{"id":10677,"date":"2014-12-31T07:00:18","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=10677"},"modified":"2014-12-30T16:57:06","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T00:57:06","slug":"race-across-america-with-the-crew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/race-across-america-with-the-crew\/","title":{"rendered":"Race Across America with ‘The Crew’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image
Image courtesy Ubisoft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though the winter has forced our cars into hibernation and this year’s professional racing season has come to an end, we can still indulge our passion for cars in the comfort of our own homes by playing The Crew<\/em>, a new open-world racing game by Ivory Tower, published by Ubisoft. This latest offering from veteran racing game maker Ivory Tower features a persistent online environment that\u2019s filled with friends, adventure and the freedom to create a unique and personal experience.<\/p>\n

As soon as the game starts, I\u2019m thrown into a hectic car chase, running from the police while in a Ford F150. I don\u2019t know who my character is or why I\u2019m trying to escape the cops, but I drive like my life depends on it, crashing through fences and ruining people\u2019s lawns. The cops eventually withdraw their pursuit, having lost sight of me, and I start to figure out through phone calls that my character\u2019s name is Alex, and he\u2019s returned to Detroit to visit his brother, Dayton.<\/p>\n

\"Alex
Alex meets with his brother, Dayton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alex\u2019s past is a mystery, but there\u2019s no time to worry about that as things escalate quickly when he\u2019s framed for his brother\u2019s murder, a ploy executed by an illegal street racing gang called the 5-10, with the help of some corrupt feds. Of course, Alex is given the chance to clear his name by going undercover for the FBI, and his handler, Zoe, sets him up with a new car so he can start infiltrating the ranks of the 5-10s and avenge his brother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\"Dodge<\/p>\n

I make my way to the garage, choose a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 as my first car, and head out into the open world, also known as Freedrive. This is where The Crew<\/em> really shines; you’re free to do whatever you want from here on out. You can just cruise around performing stunts, earning money and upgrading your car without ever starting a story mission. There\u2019s so much to do and explore in this very detailed miniature version of the United States. Join up with some friends and explore landmarks or race from Detroit to Miami if you want; it\u2019s all up to you.<\/p>\n