Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

Porsche is on parade and in vogue in "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed." This title grants you the opportunity to race Porsche models from the past and present (at their time). You can even buy and modify Porsches to win races and championships. In my view, this was the last great NFS. Get ready for a blog post about a more mature Need for Speed title than any of the previous NFS titles.

This blog post primarily concerns the PC version of "NFS: Porsche Unleashed," but it is also available for the PlayStation 1 and even the Game Boy Advance. It is an edited version of a past post initially posted in my main blog- John's Blog Space.

--- "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" at a Glance ---

No one auto maker exudes performance, charm, and character quite like Porsche; and "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed," is the ultimate gift for any Porsche-loving fan. I personally argue this is one of the last great classic Need for Speed titles. You only race Porsches. You only tune Porsches. You only collect Porsches. No expense was spared in providing the ultimate experience with Porsche in the realm of the Need for Speed realm. While you may think NFS is usually about Hollywood-style action, this is a more mature Need for Speed.

Cars.

This Need for Speed is a huge diversion from the arcade-style thrills of past NFS games. This is a more mature (as in not being arcadish), quasi-simulation title featuring many Porsches. It does a great job of sorting out Porsches by having you race through three distinct eras of Porsche history- Classic Era, Golden Era, and Modern Era. Each era of Porsche will allow you to race the latest (in their day) Porsche models. The Classic Era features some of the very first Porsche models, starting out with the Porsche 356 models. The Golden Era showcases some of the finest road-going Porsches of their time. The Modern Era features some of the hottest (at their time) current Porsche models ranging from the 911 range up to the Boxster and the super-fast Porsche 911 GT1.

Tracks.

"NFS: Porsche Unleashed" is almost basically European-exclusive even in tracks. The courses are a mix of open circuits (some with multiple routes) and closed circuits. The variety is unique ranging from traditional European country drives to urban locales. All can be raced in the normal direction or in reverse.

Factory Driver.

If you prefer to test your driving skills, try the Factory Driver mode, where you are a Porsche factory driver taking on various tasks and orders. These orders range from testing out cars to delivering cars across a certain location without getting into trouble.


As mentioned before, there is no shortage of things you can do in this game. Read on for more on "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed."

--- Cars of "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" ---

Unlike other NFS titles, you exclusively race, tune, and even modify Porsches. This game allows you to set up some quick races with any number of available Porsche models. The real merit of this game lies in getting these cars in Evolution mode.

Any Porsche in this game can be glanced upon and opened. You can open the doors, let down any convertible tops, open the trunk/boot, open the front hood/bonnet, and even get inside the car. The game allows you a level of immersion never made possible in almost any game before it.

While you can purchase cars as new, you can find some damaged Porsches for lower prices. You will need to pay a good price to have them fully repaired. You can even sell your own Porsche in the game. All you have to do is set the price for someone to sell it. I recommend selling your Porsche for its current price rather than ask for something too high.

You can gain an edge in races by purchasing parts for your Porsche. Purchasing parts and upgrades for your Porsche allows you to improve its performance and do a better job in races. You can equip parts for your car for competition in races. Parts can even be sold if you're strapped for cash in the game.

With almost any car you own in the game, you can customize its appearance. You can give your car a new set of wheels, a certain livery, change the colors of it, and more. It's YOUR Porsche- do what you want with it with the options available!

--- Tracks of "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" ---

The game only has four courses when you start out, but more will be available as you progress through the game. These tracks consist of both open-road courses and closed-circuit tracks. The tracks can be raced normally or in the reverse direction, and you can choose toggle traffic on or off for each course. The game almost exclusively takes place in Europe on European tracks, and mostly either in France or Germany, including the city-state of Monaco. Here are four of the many courses offered:

Côte d'Azur.

Not to be confused with the Côte d'Azur of the Gran Turismo games, this is a country drive through a lovely French setting at sunset. It is an open-road course rated at Beginner difficulty. Enjoy this coastal drive that takes you through a village and even features undulating roads with large hill and mountain walls outlining most of the course.

Normandie.

Here is another lovely French setting at sunset at Beginner difficulty. Among its highlights are its lovely Fall/Autumn setting and the forest setting. It features a lovely country drive that includes a little drive through a village and some industrial land.

Pyrénées.

This Advanced level course is a tricky open circuit run in the daytime. This southern France course can be tricky to master. Some of its highlights include forests with some alternative roads (including dirt roads) to drive on. There is also some farm land that accentuates some of this venue. In fact, I am almost certain this is a venue that features some land suitable for making wine. After all, the French are known for making fine wine. It is yet another humble country drive with a beautiful mountain range in the distance.

Monte Carlo 3.

"NFS: Porsche Unleashed" does NOT feature the Monaco Grand Prix course Formula 1 races. However, you can still race in this lovely city at night. It is an Expert-rated course designed to test you in every way possible.


You can race more tracks by progressing through the game. One other track I will make a brief preview of is Zone Industrielle- a difficult urban open course run in an industrial sector of a city on a stormy evening.

--- "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" - Factory Driver ---

Try out these challenges for Porsche Unleashed. Factory Driver features you driving many different Porsches while taking on certain objectives. You will be asked to do everything from testing out certain Porsches to performing delivery tasks. Completing the tasks successfully will give you more challenging ones.

--- "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" Final Thoughts ---

While not an overly exciting NFS title, Porsche Unleashed is a title you can't help but appreciate for its focus on a certain marque. Maybe my only complaint is that I wished more Porsche race cars would be featured. I think it's pretty disappointing to just focus so much on road-going Porsches and not feature more racing Porsches. After all, Porsches are racing machines. They have been vastly established in motorsports as much as they have been in road-going cars. It is the ONLY thing I would change about this game if I were in charge of "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed." Otherwise, it may just be the greatest racing game devoted to one specific auto maker ever created. The fact this game was in 2000 doesn't take away from the fact it has gorgeous graphics and visuals that are still lovely to this day. Anyone who even remotely cares about sports cars should give "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" a try.

Video Preview.

This is the PC version of "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed." I hope you enjoy this video to gain some insight on this title:


^ "Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed (PC) Gameplay"


Thank you for reading my blog post on "NFS: Porsche Unleashed!"

--- Personal Commentary on Featuring Porsche (Bonus!) ---

Here is some bonus reading from me regarding Porsche.

Personal Commentary on Featuring Porsche.

If you ask me personally, this is Electronic Arts' best utilization of their Porsche for as long as EA games have featured Porsche. They haven't done much a damn thing since except produce mostly substandard racing games with Porsche. This is basically EA saying "we don't care if you think we make crappy racing games with the Porsche license. We're Electronic Arts, damn you!" The grubby exclusive contract of Porsche has led certain other developers to not be able to fully utilize featuring Porsche. That was the fate as Turn 10, the creators of the Forza Motorsport series, had to settle for Ruf in Forza Motorsport 4. This is even though Turn 10 had a good deal going for the previous three Forza titles using Porsche. This time, they just decide to not give Forza fans Porsche. Porsche would eventually find their way into Forza Motorsport 4 through downloadable content. But still, EA has done next to nothing being greedy as the exclusive contract holder of Porsche.

