mile-sized straightaway against another racer. This game mode can be used to test acceleration of new or upgraded cars.
* **Knockout Mode:** Knockout mode puts the player in a race with a full grid of opponents where the last racer to cross the finish line on each lap is eliminated. This continues until there is only one racer left.
* **Timer Mode:** Similar to knockout mode, timer mode pits the player against a whole grid of opponents. The racer that is in last place is eliminated every thirty seconds. This goes on until the racer that is in first place remains.
* **Endurance Mode:** In endurance mode, there is a certain distance the player must go on a course. They must either meet that said distance or go an even further distance than that before time runs out. The racer that manages to do this wins.
* **Time Trial Mode:** In time trial mode, the player must beat the best time set by the racer with the quickest lap around a course. The racer with the quickest lap wins.
* **Speed Trap Mode:** The player must meet or surpass the highest trap speed set at a certain location on a course. The racer with the highest speed wins.

## Cars

The cars that are available for purchase and customization in Need For Speed: Apocalypse consist of various sports cars, supercars, hypercars, grand tourers, luxury cars, hot hatches, convertibles, and concept cars from the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy, and other countries. They include the following:\*

55. Hennessey Venom GT (2012)
56. Honda Civic Type R (2010)
57. Honda S2000 (2006)
58. Hyundai Genesis Coupe
59. Infiniti G37
60. Jaguar C-X75
61. Jaguar XFR (2009)
62. Jaguar XKR-S (2012)
63. Koenigsegg Agera
64. Koenigsegg CCX
65. Lamborghini Egoista
66. Lamborghini Estoque
67. Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
68. Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV
69. Lamborghini Reventon
70. Lexus IS F (2008)
71. Lexus LFA
72. Lotus Elise
73. Lotus Europa S
74. Lotus Evora S
75. Lotus Exige S
76. Marussia B2
77. Maserati GranTurismo (2012)
78. Maserati MC12
79. Mazda Furai
80. Mazda MX-5 Miata (2009)
81. Mazda RX-8
82. McLaren MP4-12C
83. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series
84. Mercedes-Benz CLK500
85. Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG (2012)
86. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (2012)
87. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG (2013)
88. Mercedes-Benz SLK350
89. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
90. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
91. Mini Cooper S (2008)
92. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (2008)
93. Morgan AeroMax
94. Nissan 370Z
95. Nissan GT-R (2012)
96. Pagani Zonda Tricolore
97. Pontiac GTO (2005)
98. Pontiac Solstice GXP
99. Porsche 911 GT2 RS (997)
100. Porsche Boxster S (2010)
101. Porsche Carrera GT
102. Porsche Cayman R
103. Porsche Panamera Turbo S (2011)
104. Renault Megane RS
105. Rolls-Royce Wraith
106. Saleen S7
107. Scion FR-S
108. SSC Ultimate Aero
109. Subaru WRX STi Hatchback (2010)
110. Tesla Roadster (2006)
111. TVR Typhon
112. Volkswagen Golf R (2012)
113. Volkswagen Scirocco R (2010)

\*All of the cars have police variants in hot pursuit mode.

## Customization/Upgrades

Customization options include the following:

* Color
* Grille
* Front bumper
* Rear bumper
* Front splitter
* Rear spoiler
* Hoods
* Headlights
* Taillights
* Neon lights
* Rims
* Tires
* Exhaust
* Ride height
* Window tints
* Vinyls
* Driver (a first in the Need For Speed series)
* Interior (also a first in the Need For Speed series)
* Convertible (BMW Z4 M, Cadillac XLR-V, Chrysler Crossfire SRT6, Ferrari California, Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, Mercedes-Benz SLK350, Pontiac Solstice GXP, Porsche Boxster S, and Tesla Roadster only)

Upgrades are level-based. The higher the level, the better the car performs. There are five levels of upgrades total, each one costing more than the previous and the cost of each upgrade depending on the car. These upgrades include the following:

* Engine
* Transmission
* Suspension
* Aerodynamics
* Exhaust
* Tires
* Brakes
* Nitrous

## Courses

The following are the courses featured in Need For Speed: Apocalypse with a brief description of each:

* **Airfield Down Under:** Resembles an abandoned airport in Australia.
* **Ancient Roman Ruins:** Based on the remains of ancient Rome.
* **Eerie Lake:** Based on Lake Erie in the United States, except the water has turned black. How this happened to the lake is a mystery.
* **Frozen Creek:** A completely frozen river with ice so thick it doesn't melt or crack.
* **Gallow's Hill:** Based on the real-life road of the same name located in England.
* **International Superhighway:** A large abandoned highway.
* **Isle Of Death:** Resembles an island-sized cemetery.
* **Malicity Valley:** Post-apocalyptic version of Boyne Valley in Ireland.
* **New Dark City:** Post-apocalyptic version of New York City.
* **Phantom Grove:** A haunted forest-inspired course with ghosts wandering at various locations.
* **Pharaoh's Trail:** Located in Egypt.
* **Skeletal Sands:** A desert-inspired course littered with human skeletal remains, though the desert it's based on is not specified.
* **Swampland:** Based on the Caribbean Lowlands in Columbia.
* **Terre En Friche:** French for "wasteland", as it resembles one located in France.
* **Vanadium Village:** An abandoned village-inspired course named after vanadium, an element on the periodic table.
* **Wisteria Mountain:** Based on Mount Fuji in Japan.