The Need for Speed (1994)
The original Need for Speed was released for 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994 with versions for PlayStation, PC, and Sega Saturn following shortly afterwards (1995 and 1996). The first version featured chases by police cars which remained a popular theme throughout the series - the so-called Hot Pursuit (Need for Speed III and Need for Speed VI) editions have sold better in the marketplace than intervening versions. The initial version also featured an obnoxious opponent who taunted the player if the computer won the race or the player got arrested (which happened with the second ticket.)
The first installment of the NFS series was beyond doubt the only serious attempt to provide a realistic simulation of car handling and physics without arcade elements. Electronic Arts teamed up with automotive magazine Road & Track to match vehicle behavior, including the mimicking of the sounds made by the vehicles' gear control levers.
The game contained precise vehicle data with spoken commentary.
3DO NFS Screenshots >>
Super Nintendo SNES free downloads >>

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