On the other hand, why have an exclusive contract to offer to a game developer? By saying you offer an exclusive contract, you are saying that only one company is best equipped and able to feature a certain company (let alone a car company) and its products. You would fear for some no-talent game developer would take a certain car company's products and make toilet bowl-worthy games with that license. All due respect to Electronic Arts, but what good has EA done with the Porsche license? Why not offer usage of Porsche automobiles to other developers, like... I don't know, Polyphony Digital? Maybe SimBin? At least these are worthy and talented developers who can use such car companies to enhance the scope of cars featured in the respective companies' racing franchises. But... I guess EA seemed to be the ones best able to somehow feature and continually feature Porsche products. At least, to Porsche (or whomever is behind EA getting an exclusive contract with Porsche).

If you really want to make good use of featuring Porsche in games, why not make something like a Porsche Cup game or something? How about some racing games highlighting Porsche's racing history as well as their road car history? Even "Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli" did a semi-decent job at highlighting the Ferrari Challenge and several different Ferraris in history. "NFS: Porsche Unleashed" did a great job highlighting on Porsches past and present.

What If: "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed 2?"

As much as I'd be inclined to see it happen, there are two reasons why this would never happen- (1) racing game culture has changed as a whole, and (2) a game like this probably wouldn't be as successful in this climate of racing games. Most games highlighting one specific auto maker just doesn't bear as much weight and as much significance as back then. Today's racing game culture is more along the lines of featuring as many cars from as many different auto makers as possible. Take my Porsche Cup example from the previous section. People can still make great Porsche Cup mods (like for rFactor), but could EA make a competent enough Porsche Cup game? I don't think even Slightly Mad Studios (the people behind the "NFS: Shift" series) could even come up with a decent model. The Need for Speed series is all about intense arcade-style racing, and I don't think you can really do Porsche justice by featuring their cars in a setting like what most NFS games deliver.

A more dedicated developer would probably do a better job showcasing Porsche in such a positive light as what "NFS: Porsche Unleashed" did in 2000. NFS is now just too far off-base from what the classic NFS titles have offered to its fans. More care for NFS is in Hollywood action and illegal street racing (including the recently-released "Need for Speed: The Run") than the simple joy of racing a car in anger to its limits. This is even more reason to care about "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" if you are a classic racing gamer and a purist of NFS' past.





Do you want to buy this game? Help support my work by getting this game on Amazon. Here are your choices:



"Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" for PC, PlayStation 1, and Game Boy Advance.



^ Need for Speed Collection for PC (which includes "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed.")


I would appreciate your business if you did some (voluntary) shopping.

--- NFS Collection: A Special Note ---

Before I conclude this post, I must bring something up.

Here is one thing I want to say regarding the NFS Collection. I've reviewed every title in the NFS collection package (NFS2: SE, NFS3: Hot Pursuit, NFS: High Stakes, and NFS: Porsche Unleashed) except "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2." I had bought this collection years ago. "NFS: Hot Pursuit 2" comes with a code for you to play that game. I had lost my code for that game long ago, so I will be unable to review that game for all of you. It wouldn't make sense to talk about a game I've played illegally. So therefore, I won't discuss "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2" unless I really get a proper version of the game and have played enough of it to properly review it.





Otherwise, thank you for reading this post!

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Need for Speed: High Stakes

Raise the stakes and put it all on the line. "Need for Speed: High Stakes" is an epic battle between outlaws and the police worldwide. Push cars (and your skills) to the limit on a variety of tracks in a variety of locations worldwide. Also, be or avoid the law in new ways. This game provided a new experience that builds upon "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit" and enhances everything completely. This blog post takes a look at "Need for Speed: High Stakes."

This blog post primarily concerns the PC version of "NFS: High Stakes," but it is also available for the PlayStation 1.

--- Need for Speed: High Stakes ---

Being bad never looked so good. The first full-3D Need for Speed (meaning no-more 2D interiors) was "Need for Speed: High Stakes." This game was released in 1999 with seven new tracks (including all courses from NFS3 and three unique race tracks) can be unlocked. New ways to get into trouble (or prevent trouble) were offered as Electronic Arts wanted to raise the stakes- High Stakes, to be exact. This game was sure to give you plenty of intense action.

This was the first fully-3D NFS title. You can look around in your car as well as have a fully-3D interior. It is a beautiful looking game with great graphics and intense gameplay. It is the first Need for Speed to allow you to race with the top up or down for your car. It is also the first Need for Speed with damage, both visually and physically. One wreck too many can greatly hinder your car's performance. Damage can either be visual, physical, or both. You will definitely notice as you keep taking knocks. You will note your car getting crumpled up and headlights stop working with various crashes. Your performance with a damaged car even suffers as you keep driving.

The evolution of NFS3 lied in more ways to get into trouble. Rather than just police cars on the road, there was even a police helicopter that could be sent in to help aid the police in keeping up with your car during pursuits. The police helicopter tracked the moves of an outlaw in helping the police keep track of an evading outlaw racer. Usual tactics such as the use of roadblocks and spike strips return from "NFS3: Hot Pursuit." Getting out of trouble just got harder as this game came along. Or... you can also look it as more ways to dole out justice on the road- especially playing as the police.

The "High Stakes" Namesake...

Ever wonder why this game is called "Need for Speed: High Stakes?" The name "High Stakes" was initially given because the driver would be putting his/her car on the line while competing in the races. Winner takes the losing driver's car.


It is now time to take a look at the individual elements of "Need for Speed: High Stakes."

--- Need for Speed: Cars ---

These are some of the many cars you can race. Cars are arranged on class. The cars are arranged from B to AAA. The "B" cars are the slowest, and the "AAA" cars are the fastest. Classes for each model are in parentheses ().

McLaren F1 GTR (AAA).

Let's get one thing straight- this car is hellishly fast! This is as close as you will get to racing proper race cars in on the tracks of "NFS: High Stakes." Its top speed and acceleration are top-notch (as you'd expect with this car).

Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR (AAA)

While not as unworldly as the McLaren, the CLK-GTR from Mercedes-Benz is no slouch. It is the only other AAA-class machine in the game. Get ready for an experience that will be just as gratifying and intense as racing the F1 GTR.

Ferrari F50.

The Ferrari F50 came along in the mid-1990s, replacing the F40 as the top Ferrari of its day. You get to race this exotic monster across the various courses of "NFS: High Stakes."

Porsche 911 Turbo (AA).

Enjoy the passion and power Porsche provides with the Porsche 911 Turbo. It is a well-balanced car in performance and speed. A Pursuit version of this car is also available.

BMW M5 (AA).

Enjoy executive-class style and performance with the BMW M5. Just because it is an executive-level car doesn't mean it is only good for a Sunday drive. A Pursuit version of this car is also available.

Chevrolet Corvette C5 (A).

