Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999) - MobyGames (2024)

The Good
More cars, more tracks, more of everythng! This is the first NFS to feature transparent car windows, and it has better graphics. Even the Hot Pursuit mode is improved. Even though damage only shapes your car and cracks glass, it is still realistic. Wheels come loose, your car makes popping noises through tailpipes (Missing in NFSPU.), your car not being able to steer well, even landing from jumps can damage your suspension, and when you turn hard in a direction, your suspension will screech on the road... Or you can turn damage off. The techno music is very good, and will help keep you going. The tracks are very good, ranging from a German countryside (Landstrasse) to a Canadian forest reserve (Kindiak Park). Now about the Hot Pursuit mode, you have three ways to play it, such as Classic, Getaway, and Time Trap (I reccomend it!). You can tell that I love to track down speeders in a desert in my specially tuned Chevy Camaro Police Vehicle, or patrolling the German countryside in my Porsche 911 Turbo German Police Vehicle. Oh yes, your Police car paint job and siren varies in every country. Heck, you might even see some Park Rangers in some snow and Canadian tracks! It's that good, There's a carrier mode, which takes you through some circuits, 3 types: Tournament, Knockout, and High Stakes. I'll tell you about High Stakes, it's where you are put against an opponent in a race, and if you win, you'll win your enemy's car (And a trophy.). If you lose, it's the opposite. There's the usual arcade mode and multiplayer mode. Let's go into the bad parts...

The Bad
I am a little dissapointed that the music from NFS3 wasn't carried into High Stakes. Ah well... How do you call a wingman, and your spike strips almost always fails. Some of the later tracks are hard. I think that the cops should be faster, and more aggresive. I'm surprised that the tracks from NFS3 has been impported into High Stakes (Not a real bad thing.). The car's textures could've been a little sharper, but that's okay. I don't like people who makes those super hi-poly cars for the game... That's just about it...

The Bottom Line
This is the best NFS game I have, and this is one of the greatest racing games there is. There's plenty of challenge for everyone, so GET THIS GAME!!! Only losers say this game sucks. I say that this game is great! It'll keep you entertained while EA fixes its mistakes. Thank you and have a nice day!

The Good
Career mode, ability to upgrade cars, more tracks (total of nineteen this time), more cars, more hot pursuit, damage model, multiple weather conditions, high-stakes mode (race for ownership of the cars)...

The Bad
Circuit tracks only, night and snow driving too hard, upgrades too simple (just none, level 1, 2, and 3), driving model leaves a lot to be desired, damage model too relaxed (damage doesn't have that much effect on your handling), not enough low-end cars (only 2)

The Bottom Line
NFS: High Stakes has plenty of cars, plenty of tracks, plenty of racing modes, and a full racing career mode. It just needs more detailed upgrades, a more realistic driving model, some non-racing missions (like Gran Tourismo's "driving licenses or Porsche Unleashed's Factory Driver), and some non-circuit tracks to be a true classic. It's nearly perfect as is, and highly recommended for any driving/racing fans.

Car handling is highly realistic (take it from me: Start with a slower car) and enemy AI is outstanding. No other road racing game touches it.

The Bad
The menus aren't very intuititive and can be confusing; you can play the game for months and still not remember how to get to some features. In-game, it's pretty much perfect.

The Bottom Line
If you like racing games, you should have NFS: High Stakes.