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We recently got our first chance to play Need for Speed Undercover. After widespread disappointment with the last game in the series, Need for Speed Pro Streets 2, EA Black Box double the development time for this game. They used the time to build a new game engine called the Heroic Driving Engine and to develop a complicated cinematic back story. EA Black Box has a lot riding on this and they are hoping for a hit. And our first look suggests that this game has that potential, but the real test will be whether the story mode can provide enough variety for players who are looking for more than a racing game.

The Heroic Driving Engine gave game designers a whole new set of tools. For the first time in a Need for Speed game, the car has a full range of realistic movement while going in reverse. In addition, the camera is decoupled from the motion of the car in some situations. Not only does this allow you to appreciate your cars good looks from entirely new angles, but the combination opens up a whole new range of tactics. Driving in reverse is now a very viable way to avoid obstacles, perform trick moves and, most likely, earn some achievement points in the process. This engine has been carefully tweaked to provide just the right touch of realistic physics, but to still be approachable by less than serious drivers. In our test drive, the engine felt comfortable. Easy to pick up and play, but still challenging.

What becomes immediately clear in this game is that EA sees it as an action/adventure game that takes place in a car, it is not meant to be a driving simulation. Missions are set up with elaborate cut scenes and selected from a map which reflects the changing plot. Once a mission has been chosen, players are free to explore the open world, but don't expect to spend much time wandering since the draw of the next mission may keep you pretty focused.

Serious driving fans may be disappointed by some of the shortcuts built into the tracks and there's some forgiveness in the way the cars steer. Action game fans may be frustrated with all the processing power that the heroic engine uses. In part because of the need to conserve processing powers, this game has no dynamic weather and it is always the same time of day. Like the darkness of previous Need for Speed games, the producers said that they want this game to have an iconic mood, defined by the pre-dawn “magic hour”.

In the Tri-Bay Area (the decaying urban city that you'll be racing around), the streets are always covered with dew and the sun is always just peeking over the horizon. It is also worth noting that the surface textures in the engine are flawless. From the game's version of high end iridescent paint to scratches from car damage to the water on the streets, the textures interact with light exactly as they should.

We know that a Need for Speed game will have great graphics, realistic cars and great driving action. What's not clear is if the game will have the variety found in other “action driving” games like the GTA series. We can appreciate a game that's always the same time of day. But if it's always the same race, there won't be a lot of replay value here. And there didn't seem to be a lot of reason to just go cruising although, admittedly, much of the turf in the open world was sealed off in the version we saw. The car list has not been released, but we expect it to be substantial and broad. But most (or even all) of the cars will be real and the craziest modifications will be done by players using the custom parts tool to build their own rides. No word yet on whether these modifications will just be cosmetic or if they'll actually have in game penalties and rewards as in earlier Need for Speed games.

So in review, great driving, fun plot, uncertain mission variety and replay value. This game is deliberately “mature” and targets sophisticated fans with high expectations. Serious car fans will probably like it. But if this is enough to challenge GTA's dominance in the genre remains to be seen. No word yet on multi-player, downloadable content or online modes so lets keep our fingers crossed for some surprises. Either way, look for this one in the middle of November on all major gaming platforms.