The latest (at its time) Corvette delivers a solid drive and amazing performance for almost any race in this game. A Pursuit version of this car is available.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (A).

The car that got me into cars was this 4th Generation model Camaro. You can enjoy this long-standing American legend in its latest (at its time) iteration.

Pontiac Firebird (A).

The Firebird is the cousin to the Camaro. It delivers the same lovely performance as the Camaro.

Jaguar XKR (A).

This big cat is ready to pounce with its sexy curves and impressive performance.

BMW Z3 (B).

While it is one of the weakest cars in the game, it is still a fun car to drive.

Lamborghini Diablo SV (AA).

Lamborghini makes cars worth driving to the limit. That is... if you can find and exploit their limits. The Diablo Superveloce (SV) is ready and willing to take on anything you throw at it.

Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 (B).

This same convertible sports coupe from NFS3 can be raced in "NFS: High Stakes." It can be enjoyed top up or top down.

Ferrari 550 Maranello (AA).

Looks-wise, I never really liked this Ferrari. It still is a car not to be messed with on the road. Give this car a good drive on any course to see what makes it so incredible.


There are other cars to unlock in addition to the ones featured here. Some even can be downloaded.

--- Need for Speed: High Stakes - Tracks ---

Just like in "Need for Speed 3," the open road is your playground. This section covers only the courses already available to you. They are all previews of the courses you will be facing.

Celtic Ruins.

Take a trip around the Scottish countryside in your supercar of choice. It is is an easy-going course for racing or for evading the police.

Landstrasse.

This beginner course in Germany takes you through a German village and some simple winding roads. It can be very fun to race in a AAA-class car.

Dolphin Cove.

The venue here could be thought more of as an American Pacific Northwest locale. Waterfalls, forests, and more compliment this scenic drive. It isn't so scenic as you're battling traffic and other cars, though.

Kindiak Park.

Kindiak Park is a Canadian venue basically based around a national park. This is one of the two Intermediate-level courses. Train tracks and winding roads are among the many features of this course as you run lap after lap around this course.

Route Adonf.

When you take on Route Adonf, be careful going through the winding roads and ancient ruins of this French locale. It can be disaster waiting to happen if in very fast cars. It has one of the loveliest settings in the entire game despite its Intermediate difficulty.

Durham Road.

If you are ready for a challenge, leave it to this track to take you for a loop. Durham Road has many underpasses and overpasses as you go through this British village and the countryside. Drive carefully if you expect to win races and pursuits here. Depending on certain regions, this track is in England or Australia. I initially have noted this as a venue in England.

Snowy Ridge.

Get ready for the toughest and longest course among the available courses. As its name implies, you will be racing in a snowy setting. Full speed racing is not the name of the game here on this American course. You will need to put your best driving effort and exhibit your finest racing skill to deliver great lap times and to win here.


This game also features all courses from "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit" as well as three fictional race tracks. Each of these three fictional race tracks do not have oncoming traffic on them, so you can enjoy proper racing without having to worry about traffic from other cars.

--- Need for Speed: High Stakes - Game Modes ---

This section is a look at the different ways to play this game.

Career Mode.

New to Need for Speed is a Career Mode. You can use this mode to play through a series of races. Buy and modify cars to compete in various races. Don't wreck your car too much... you will have to pay to repair your cars!

Race.

Compete in races against the clock, another opponent, or a pack of opponents. All up to you.

Pursuit.

This game features three different modes of play: Hot Pursuit, Getaway, and Time Trap. Become "Most Wanted" by evading the police, or become "Top Cop" by taking down outlaw racers. Here is a look at each mode:

• Hot Pursuit is the same game you remember from the NFS3, and it plays the same way. Nothing has changed here. Don't go over your ticket quota to become Most Wanted. Or, arrest all the opposition to become Top Cop.

• Getaway requires you to either avoid getting caught by the police or catch a car within a certain amount of time. If you manage to avoid the police or catch the car(s) in violation within the allowed time, you win. You must catch the only car on the road if playing this mode as a Cop.

• You are required in Time Trap to complete the race or prevent the racers from finishing within the allowed time. Unlike the other modes, you can be ticketed as many times as possible. You win as an outlaw if you manage to finish ahead of your rival within the allowed time. You win as a cop if you prevent both racers from finishing the race withing the allowed time.

Tournament.

Place the highest you can to win each tournament. Bonus content can be unlocked for victory in these tournaments.

Knockout.

Avoid finishing last to remain in the Knockout running. The last driver standing wins the Knockout competition. Bonus content can be unlocked for success in these events.

--- Need for Speed: High Stakes - Final Thoughts ---

"Need for Speed: High Stakes" expanded upon the concept initially put forth by "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit." Whereas the former title allowed for only so much insanity, this one really amped up the racing insanity, and it did so with brilliant (even today) graphics. There was no way you could fault any aspect of this title for trying to provide such intense racing action. It was even more a departure from the arcade-style thrills of just enjoying racing and driving, but this was actually continued forward progress towards the unreal racing action provided by this franchise. A future NFS title simply called "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit" provided a modern interpretation of what NFS3 and NFS:HS provided in the late 1990s. But when you look back at the evolution of the NFS franchise to what it is today, you can thank games like "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit" and "Need for Speed: High Stakes" for the Hollywood thrills this series has provided over its lifespan.

Video Preview.

All you read up to this point is featured in this video of this game. Check it out:


^ "Need For Speed: High Stakes Gameplay"


Did you like this blog post? Do you want to get this game? Get it on Amazon and help support my blogging work! Check it out:



"Need for Speed: High Stakes" for PC and PlayStation 1.



^ Need for Speed Collection for PC (which includes "Need for Speed: High Stakes."


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Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit

A quantum leap in Need for Speed's evolution came in the form of "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit." Part of this quantum leap came with beautiful graphics and weather effects. But an even bigger part? Police chases! This game would go a long way setting the tone for future NFS titles. It would set a tone that would be met and exceeded by certain future titles, including the latest in the franchise- "Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012)." Gather 'round, boys 'n girls! This blog post is about "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit."

This blog post primarily concerns the PC version of "NFS3: Hot Pursuit," but it is also available for the PlayStation 1.

--- Need for Speed 3 at a Glance ---

Electronic Arts took NFS to a different direction and level starting with "NFS3: Hot Pursuit" in 1998. Away was the arcade fun of racing cars in intense racing and in comes the element of evading police. The open road was still the primary sort of battleground for these cars. This time, the action involves frenzied racing action across a number of open-road circuits with more intense corners and action than the previous NFS title.

NFS3 was a new experience for many gamers. You now have to contend with evading police. They will stop at nothing to take your car down. Your job when dealing with Pursuit modes was to either evade mounting pressure from the police or use every available resource to take down speeding drivers. This provided a dynamic that was different from simply running a race on open roads. You can be on both sides of the law- evade the police to become Most Wanted, or prevent all cars from finishing to become Top Cop. The venues are all open-road courses that are very long. You can run courses forward or reverse like in NFS2, but you can now run at night and/or with weather conditions. This is the first Need for Speed with configurable weather options.

