Need For Speed: The Run Preview -- Zero To Explosive In Three Seconds

Need for Speed: The Run is set to be the biggest, most action-packed entry in the series yet, full of an ominous pursuing force that will use any means necessary to stop protagonist Jack, car chases (and subsequent wrecks), explosions and dramatic story pieces that will take players out from behind the wheel for the first time. It's basically the 1995 movie Heat in video game form.

Okay, so I have no idea if that's true. But a girl can hope! And judging from Adam Rosenburg's preview, even if that's not quite the plot, it still looks just as awesome.

"The Run kicks off in San Francisco, California, moving across the country with stops in other real world locations – a first for the series – at key moments in the race. The endgame goal is New York City, which means that the Chicago-set E3 2011 demo is most likely roughly two-thirds of the way into the game. Whoever Jack pissed off, and the reasons why, have long since been established…now those same individuals are out to get him. With an attack helicopter, naturally."

The Frostbite 2-powered racer will be powersliding through your streets November 15, 2011. Until then, try and keep up with the smoking tires as we follow along up to release. A good place to start? How about the full E3 2011 Need for Speed: The Run preview?