AbstractThe search for the ultimate racing game is finally over with the arrival of NEED FOR SPEED III: THE HOT PURSUIT. NFS has returned and it is better than ever so hit the streets in one of 11 awesome super cars. All-new licensed cars for this installment include the Aston Martin DB7, Ferrari 550 Maranello, and the Lamborghini Diablo SV coupled with the ability to download more exclusive vehicles from the Need for Speed Web site. For multiplayer enthusiasts, NFS3 supports up to two players with a modem or serial connection or up to eight players with a LAN connection and to top it all the Pursuit mode lets you be either a cop or a criminal so let the rubber burn!!!
ESRB rating
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Suitable for Persons Ages Six and Older |
Full descriptionNEED FOR SPEED 3 throws five game modes your way: Single Race, Tournament, Knockout, Practice, and Hot Pursuit. Tournament is the deepest mode, as it lets you enter a series of racing tours in order to prove your dominance. There are eight cars and eight tracks in the game, although not all of them are available from the get-go. But you can unlock the new cars and tracks by performing well with the initial cars and tracks. Some of the well-known cars you can expect to drive are Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Chevrolet.
Editorial reviewSource:
AmazonNeed for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit puts you behind the wheel of cars as prosaic as the Corvette and exotic as the Lamborghini Diablo. And--in case taking the vehicle of your dreams out for a high-speed spin isn't enough--you can race that car against computer opponents, other players, and the law.
The game has a something-for-everyone design, with an excellent range of racecourses and customization options. Racecourses can be altered to different times of day and weather conditions, varying their level of challenge. The game has a strong commitment to realism, going to extremes to differentiate the cars in appearance, control, and even engine noise. Driving uphill or on rough terrain has predictable (and frustrating, if it costs you a lead!) effects. Pursuit mode, where you can either run from or become the police, is entertaining and heightens the stakes credibly.
Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit is not without minor disappointments, chief among them being the lack of an Internet play option (although you can link players over modem and network). Additionally, some of the course shortcuts fail to deliver their promise as time-savers. It also comes with a virtual airbag--no crash is really terminal. This is a common feature of race games, but a strange convention--it contrasts starkly with the game's realistic driving features. You can strike a road sign, spin out and smash a competitor, or even hit a cliff head-on at 120 mph, and none of these accidents is fatal to the car or driver. Instead, players may back up, turn around, and floor it, in hopes of making up lost time and winning the race. --Alyx Dellamonica
Pros:
- Over a dozen high-performance cars
- Fantastic track design
- Innovative pursuit mode
- Customization options
Cons: - Weather has little effect on handling
- Cars don't show damage when bumped or crashed
Special featuresFive playing modes, over eight licensed cars including hidden cars, over eight unique tracks including hidden tracks, multiple camera and replay angles