Now that you know about the game, it's time to delve deeper and showcase some of the nuances of "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit."

--- Need for Speed 3: Cars ---

Here is your look at each of the cars in this game. Not every car can be raced in every mode. This is the first-ever Need for Speed that uses actual color names. If you don't like the original colors, you can make your own custom color for cars. More cars can be unlocked. There are even downloadable cars to help expand the already great selection of cars. The class ranking for each car is in parentheses ().

Chevrolet Corvette C5 (B).

This is the second-ever Corvette to be featured in an NFS game. This one, however, was the current 'Vette- the C5. The C5 Corvette has great handling and more-than-decent top speed and acceleration. It is a very fun to drive car in this game. A Pursuit version of this car is also available.

Lamborghini Diablo SV (A).

No car is more fearful to go up against than a Lamborghini Diablo. This one is no different. This lovely car with "SV" emblazoned on the sides goes like Hell and handles pretty well. Make this your dream car to evade the cops or win races. A Pursuit version of this car is also available.

Lamborghini Countach (B).

This Lamborghini has great top speed and acceleration, but is less forgiving than the Corvette.

Aston Martin DB7 (C).

The sexy DB7 from Aston Martin is a great performer.

Jaguar XK8 (C).

Jaguar's latest (as in this game) big cat is the XK8. The beautiful British sports car boasts great performance and clearly is good to race against the DB7.

Ferrari F355 F1 (C).

Returning from NFS2, the Ferrari 355 F1 is fast and capable for its class.

Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR (A).

If you are fortunate enough to drive this car, you will be impressed with its incredible performance. It is a homologated racing demon with scary speed.

Italdesign Scighera (A).

This concept car clearly has Alfa Romeo DNA to it with its front grill design. The Scighera will not blow away any of the other A-class cars, but it is a very agile performer.

Mercedes-Benz SL600 (C).

This little Mercedes-Benz allows you to enjoy a great drive around any locale, whether top up or top down.


There are more cars than these featured machines. You will need to progress through the game to unlock them all. There is even a bonus Pursuit car that can be unlocked. Not all cars shown here is available in all modes of the game. Cars made for NFS3 can even be downloaded. However, since this game is more than ten years old, I doubt you will be able to effectively download and use each downloadable car made for NFS3.

With all of the cars in this game, you can learn more about each one by watching videos and seeing pictures. You can even compare each car against others in the game. You can see which one is better than the other by doing simple comparisons. The game allows you to choose between a number of colors for each regular car. This is the first NFS title to use actual color names for each car. If you don't like the offered colors for a car, you can make a custom color for any given car. One thing to be careful of is that in the Pursuit mode, the actual color of your car won't be mentioned by the police when you hear the police voiceover. So if you colored a car as a custom color, all your car will be described as is the name of your car. In other words, instead of "...in pursuit of a red Corvette...," you will just hear "...in pursuit of a Corvette..." with a custom-colored car.

You can even perform some simple setups for cars. Tuning elements for things like acceleration, top speed, downforce, tire choice, and more will offer a little bit of freedom in the behavior of your car. Keep everything balanced for the best performance, or tune for a more personalized driving experience.

--- Need for Speed 3: Tracks ---

These courses will get your blood pumping with these long courses. Essentially, you are racing in four environments each with two different tracks. Many options are available to you for each course. You can race any track in day or night settings for starters. You can even race tracks in the reverse direction, mirrored or no mirrored tracks, and also enable or disable weather effects.

NOTE: Track lengths estimated by nearest hundredth.

Hometown.

A down-home style of track, you will be racing in this small town complete with many easy-going corners. This is obviously the kind of city that would make Small Town America people very happy with the vast amount of farmland and rural sections. You will be racing in a Fall/Autumn setting here. No one corner or set of corners are truly imposing. It is the shortest course in the entire game at 3.6 miles (5.8-kilometers).

Redrock Ridge.

The desert is where you will be racing here. You will find yourself weaving around canyon walls and many different desert terrain in this 5.4-mile (8.7-kilometer) course. Look carefully for some shortcuts if you want to survive in this desert.

Atlantica.

This 4.9-mile (7.9-kilometer) track is a very modern track with loads of waterways and futuristic structures. The scenery is among some of the most beautiful you will see in this game. It is very fun to race as I usually race this track often myself. There are a lot of split roads and other places to visit. Take advantage of some of the multiple routes to either evade the police or shave seconds off of your lap time.

Rocky Pass.

This is a very long course (5.5-mile (8.9-kilometer)) with undulating and narrow roads. A car that can turn tightly and get up to speed quickly will succeed here. It can be a knock-down drag-out brawl when doing Hot Pursuit here.

Country Woods.

This track is an evolution of Hometown that takes place in a Winter setting. You will be contending with some sharp corners and some tight hairpins here. Hot Pursuit can be nightmarish here. Watch your guard at all times here. At 5.2 miles (8.4 kilometers), there isn't too much room for error here.

Lost Canyon.

With its vast array of shortcuts and ancient structures, this 6.3-mile (10.1-kilometer) evolution of Redrock Ridge is much more demanding to win than the Beginner course. It's going to take a lot out of you to win here.

Aquatica.

The futuristic appeal of Atlantica gives way to more of open road feel across natural terrain. It is a 5.3-mile (8.5-kilometer) long track with all sorts of environs to leave you in awe, including a tunnel through the aquarium. It even features moai statues reminiscent of the statues you'd find at Rapa Nui (or Easter Island). But always remember- this track can, and will deceive you if you try to savor the sights too long.

Summit.

The longest and most difficult course in the entire game is Summit. It is an evolution of Rocky Pass at 6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers) where victory is even more difficult to come by. Hot Pursuit can be brutal here as well.


If you can survive these challenges, one more awaits for you to unlock:

(The Bonus Track).

When you unlock this course, it has a look and feel of New York City with some heavy touches of science fiction. The track itself is tough and is 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) long.


All of the tracks in the game are challenging and unique in their own ways. A lot will be required out of you to survive and win on each one.

--- Need for Speed 3: Racing Modes ---

Need for Speed 3 offers up more than just races. Here is a brief look at each style of racing for Single Player play.

Single Race.

You can race against nobody, have a one-on-one duel, or race against a pack of cars.

Hot Pursuit.

Hot Pursuit features two kinds of races where you choose which side of the badge you want to be on. Avoid being arrested to become Most Wanted, or arrest all speeders to become Top Cop. Obstacles that will help hinder your ability to avoid the police include road blocks and spike strips. The police dispatch will give you an indication of where road blocks or spike strips are located if playing as an outlaw.

A regular Hot Pursuit as an outlaw puts you in a race against another driver. You and your opponent will engage in a street racing duel with oncoming traffic and the police with a watchful eye on you two. What you want to do as an outlaw is become Most Wanted. To become Most Wanted, you have a limit of how many tickets from the cops you want to pick up. Each time you are stopped by the police, you get a ticket. If you reach the ticket limit, you will be arrested. Avoid the police, road blocks, and spike strips; and finish the race in 1st Place to win.

