“Need for Speed Rivals” is a high octane, shock stick vibrating look into a world where the prevailing question isn’t why one would drive recklessly through a maze of hideouts and hundred mph speed chases. The question is why wouldn’t you?

After a lengthy, voice-over narration for an intro we enter Redview County, which is quite the place. It is basically a haven for all things fast and furious, and the cops don’t seem too much different than the criminals. They all want to drive as fast as they can for as long as they can.

Upon arrival in Redview, users are taken on a completely annoying and semi-long training session that introduces the two worlds you can choose from. You can be a racer or a cop.

As a racer you have a hideout that is kind of a safe zone for you. It’s your destination when being chased by the police. You can race other users, go on events (beating the clock type things), or just cruise around until the cops get on your tail.

As a cop it is simple. You’re on patrol and you must chase down and bust the racers. A bust occurs when you basically slam their car into pieces. Cops and racers are both given special equipment for their vehicles with which to destroy the others’ car.

“Rivals” is the most explosive in-game experience of all of the NextGen games that came out for the new consoles. There has been some chatter that “Forza 5” is better than “Need for Speed Rivals” but that is utterly false. “Forza” has a better selection of vehicles but they handle horribly compared to on “Rivals.” Also, the “Forza” races are totally boring when compared to being on the run for your life on “Rivals. “

The graphics are pretty stunning but it’s the sound that stands out for “Rivals.” The revving of the engines, the car wrecks and the sirens blaring pull users all the way in to this world. You can create your own soundtrack of songs to listen to while playing or use the headset to interact online and form your own teams or rivals.

Out of all the launch day games – and I got them all – “Rivals” is the most satisfying. You get exactly what you paid for. A ticket to being as fast and reckless as you want to be. The game plays well – I haven’t seen any bugs – and why waste time in the drudgery of some Roman coliseum on some other game, when you can put the pedal to the floor and be the person you always wanted to be.