Need For Speed: Carbon preview

With Army of Two lurking just around the corner, you might be thinking EA are concentrating on original IP this Christmas. However, after dominating the Christmas charts for the last few years with Need for Speed: Underground 1, 2 and Most Wanted, EA aren't missing the opportunity to unleash the next instalment in the franchise, Carbon. With the last few titles focusing on street racing, Carbon shifts the emphasis this time to a another form of illicit racing, canyon racing; specifically the titular Carbon Canyon located in California.For those that don't know, canyon racing involves racing around - you guessed it - a canyon. This ramps the tension up; misjudge one corner and you may end up in a smoking wreck at the bottom of the Canyon. Whether this twist actually improves gameplay or turns out to be hugely frustrating, we'll have to wait and see. It's not all canyon racing though, street racing will still play a part as the player vies for control of territory.That's right, territory. Apparently, no one races simply to be the best racer anymore, but to win territory. The plot shoehorned into Carbon has our hero framed for a race that went wrong and rival gangs taking over his town. Of course, the only way to settle this is through mediation, so everyone goes to counselling. Sorry, we meant by street racing. Winning races earns you territory and Carbon allows you to recruit a gang of like-minded individuals to race by your side to help you clear your name and win the city back.Hiding underneath the chavved-up go-faster stripes of the last few games in the franchise were pretty decent racers. EA, looking to expand on this, has included the ever popular race types such as circuit, drift and sprint racing, as well as a whole slew of canyon-based modes like canyon duel, canyon drift, and the imaginatively named canyon race. The usual selection of licensed cars will also appear with EA so far revealing just 12 of the line up including the BMW M3, Ford Mustang and the street racing stalwart, the Toyota Supra.EA haven't forgotten those that simply have to have a big plastic spoiler on their car, though. Carbon features what EA call groundbreaking 'autosculpt' technology that will allow you to pimp your ride and those of your gang. What autosculpt actually involves has yet to be revealed, but expect it to make you waste many hours dressing up your car.With a November release across every format known to man, a soundtrack likely to be packed with "EA Trax" and a marketing campaign almost certain to pitch the title at the casual gamer, it looks like Carbon could well be king of the hill come Christmas.