Playing as the police means it is up to you to seek and take out the speeders. You have about six or eight speeders to deal with. A certain driver must be above the speed limit for you to pursue that driver. Once you note one going above the speed limit, you can pursue that car and try to arrest him/her. In order for you to become Top Cop, you must arrest all of the opposing drivers. You can arrange for road blocks and spike strips to be deployed. Do whatever it takes to disable speeding drivers.

A LITTLE ADVICE: One last thing... if I may recommend some advice, a strategy I use when doing the Hot Pursuit as an outlaw is to intentionally let the other racer ahead so that he/she can get into trouble with the law before the police eventually starts pursuing my car.

Tournament.

You can compete in a series of races where you can unlock more content in the game. Have the most points through a series of races to win the tournament.

Knockout.

You don't have to win every race, but you have to avoid being last. The last-placed finisher of each race will be knocked out until there is just one driver left standing.


You can compete in a number of Single Player and Multiplayer races in NFS3.

--- Need for Speed 3: Final Thoughts ---

Before "Need for Speed: Underground," this game provided the overall change in character of the Need for Speed franchise. It combined the arcade thrills of past NFS titles with the intensity of avoiding the police. It offered a new character to set itself apart among various other racing games- even including the Gran Turismo and Ridge Racer series. The game offered incredible visuals for a game of its time. It was the last NFS to feature 2D interiors, but the interior view was still very lovely for what it was.

NFS3 was really the title that has defined the more Hollywood-style action that would define the modern Need for Speed franchise for years to come. Most future NFS titles would mostly have a focus on Hollywood-style action and illegal street racing. While customization would be a key impact of NFS titles moving forward, it was "NFS3: Hot Pursuit" which gave the series some unique character and provide memorable moments for many a racing gamer. "NFS3: Hot Pursuit" is a must-play if you are a fan of the NFS franchise and want to play through the history of Need for Speed. It can be played on PC or on the PlayStation 1.

Video Preview.

Now that I've introduced you to the game, here is a video showcasing "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit." Enjoy:


^ "Need for Speed III Hot Pursuit"



You can get this game on Amazon if you're willing to buy this game online. Have a look around:


^ "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit" for PC and PlayStation 1.


^ Need for Speed Collection for PC (which includes "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit").


Always respect your elders. And in gaming culture, respect your elder games.






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Need for Speed 2: SE

Need for Speed evolved with the coming of "Need for Speed 2." This game delivers more intense gameplay and with more cars and more tracks to satisfy your speed demon desires. "Need for Speed 2: Special Edition" is an upgraded and enhanced experience. It is my personal favorite NFS title, so I am pleased to share this blog post with you all. I hope you will be able to enjoy this blog post as well as be able to appreciate this great title.

This blog post mostly pertains to "Need for Speed 2: SE." This title offers more content than the first NFS2.

--- Need for Speed 2: SE at a Glance ---

Need for Speed 2 (especially the SE version) holds a special place in my heart. You see, back in 1997, I wanted to play Need for Speed 2: SE... BADLY. I never got to play this game initially because my PC at the time couldn't handle this game. It wasn't until purchasing the Need for Speed pack, featuring this game and four others, to where I finally got to play it. I have since sort of lamented not being able to play "Need for Speed 2: SE" on a competent PC when it was fairly new.

A complete overhaul of the graphics and driving dynamics were in store for players in NFS2:SE. The base NFS2 featured eight or nine cars. This Special Edition package included four more to bring the number of playable cars to 12. It was the first Need for Speed to feature concept cars. There are a total of eight tracks including one bonus course. They can all be raced in normal or reverse. You could also play this game with different driving modes- normal, simulation, and wild. Simulation is more serious (but not intensely serious) while Wild provides the most insane driving experience. If you had a 3DFX 3D Accelerator (which was one of the best 3D accelerators in the 1990s), you could enjoy an enhanced 3D racing experience complete with atmospheric effects and lovely graphics. You could use a program called nGlide to play the 3DFX-enabled version of "Need for Speed 2: Special Edition" even if you don't have a 3DFX 3D Accelerator.

"Need for Speed 2" was released for PC and the PlayStation 1.

One Bonus Note...

In researching [this version of this blog post], I don't recall 12 cars on a race track for this game because a maximum of eight cars take to the track. One video I saw had as many as 12 cars to a track.


Now on to the basics of this game.

--- Need for Speed 2: SE - The Cars ---

This game features 12 cars to race. Each car is supplemented with photos, statistics, and a video. Unlike the previous title, there is no support from Road and Track Magazine. The pictures are big and beautiful for each featured car in the game.

Here is a look at the 12 cars you can use in this game. The cars are not listed in any specific order:

McLaren F1 (A).

The McLaren F1 remains one of the all-time greatest cars ever made. It STILL remains that, not to mention my all-time favorite car. It is a car with 600+ horsepower, great handling, and a top speed of about 240 mph from a BMW V12 engine. It is also the only center-drive car in the game. This car at the time of this game costs $780K US Dollars.

Ferrari F50 (A).

Ferrari's successor to the F40 is the exotically-styled F50. It was the ultimate Ferrari for the time this game was produced and released. It is a lovely car with amazing performance. It is not, however, going to make the McLaren F1 shake in its shoes.

Lotus Elise GT1 (A).

This is not your average Lotus Elise. This one happens to be an evolved beast with the same engine as the Lotus Esprit. I personally love this car as the best-sounding car in the game.

Ford GT90 (A).

Before this car would give way to the Ford GT in 2002 or so, the Ford GT90 is a concept car with great performance and a lovely body style. The rear wing deploys at about 60 or 90 miles per hour. It is a great car to look at and to race.

Jaguar XJ220 (B).

At one point, the Jaguar XJ220 was the fastest car in the world, bettering the likes of Porsche and Lamborghini. The super-slick and superexotic XJ220 will blow you away.

Ford Indigo (B).

The Ford Indigo is the best-handling car in the game. Don't let the fact that its "B" class designation means it stands no chance against the faster "A" class cars. This car will actually surprise A-class cars on twisty courses. So consider this as a very good underdog car to use in your races.

Ford Mustang Mach 3 (C).

An iconic car since 1964, the latest (as in this game) Mustang prototype was this Mach 3 concept car. This C-Class car gives you your best taste of American muscle across this game's international courses.

Italdesign Nazca C2 (B).

The Nazca C2 from Italdesign clearly has BMW DNA when you look at it. In fact, it is also called the BMW Nazca C2. This was a supercar from 1991 that competes in the B-Class in "NFS2: Special Edition."

Italdesign Calà (C).

The Lamborghini-like Calà (also called the Lamborghini Calà) is an excitingly-styled C-Class 1995 concept car. It was meant to replace the Jalpa in Lamborghini's range at the time of this car's arrival.

Isdera Commendatore (B).

This Porsche-like concept car from Germany's Isdera is a swoopy car. The Commendatore 112i is a very nice car that performs very well.

