EA’s racing series is getting a makeover for the Wii, and we got a chance to play its new Elimination multiplayer mode.

Need for Speed Nitro is the first game in the franchise developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii and DS. Developed by EA Montreal, the game features an exaggerated, cartoonish style that feels naturally suited to the Wii while boasting a sharp 60 frames-per-second refresh rate. We got the chance to check out some new tracks and tried the Elimination multiplayer mode ahead of GamesCom.

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Drag racing, drifting, and car customization are all in the mix in our latest look at this Wii-only Need for Speed game.

Customization might not be the most important aspect of a successful racing game, but it certainly can’t hurt a game’s chances. The upcoming Need for Speed: Nitro, heading to the Nintendo Wii later this year, amps up the arcade pace of previous NFS games on the Xbox 360 and PS3 and tosses in a liberal dollop of car customization in the mix. And, as an added bonus, you can race ridiculously souped-up vans. Which is cool. Because, you know, vans are cool. Right?

See the NFS: Nitro demo for yourself.

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The long-running arcade racing series is coming to the Wii and the DS, and we’ve got a hands-on look.

Need for Speed: Nitro isn’t the first Need for Speed game on the Nintendo Wii, but it does hold the distinction of being the first game developed specifically for the Nintendo console. Considering the track record of mediocre ports of previous NFS games, starting from scratch with Nitro is probably a good thing. At EA’s recent pre-E3 press event, we got a chance to check out Nitro on both Nintendo’s Wii and DS to see what the fresh approach will mean for the long-running Need for Speed series.

EA’s Joe Booth takes us through the new features in NFS: Nitro.

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