Need for Speed: The Run
Need for Speed The Run lures players into an underground world where illegal, high-stakes races take place. Things are heating up - and it's not just the cops after you. Getting into the race is just the beginning as you push boundaries at breakneck speeds, weaving through heavy city traffic, racing down icy mountain passes and navigating narrow canyons. Need for Speed The Run is powered by DICE's state-of-the-art Frostbite 2 engine and takes the action racing game genre to a new level: the graphics are breathtaking, the cars are perfect on the road even at top speeds, and the story is thrilling. The cars are hot, the racing intense and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat.... from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Empire State Building.
Story
Jack Rourke, an experienced street racer, is in serious trouble with the mafia because of a large debt. After narrowly escaping death in a junkyard in Oakland because he was unable to repay his debt, Rourke escapes his pursuers by stealing one of their cars. On his way to San Francisco, he makes contact with his girlfriend Sam Harper, who arranges his participation in street races. She offers to help him in his negotiations with the mafia - on one condition: Rourke must take part in an illegal, large-scale road race from San Francisco to New York City, for which she will pay the entry fee and win the race's 25 million dollar pot of money for herself. Rourke agrees to her condition, knowing that he can keep 10% of the prize money for himself, and receives a tablet from the mysterious organizer of the race on which the route of the race is marked. Four hours later, Rourke selects a car from his garage and begins the race, completing three stages on the route from San Francisco to Las Vegas. In doing so, he learns that he must be in the top 150 before the end of the third stage to stay in the race. He not only has to deal with other racers who want to win the prize money and the local police who are trying to stop and arrest the racers involved, but also with Marcus Blackwell - a mafia family member who wants to defeat him after he has escaped execution. Rourke manages to win all three stages but is caught by a police roadblock, forcing him to evade the cops and get a new vehicle for the next four stages of the race from Las Vegas to Chicago, knowing he must finish in the top 50 to stay in the race. As Rourke struggles against the increasing efforts of his competitors and the police to stop him, he soon finds out that the mafia is intervening in the race to stop him. Although he reaches Chicago in the top 50, the mob catches him with a roadblock and forces him to hang off them in a police cruiser for the time being. After getting a new car for the rest of the race to New York City, Rourke battles the police, the mob and an armed helicopter on the next leg, but he escapes both sides and reaches a garage that Harper requests can get him a new car to race against the top drivers. As the police step up their efforts, Rourke evades capture, overcomes his rivals and defeats Blackwell in New York to win the race. Afterward, Rourke meets with Harper at a roadside diner and learns that he has gotten his problems with the mob under control. Harper gives Rourke a key to a safe deposit box containing his share of the prize money and suggests he take some time off. When he questions this, she offers to double his money as she has received a call about another high stakes race.