Lotus Esprit (C).

To be honest, I've never really liked the Esprit. It is still a capable car worth competing in this game.

Ferrari 355 F1 (C).

This baby Ferrari is the Italian Stallion you can use in the C-Class. This car would later be replaced by the beautiful 360 Modena in about 1999.


Those are the cars. A few more cars (all fictional) can be unlocked. These are mostly no-name cars with varying levels of performance apart from the real cars featured here. Cars and racing are useless without tracks, so let's move on to tracks!

--- Need for Speed 2: SE - The Tracks ---

Like the previous NFS, this game features eight tracks. This time, all are circuit races, and all races have their own weather and time conditions. Prepare to go on a world tour of racing unlike any other!

Seven of the eight regular courses feature traffic from commuter cars. Traffic can be toggled on or off for single races and one-on-one races.

Proving Ground.

Through the cool air of Norway, you will be going full speed around this course. This is the only track that does not feature traffic because Proving Ground is clearly a proper racing facility. The race takes place during sunset. With 3DFX, this track has you racing through the rain. Don't even think about braking here. Floor the gas and put that steering wheel to good use weaving around the other racers.

Outback.

Take a trip around Sydney and head into the Australian Outback with this course. Speeds are very high. I highly recommend you race this course after being done with Proving Ground. Just watch out for traffic. It is GREAT fun with fast cars here! Also, it features one of my favorite songs in the entire game: "Corroboree," the rock theme to this course.

Lost Resort.

Your vacation in coastal Mexico features a very tough race through the lovely tropical setting that gives way to ancient Mexico. Get ready for a wild ride that you will never forget! There are a number of opportunities to enjoy big jumps and tricky stunts. Feel free to have some fun here. Just remember- don't lose your cool here.

North Country.

You will be racing in Northern Europe for this race. A lot of decisive corners await you and will push your racing skills to the limit. You may be able to cheat and get some unfair advantages here, especially when encountering the series of sharp corners here. Just be attentive and aware for any real chances to take shortcuts.

Pacific Spirit.

This is an urban race course that also includes a lovely drive through some country roads. Don't let up here on this Canadian course, because it will trick you. Two great songs compliment this course among default music tracks. "Sanoqoua" (the Techno theme) and "Siwash Rock" (the Rock theme) are the two great default songs for this course. Be careful navigating the corners here. The hilly portion leading back into the city offers the most difficult ride around this course.

Mediterreaneo.

In a venue clearly inspired by the island of Mykonos, this is a Greek venue with loads of beauty. Its beauty is actually a veil for the difficulty level of this course. It is too easy to overshoot corners and end up on the roof of your car if you are not careful. Going through the village can be tough. Elsewhere, careful throttle and brake usage will help you get around the corners of this tough course and around the various country roads. Also, be careful racing around parts of the course as some of the roads can be narrow to navigate around.

Mystic Peaks.

This venue has inspiration from Nepal and Tibet. It is undoubtedly the longest course in the game. Victory here requires making as few mistakes as possible. The roads are narrow along with the many icy walls through the tunnels. This is NOT the course to take exotic cars around for a race! Despite this, get ready to execute the drive of your life if you expect to win here!


Because I unlocked the hidden track, I will give you a preview of it.

(The Bonus Track).

Take a tour with this American track that features a host of environments. The track has a theme of movies laden within this venue, so you will be racing an intense race track through a variety of movie-like settings. Want to know more about it? Play the game and unlock it yourself, darned you! :P


This gives you some insight on each of the tracks.

--- Need for Speed 2: Racing ---

Three modes are available to you in NFS2:SE. Here is a look at the main kinds of racing:

• A Single Race lets you simply enjoy each track in the game any time you wish.

• In Tournament mode, you can take on the challenge of racing each of the game's tracks in a tournament. Score the most points to win the tournament.

• Knockout mode lets you take on a variety of cars through the game's many tracks. The lowest-finishing car after each race is eliminated. You don't need to win each race, but you want to avoid finishing last. If you manage to avoid being placed last, you will win the Knockout competition.


Success in the Tournament and Knockout modes will unlock cars and tracks.

--- Final Thoughts on "Need for Speed 2: Special Edition" ---

Before the next NFS title moved more towards Hollywood-style theatrics and car chases, I think this game was the last of the great NFS titles. Most of the future NFS titles failed to really resonate with me from a classic racing game standpoint. So you can say that this was the last Need for Speed that actually was about the thrill of speed without any Hollywood theatrics.

Video Preview.

This is a video preview of "NFS 2: Special Edition":

^ "Need For Speed 2 SE - Mediterraneo"


Did you like this video? If you want to buy this game and play it on the PC, you can get it on Amazon. So check this out:


^ "Need for Speed 2: Special Edition" for PC.

Or, get this game as part of THIS bundle:


^ "Need for Speed 2 Collection" for PC.


I hope you've enjoyed this blog post.





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The Need for Speed

Need for Speed is one of today's finest franchises. However, not as many people know of its roots. Enter "The Need for Speed" released in the mid-1990s. Who knew this series would evolve into the highly-successful franchise it is today? It all began with The Need for Speed. Before you go thinking this game offered the same Hollywood-style thrills of today's NFS, this was back when Need for Speed was about the thrill of speed. It was all about the cars. If you haven't an idea of what to expect with this game, allow me to introduce you to the very first Need for Speed title and what eventually made this one of the most successful racing game franchises of all time.

This blog post is a modified version of my post on "John's Blog Space" on "The Need for Speed." Most of this post you're reading is just an edited version of the one I did for JBS.

NOTE: I will mostly base my review of this game on "The Need for Speed: Special Edition" for DOS/Windows.

About the Label: "Need for Speed"

Blog posts regarding the Need for Speed series are featured here in this blog under the "Need for Speed" label. This is one of Electronic Arts' most famous franchises. NFS is all about arcade-style racing. Throughout the history of the franchise, it has been known for intense action; and in later titles, it has taken on Hollywood-style roles with evading police and gaining credit as an illegal street racer among other tasks.

--- The Need for Speed at a Glance ---

The Need for Speed was fulfilled by many gamers in the mid-1990s with The Need for Speed. What used to be Distinctive Software Incorporated (famous for racing games like "Stunts"/"4D Sports Driving" among many other titles) became Electronic Arts Canada. Pioneer Productions helped also in making The Need for Speed. Before many of the Hollywood-like shenanigans and illegal street racing of future games of the series, Need for Speed started out as a critically-acclaimed arcade style racing game that really showcased the incredible appeal of these cars. This game was quite advanced for its time, because never before has so much detail been put on cars. You could say that this was one of the first racing game series to feature and profile each of the cars. It was one of few games to feature actually licensed cars as well as decent profiles on each one of them.

My experience with this game began when I downloaded a demo off of America Online (now AOL) featuring Autumn Valley Speedway as the demo track and the Dodge Viper RT/10 as the demo car. Impressed completely, I went out to a Wal-Mart and bought this game back in 1998 or so. Granted my PC was barely above the minimum requirements, I obviously felt how slow this game was. I still enjoyed the action. This began an affair with the Need for Speed series for me. Prior to this, my only other experience with The Need for Speed was as a PlayStation 1 demo on the City course.

