STACK #190 Aug 2020

FEATURE GAMING

Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson from the movie crew, along with Sonequa Martin-Green, Asia Kate Dillon and Peter Stormare for the new cast.” While we’ll be playing out some classic Fast & Furious action, it’ll be as part of a bigger, all- new story. “ While all the action and locations are new, they draw inspiration from past scenarios in the films so that they feel familiar, but with a twist,” explains Tudor. “For example, we have a sequence that harkens back to Fast Five when Dom and Brian were trying to steal cars off a speeding train. In the game, however, you’re trying to arrest someone who’s on the train as it escapes through the Moroccan desert at night. There’s another sequence where you’re dragging an insanely huge object akin to the vault in Rio de Janeiro, but this time you’re causing chaos with it in the Port of New Orleans.”

The action is one thing, but what we really want to know is all about the vehicles that we’ll get to play with! “There are certainly some iconic cars in the movies, from Dom’s Charger

• Fast & Furious Crossroads is out Aug 7

The full-on, high octane action of the Fast & Furious movie franchise gets interactive this month with the arrival of Fast & Furious Crossroads .We had a chat with AndyTudor of racing game supremos Slightly Mad Studios to find out more. Words Amy Flower

to the Lykan Hypersport in Furious 7 to classic Acura NSX drift machines,” teases Tudor. “One particular car that the fans are going to be doing a lot of speculation on how it has returned is the Chevrolet Yenko Camaro, that we last saw Brian and Roman crashing into a yacht at the end of 2 Fast 2 Furious . You’ll have to play

the game to find out how that car has been restored and who is driving it now, though!” Tudor confirms that there’ll also be a selection of new wheels to get busy with. “Beyond the usual muscle, import and

A s any fan would hope, Slightly Mad Crossroads . “We started by developing a concept

countless reference materials and assets,” says Tudor, “meeting Fast & Furious car coordinator Dennis McCarthy, sharing ideas, visiting real- life locations, meeting the actors and getting Vin Diesel’s input, plus regular meetings with the theatrical and franchise teams to ensure the game is as authentic and awesome as possible.”

BALLS TO THE WALL! Tudor promises us “tons” of Easter eggs throughout Fast & Furious Crossroads . “There are many references to events and characters from the movies, as well as more obscure references such as Roman muttering under his breath, ‘This is like Berlin all over again,’ paying homage to the situation he found himself in with the wrecking balls in The Fate of the Furious .”

worked closely right from day one with the Fast & Furious people in developing

document that factored in the introduction of a new crew,” Andy Tudor tells us, “and leaned into the pillars of Fast & Furious , which revolve around storytelling, family, spectacle and heart, and letting you play through sequences inspired by the movies – from street racing to saving the world. This game was built with the fans in mind. Universal loved

Beyond the usual muscle, import and supercars, we’re bringing concept/ electric/prototypes into the mix

Diesel wasn’t the only star of the franchise to get involved. “It was great to have the characters in the game played by the actual actors from the films,” enthuses Tudor. “Those who recorded voiceover were Vin Diesel,

supercars, we’re bringing concept/ electric/prototypes into the mix to suit new crew member Cam Stone, who is very tech savvy

and environmentally conscious. This brings familiar banter between the lead characters over whether ‘new’ or ‘classic’ is better – similar to Dom and

the concept and it took off from the start – to make this game as Fast & Furious as possible – with us working daily together ever since.” Slightly Mad went all-in to get things right, too. “It involved scouring over

Brian’s love for US muscle or imports.”

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