Super Conversions #2

The Need For Speed (1996)
By: Electronic Arts Genre: Driving Players: 1-2 Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Featured Version: Sony PlayStation
Also Available For: 3DO, Saturn, PC

The arrival of the fearsome 32-bit CD-based consoles in the mid-90s was a fascinating time for a gamer. There were several choices, some from newcomers, and in those days each offering needed a 'killer app' to succeed. In many people's eyes, Trip Hawkins' innovative 3DO had one in the shape of The Need For Speed - an immersive, technically stunning point-to-point driving game featuring a roster of real cars which could be driven over varied environments and landscape types against a rival. It persuaded many to commit to the hefty outlay required to play it and was a big hit with those who could afford it (or, more to the point, the expensive console which ran it). The sneers of smug 3DO owners were short-lived, however, as within a couple of years, Electronic bloody Arts had ported it to the PlayStation and Saturn, and it wasn't too long after this the 3DO itself went down as well.

My Diablo battling a Diablo on Vertigo Ridge...

Boo hoo, poor 3DO. I liked it even if no one else did. I even had two of them at one point (don't ask!), but it didn't have too many really good titles so losing the exclusivity on one like this hurt. Still, the supposedly more powerful PS and Saturn wouldn't necessarily do it justice, as had been the case before (*coughStarFightercough*), so how would this one fare? Well, unlike Acclaim's ace 3D combat game, this one matches the 3DO original much more closely. In fact, some might say it's even better since EA even added some stuff! Indeed, for as celebrated as the 3DO game was in its day, it did only feature three main courses, all point-to-point affairs split into three parts, and only two play modes - head to head and time trial. This PS1 version, as well as the Saturn version, keeps all that came before it, but adds a whole lot more.

Taking a Corvette on the outside at Autumn Valley...

Actually, I say that but there is one thing missing here - the 'rival' racer played by Brenan Baird in the FMV bits between races is history. You probably won't miss him though, as there is a lot of stuff to get stuck into. Perhaps the most notable in terms of the amount of extra work it must've required is that of three new courses - Rusty Springs (set in a dusty desert), Autumn Valley (nice tree-lined roads), and Vertigo Ridge (through mountainous areas). These aren't point-to-point stretches of road like the originals though; no, they are actual circuits this time, which means no civilian traffic and no cop chases. There is also a fourth 'bonus' circuit called Lost Vegas which is the only one to take place at night. In addition, there is one new car too - the only one that isn't real, in fact. It's called the 'Warrior' and has the kind of specs that must've seemed like fantasy at the time, and it must of course be unlocked.

Ferrari vs Ferrari on the floopy Lost Vegas track...

As if a mental new car and several new courses wasn't enough, there is also a new Championship mode which addresses one of the few criticisms the original 3DO game received - that it only offered one-on-one races. Now, races consist of seven CPU cars in addition to your own. Your choice of car is limited as they are divided up between courses - lower spec cars for the novice courses, higher spec for the advanced courses, etc - and the other racers usually drive different coloured versions of your car or ones of a similar spec. This type of tournament mode was pretty standard in racing games of the time, especially on the PS1, so it was a wise addition here as well as a welcome one. It's certainly no Gran Turismo career mode but it was still something the original game was sorely lacking and it gives it a crapload more longevity. There's even a new (and very welcome) split-screen two-player mode too!

Here's the 'Warrior' and its specs if you're interested...

There are a few other little bits and pieces EA added such as an electric guitar soundtrack and being able to set which time of day you race (though nighttime is not an option) but that's about it as far as the new stuff is conerned. I think you'll agree they are all positive changes, but are they enough to compete on a console that is positively teeming with quality racing games? The new courses are different in style but they aren't just crappy rushed filler material or padding - each looks distinctive and is decent enough to race on, and more were sorely needed in any case. The only new car isn't really in keeping with the spirit of the game but it at least makes for an interesting diversion. Its horn even sounds like a raygun! Even with all this stuff, it still probably isn't a game that would make the PS1's top five racers to be honest (it didn't make mine anyway) but it's far from a festering stinkbomb of turdiness.

Passing (hopefully) an NSX on the Rusty Springs course...

As innovative and revolutionary as it was, the 3DO game did age quite quickly, especially its speed (check out the excellent recent comment on the review for an explanation). I still enjoy playing it, even if it could be nostalgia talking, but it remains the only racing game for which I use the cockpit-cam and manual gears if that counts for anything. If it was ported to the PS1 without change, it might not have even been noticed, but all the new stuff did help the game stay relevant on a console that has many excellent alternatives, and as a result it's still a decent game. I do have a dilemma regarding its score though. I gave the original 8/10 but that was in comparison to other examples on the 3DO (of which there are few) and also based on its technical qualities and its impact at the time. This PS1 version is superior so can I give it a lower score? Based on the same criteria I'm afraid I'll have to, but it's still a fantastic conversion.

RKS Score: 6/10

Gameplay Video: here's a video of the whole game being played by one of the talented fellows at World of Longplays (check out their great channel here). Oh, and don't watch if you want to avoid spoilers!