This game also began my appeal for Road and Track magazine. I had a few old magazines from this publication; now, I have at least 20 editions of Road and Track magazine between 1998 and now. The insight from Road and Track magazine connects gamers to these actual cars. It's not just a racing game- it's a racing game that provides the all-important connect to real-life cars. You are using these automobiles in a fantasy setting, but you are learning about each one through the game. These days, it seems more like "include cars and don't provide much of info on them. Just put the cars in." This is an immense disconnect in most modern racing games.

Most of all, The Need for Speed helped me in my education of automobiles. So you can say that this game has made a huge difference to me in understanding cars.

Music and Sound.

There are a number of songs you can listen to in this game. There are six rock songs and six techno songs. You can pick a favorite to or shuffle between all songs or either featured genre. The cars all have great engine noises whether behind the wheel or in an exterior view.

Racing.

There are many ways to enjoy racing in this game:

• You can run a Single Race against seven other competitors. You can set the pack to either be against all of the cars in the game or set it to feature a pack of one specific car. For example, you can set the opposition in a Single Race to be against a pack of seven other Corvettes.

• A Head-to-Head race involves a straight one-on-one duel between your car and a rival car.

• Race in a Tournament against other cars. Rack up enough points to win the championship and unlock content! You can run the races in just about any order you like.

• Compete in a Time Trial to learn each course or to shoot for the lap/race records.

When it comes to records, you can try to score the best times or post the fastest top speed for each track, segment, or race. There's your look at The Need for Speed.

ADVICE: When running a race or after crashing, you must manually upshift to get going, even if you are using an Automatic transmission. You must upshift right when the lights turn green when starting. After a crash, best to upshift immediately once your car is respawned after crashing.

--- The Need for Speed: Cars ---

Without cars, you can't race. This game has eight cars to choose from spanning four different countries of origin- United States, Japan, Germany, and Italy. The cars are subdivided further with three different classes of performance. While the car classes aren't apparent until you race in Tournament play, you still have to be aware of what performance levels each car has prior to you racing them. With all of this said, you have eight highly-capable sports cars to use across eight locations spanning multiple environments. Each car has nicely digitized interiors. You actually sense the wheel turning as well as the gauges all working fairly well.

The Tournament Class A machines are the fastest and most powerful cars. The Tournament Class C cars are the weakest-powered and slowest cars. In the middle are the Tournament Class B cars. Among the classes, there are only two A-Class cars while the other two classes have three cars.

Here is your look at all of the care featured in this game. There are no options to change the colors of each cars. The parentheses () indicate what class each car is in. This is to indicate what class of car each car belongs to when you do Tournament play. When you do Tournament play, these are the vehicles you can choose from for each class. Each track in the game is restricted to a certain class of car when you run in Tournament mode. So therefore, there are only certain cars you can run for each course in Tournament play. More info on each track in the next section. For now, accustom yourself to each of the cars featured in this game:

Ferrari 512TR (A).

Ferrari's 512TR is an Italian Stallion that is the Testarossa's replacement. Even those who know nothing about cars know that a Ferrari is nothing to scoff at, and this one is no different. This $217K US dollar car delivers great handling. It has 421 horsepower and 360 lb. ft. of torque.

Lamborghini Diablo VT (A).

Only for the truly elite, the Diablo VT is the rocketship of choice for elite racers in TNFS. It is the only car with four-wheel drive in the game. This mid-engined rocketship is also the most expensive car in the game at $252K US Dollars. It is also the game's heaviest car at a luxury car-like 3865 lbs. Because of its 4WD layout, serious understeer can be experienced when trying to corner. Just take note of this when doing racing with this car. Otherwise, let this V12 beast and its 492 horsepower sing on the road!

Mazda RX-7 (C).

The cheapest-priced car in the game and the only Rotary car in the game, the $37K US Dollar RX-7 is a capable Japanese sports car. The car boasts 255 horsepower of 2-rotor, Wankel, twin-turbo goodness with this car. It has the lowest torque at 217 lb.-ft., and it also has the lowest displacement at 654 x 2 cc (or 1308cc) displacement. The RX-7 is the lightest car in the game as it tips the scales at 2850 lbs (approx. 1293 kg).

Acura NSX (C).

The NSX is the most expensive of the C-Class cars in this game, and it is also the only mid-engined C-Class car. This car delivers some great handling. The normally-aspirated, V6-powered, 270 horsepower car has no problem delivering the goods with its mid-engine layout. Certainly an enjoyable car to say the very least in this game.

Toyota Supra (C)

The MKIV Toyota Supra delivers some serious power for its class. It has the tallest spoiler of all the cars in the game. A total of 320 horsepower comes from the 6-banger in this intercooled twin-turbo sports car. The car costs $46K USD as of this game. It is the heaviest of the C-Class cars with its weight of 3450 lbs.

Porsche 911 Carrera (B).

Porsche power is ready to rule in this game with the Porsche 911 Carrera. As the only rear-engined car in the game, it delivers a driving experience different from most of the other cars in the game. It is also the only German car in the game as well as the only Flat-6 powered car in the game. This car costs $60K USD and has 270 horsepower. It certainly won't beat the other two B-Class cars in a drag race, but you can always win with it where racing matters most- in the corners. At 3065 lbs., it is the lightest B-Class car.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (B).

America's sports car is the Corvette. The $66K US Dollar Corvette ZR-1 (C4) here is no weakling among the other cars. It boasts 405 horsepower from its 32-valve V8. It's a real no-nonsense car. It is the heaviest of the B-Class cars with its 3512 lb. weight.

Dodge Viper RT/10 (B).

Since its debut in 1992, the Dodge Viper has been quite a unique automobile. The RT/10 is a convertible version of the Viper. And personally, I've never really liked convertible Vipers. This was the car used in the demo version of The Need for Speed. It boasts the highest displacement of any car in the game with its 7990cc V10 engine. A total of 400 horsepower and 450 lb. ft. of torque gives this car plenty of get-up-and-go. Use that get-up-and-go from this $59K US Dollar car to win you some races.


All cars are supplemented with information and video to help you to understand each car thanks to Road and Track Magazine details and figures. You can learn about the cars in general, learn about their mechanical aspects, read up on their performance figures, and learn about the history of each automobile. All the prices for each car are estimates from 1994 or 1996 for each car.

An extra car (or more?) can be unlocked through progress in the game.

--- The Need for Speed: Tracks ---

The game features a total of eight venues. Three of which, feature three stages of racing. The other five are straight up circuit races. All tracks can be raced in Midday conditions. You can race these courses in the morning or in the evening depending on the venue. A bonus track can be unlocked. Here are the eight courses you race on:

• City
• Coastal
• Alpine
• Rusty Springs
• Autumn Valley
• Burnt Siena
• Vertigo Ridge
• Transtopolis

Each track will be explained further in this section.


