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"Possibly the BEST RACER EVER MADE!!!"

This year's installment of the famous Need For Speed series titled "Need For Speed: High Stakes" is possibly the Best Racer Ever Made. EA(Electronic Arts) simply went the way of the fan this year and practically based the whole game around the fans.

As the title impies(High Stakes) EVERYTHING is on the line, including your fully upgraded car. So now you must PUT UP, or SHUT UP!! No more hearing from your friends "I could beat you", now you can say "Ok! Prove it!!" You and your friend(s) or foe(s) then enter the mode titled "High Stakes" where it pits you two in a one-on-one race where you race for PINK SLIPS. That's right. Pinks. You must use the cars that you have saved on your memory cards. You then must enter the race, set the terms, pick your car, and then race them. The cars are wiped off from your memory cards before the race begins(so you can't decide to just remove your card) and then both cars are placed on the winners memory card which forces the losers car to be wiped from his/her card PERMANENTLY!! How's that for a thrill. You can forfeit the race if you like, you still will lose your car, but you can forfeit.

New features in the game include visible and punitive damage. Don't be expecting Destruction Derby like damages, because of licensing, the car manufacturers would only let EA(Electronic Arts) go so far with it. The damage does affect how your car handles. For example: repeated trips to the wall will cause the car to start to drag to one side of the road forcing you to sort of hold the stick to one side just to keep straight. Damage will go as far as banged up finders, cracked then broke windshields, paint being scraped off and so on. Sorry. No loose finders or finders hanging off. Licensing won't allow it. The cars are also accurately detailed and resemble their real life counterparts. They react more realistically as well. The game is sort of a mix between arcade and simulation. While it stills is the arcade in the end, when you play it, you will be spinning out more, the emergency brake isn't completely arcade, and cutting corners at high speeds will result in spin-outs and loss of control. Also clear windows. And probably for the first time, a driver in the car. The driver will also lean and turn the steering wheel when you just want to take a look. Cars also lean when doing turns, which adds a little more realism, and they also bounce when hitting little bumps, which shows off the suspension.

The Hot Pursuit mode has been completely revamped. Unlike last years version for the PlayStation and like last year's version for the PC, you now can choose your side of the law. Police scanners have also been implemented in the game that clues you in on the car you are chasing, or if you are the lawbreaker, what types of plans the police are trying to set up. You can hear where roadblocks are going to be placed and other things of that sort. When you are the cops, the scanner clues you in on how fast the car is traveling and what type of car it is as well as its color and location. There is also a police menu(1player mode only) that lets you call for back-up, road spikes, road blocks, and things like that. Also when you are playing as the cops, you have a time limit to how long you have to catch 10 speeders in 10 minutes. Doing so will unlock other Police vehicles that you can use which are faster and more powerful. You will also be able to hear chatter like "The suspect is trying to evade us" or "I have spotted a red Mclaren traveling at speeds above 110 mph". These little details adds life to the game. Plus two player Hot Pursuit mode will add possibly years of life to the game. Don't expect an easy time on either side of law, because the computer has also been enhanced and they are now smarter. When you are playing as the cops, the computer will pull 180's on you to get away from you. When you are running from the cops, the computer cops will ram your car more, try and box you in, and then try and fishtail you until you spin out.

The game has 6 tournaments to enter into and 8 special events to enter into, unlike last years version with just the KnockOut challenge and one regular tournament. Each tournament has its car requirement that you must use and a certain bonus that you get after completing it. The last track that you race on in each tournament is the track that you will open. The Special Events also have car requirements but for the most part, most of them are open entry. The Special Events do cost money to enter into but they usually pay more in the end. Getting the gold on all Tournaments and Special unlocks 2 secret cars that EA usually throws in each year.

The game features 10 tracks, 7 main tracks(I've heard that there is 8) and 3 Gran Turismo style race tracks. Each track is perfectly detailed. You will be racing through a nice countryside and notice a train pass on the tracks or a hot air balloon going up and down and all around. Waterfalls actually move this year. No more of just a picture of it. You will be able to hear ambient sounds during your race such as the waterfall, the train on the tracks, birds, boats, and everything else that involves with the certain track that you are racing on. Each track is also a lot longer. 2 laps will feel like 4 laps in laps years version. So for the most part, 4 laps is enough. It is also the largest amount of laps that you can select. But the tracks are very long and nicely detailed and with little pop-up, 4 laps is perfect. Details in tracks also include things like rustled leaves when you woosh by them. Perfect sunsets. And the greatest lens-flare that I have ever seen. Each track also has its theme. Such as country or mediterranean.

Each track is placed in a different country. So when you play Hot Pursuit, the cops might have accents, or speak in their native tongue. Such as French or German.

Their are about 20 cars that you can purchase or win on one of the many game modes which include Hot Pursuit, Tournament, Special Events, Single Race, High Stakes and Test Drive. All of you know basically what the other races are, but this is what the test drive is. Would you ever buy a car without test driving it first? Of course not! That is what the Test Drive mode is for. You take any of the cars available and drive them through a one lap drive through traffic on any of the tracks available. If it fits your needs, purchase it. This is also a good mode to test the cars pros and cons. There is also a secret car that you can earn(won't tell you where) that you can ONLY use in the Test Drive mode. It is pretty cool though.

So, there is so much more that I would like to say, but hey, I have to leave some of the things in the game for you to find out. The game is definately a sure buy for any gamer. It's arcade enough for everyone to enjoy, as well as simulation enough for the hard core gamer to enjoy. So if you are still reading this, GO BUY IT NOW!!

GRAPHICS= 9
GAMEPLAY= 10
INNOVATION= 10
LASTABILITY=10
SPEED= 8(due to a little slow down when multiple cars are on the screen)
FUNFACTOR= 10
OVERALL= 9.5


Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99