These races can be set in two different times of day depending on the track. Each track is run in the Midday by default, but can be run in the Morning or Evening depending on the venue. The three point-to-point courses feature three segments of racing. The other five are closed-circuit tracks. With the exception of one, every track can be raced on for two laps, four laps, or eight laps. Only Rusty Springs is raced on for four laps, eight laps, or sixteen laps.

Tournament play restricts each track to a certain class of vehicle for each. City and Rusty Springs are the only C-Class tracks. You will use the game's weakest cars on some of the easiest courses with C-Class. Coastal, Autumn Valley, and Burnt Siena are all venues restricted to the B-Class. This is where the fairly quick and fairly powerful cars do battle. The A-Class features the game's two powerful cars doing battle at Alpine, Vertigo Ridge, and Transtopolis.

Here is an individual look at each track:

City.

This venue that takes place on city highways. This is the easiest of the three point-to-point races. The entire course gets tougher the deeper into the city you go. The second and (especially) third legs of this course will really test you with decisive corners abound. This track is 16 miles long in total. Segment 1 is 5.2 miles long, Segment 2 is 4.7 miles long, and Segment 3 is the longest at 6.1 miles. This track can be raced in Midday or in the Morning. This track is open for C-Class cars in Tournament play.

Coastal.

This venue utilizes a highway near a coastline. To win here, you will need to drive smart. The roads are tougher the further you go along. The turns are at their most difficult when heading into the third leg of this course, which includes a loop around the lighthouse. This track totals 15.2 miles in length. It is 5.2 miles in Segment 1 and 5.0 miles in length for both Segment 2 and Segment 3. You can race this course in the Midday or in the Evening. In Tournament play, this track is for B-Class cars.

Alpine.

This venue is distinctively European with its winding and difficult roads. It is almost a death wish to try to blast your way around this course. You can get some big jumps by going fast enough from some of the dips in the road. This track is a tough one no what segment of it you race. Of the long courses, this one is the longest, with a total of 18.1 miles in length. Segment 1 is 5.7 miles long, Segment 2 is 6.4 miles long, and 6.0 miles for Segment 3. This track is restricted to A-Class vehicles in Tournament play.

Rusty Springs Raceway.

This venue is an old oval race track in a desert setting. The laps will wind by fast as you explore the depths of this old course. This is no traditional oval. You don't have the luxury of banking in the corners to help you clear corners better. If anything, this is more like a road course that thinks it is an oval. Only Turn 4 should be of concern to you. It is 1.5 miles long. This track can be raced in the Midday or in the Evening. It is a track for C-Class vehicles in Tournament play.

Autumn Valley Speedway.

This venue is a proper race track with characteristics of an open road course. This track was the track you raced on in the demo version of "The Need for Speed: SE." It is the only course in the game besides Rusty Springs Speedway that is not a track that utilizes city streets or country roads. Try to find the best line and consistently find the best line to win. You can race this track either in the Midday or in the Morning. Three miles and eight turns of racing goodness await you here. This is a B-Class track in Tournament play.

Burnt Siena.

This venue utilizes a Western environment complete with an old mine. Believe me when I tell you this- this track is NOT easy! A big reason why is because of the dark mine you must race through in your Odyssey around this course. Go all out when you exit the tunnel heading back to the Start/Finish line. You can race this track in the Midday or in the Evening. This 13-turn track is 3.0 miles long. This course is not easy. This is a B-Class track in Tournament play.

Vertigo Ridge.

This venue is a coastal drive in a coastal setting that seems to resemble the northeastern United States. It is a great drive as long as you are not doing more sightseeing than racing. The corners can be tricky, so drive smart. This track can be raced in the Midday or in the Evening, and it is 3.0 miles long. In Tournament play, only A-Class vehicles can race this track.

Transtopolis.

This venue is an urban nightmare utilizing both an industrial sector and the city's airport. If you want the ultimate test, try this course. Victory will be tough to come by considering the many decisive turns and corners that make this course nightmarish. Lots of perilous turns await you here. Only the truly adept can find victory here. This 16-turn nightmare of a track can be raced in the Midday or in the Evening. Get ready for the most treacherous three miles of your life here. Only thing more nightmarish is that this is a track for A-Class cars in Tournament play.


A hidden track called "Lost Vegas" can be unlocked. I haven't unlocked this myself, so I'll leave it up to you to unlock and learn more about. This track looks like a high-speed thrill ride based on a video I seen for this track. It's three miles long.

--- Overall Review of The Need for Speed ---

It is strange to believe that for as many people who know today's Need for Speed, not many realize the roots of NFS. It has gone from a racing game series about some of the fastest and most exclusive sports cars to a game seemingly focused on Hollywood-style theatrics and intense racing. It's really a great shame that not as many people know of this title.

Why should you care about this game? If you are ANY kind of Need for Speed fan, you should play this game to at least see how the series started out. The series did NOT start with "Need for Speed: Underground." This was Need for Speed before the re-imagination of the franchise from casual racing game to casual racing game with Hollywood action and/or illegal street racing. More importantly, this was a racing game that profiled all cars extensively and professionally. The fact you could learn more about each car (and all cars are real) gave you a sense that you can not only enjoy racing these cars, but if you had the money, you could actually buy these cars in real life. Considering this game was made in 1994 with the original and 1996 with the Special Edition, all eight of the featured cars can probably be found on various used car dealer websites.

I'm sorry- the original appeal of the Need for Speed franchise died after "Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed" (because I've never played "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2" (long story)). Things were transitioning from fun racing to Hollywood theatrics starting with "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit." That game was still fun. "NFS: High Stakes" extended the Hollywood thrills. It was "Need for Speed: Underground" that really began the different vision of the series long before the Hot Pursuit games came along. But when it comes to a proper link between cars and their real-life counterparts and establishing that proper connection between the two, few games could match what "The Need for Speed" could do. It would be near impossible to feature every car in most modern racing games with the same level of detail on every car in modern racing games, but the insight provided in The Need for Speed is incredible both for its time and for racing games in general.

Video Preview.

Here is a sample video showcasing "The Need for Speed" in action:


^ "The Need For Speed SE: Transtropolis Challange"

You like? The insight on cars in this game is provided by Road and Track magazine. To learn more about Road and Track magazine, visit their website at the official Road and Track magazine website at www.roadandtrack.com.


You can buy this game using these items:




That concludes this blog post!





I have mostly discussed this game mostly on the basis of "The Need for Speed: Special Edition" for Win95/Win98. However, it is also playable in DOS. You will need DOSBox for this game if you have a modern (Windows XP or later) and want to play this classic game. You can buy this game on Amazon:


If you don't have DOSBox, you can find a link to DOSBox by reading my DOSBox blog post. Keep up with all things Need for Speed by visiting www.needforspeed.com.

Just so you know, I am planning on reviewing more Need for Speed titles in my blog. So stay tuned for more content from yours truly! Thank you for reading in the meanwhile! :)

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