Trip Through Every Need for Speed Game Finding My Old Love Again
For a long time, I was done with racing games. I thought this kind would never be great like before. But then, I saw my brother play the old Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The fast chases brought back old, good feelings. So, I set a goal to play every Need for Speed game made and check if I could love it again or if it was right to stop.
This is a trip about me, seeing an old series with new eyes. New folks get a guide to old games, and old fans, a look back. So, get ready, we're going to dive into Need for Speed's past.
The Old Days When Speed Started (1994-1998)
The Need for Speed (1994) & Need for Speed II (1997)
I didn't play the first game when young. Trying it now, it feels too old. The graphics hurt to see, and the controls feel too stiff. But back then, it amazed people. It worked with Road & Track magazine to bring real car sounds to games first. It pushed limits.
Need for Speed II was where I started. My brothers and I loved it. I can still hear the menu music and see the yellow McLaren F1 in my mind. We found cheat codes that let us race with a super fast Ferrari and even a T-Rex. The tracks had all kinds of cool designs. Though the joy of play is strong now, it's still very much of its time.
Good Points
- Pushed new ideas in its time with real cars and cool tracks.
- NFS II had great music and a fun, gaming feel.
- It made supercars known to us.
Bad Points
- Looks and works too old for people today.
- Steering is too basic for now.
Playing Now: Just for Old Times (2/10)
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998)
I remember my dad getting me this game, and I was thrilled by cops chasing you in the game. This felt new then. Playing it again, the car control is much better than before.
But, 1999 was a let-down. Gran Turismo 2 came out and made Need for Speed seem less great. I moved from the fun arcade games to a deep, real driving game in GT2. I turned into a big fan of sim racing.
Good Points
- Brought in exciting cop chases that shaped the series.
- Big boost in how it looked and drove.
- Tracks were great.
Bad Points
- Seemed less cool next to new sim-racing games like Gran Turismo.
Playing Now: Still Good (5/10)
The Best Times When It Was All Great (2002-2006)
I missed some games like High Stakes and Porsche Unleashed then, thinking they were just tricks. Now, they seem quite good, but I was into other things until 2002.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2002)
My brother got this for PlayStation 2, and I had low hopes. Yet, this game was a game-changer. NFS found what it was really about: pure fun arcade racing. Cop chases were epic, you could earn medals, and the start of the game was memorable. Even now, the graphics look good. This game showed NFS had a heart.
Good Points
- Made cop chases in arcade style perfect.
- Great graphics and feeling of speed for its time.
- Addicting way to move up and lots to play again.
Bad Points
- PC version wasn't as good as the PS2 one.
Playing Now: Must Try (8/10)
Need for Speed: Underground 1 & 2 (2003-2004)
When I think of these games, the first thing that hits me is the music. It's top-notch, one of the best ever in a game. They came out when The Fast and the Furious was big, and let us live that dream. The cool car looks, bright city lights, and joy of using nitro this was the heart of Need for Speed. Playing them now, they still feel new. I think a new player would like these more than the new NFS games. They last.
Pros:
- Great car looks and street style.
- Amazing, top music of the time.
- Got the feel of street races just right.
Cons:
- Not having police chases was a miss for some.
Today's Play: Still a must-play gem (9/10)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) & Carbon (2006)
Just when I thought NFS had done it all, they dropped my top race game ever: Most Wanted. The idea of the Blacklist moving up by beating other racers was huge. The BMW M3 GTR is a star. Playing it again, I was stuck in my seat for hours, deep in the game, racing from one spot to the next to beat Razor. This game nails it. It's why I wish I never stopped playing race games.
Then came Carbon, which I didn't give much love before. I was too into Most Wanted. Now, I see I was wrong. Carbon mixes day cop chases from Most Wanted with night vibes and canyon drifting from Underground. It's an ace game, maybe the most slept-on in the series.
Pros:
- Most Wanted had a killer story and the top cop chases ever.
- Carbon mixed the best parts of past games well.
- Both games had solid car control and good game progress.
Cons:
- Hard to find fault; they set a high mark not hit again.
Today's Play: Always perfect (10/10)
The Fall and Dying Light (2007-Present)
The Dark Times: ProStreet (2007) & Undercover (2008)
Then came the dip. ProStreet went for a sim-race style on set tracks, which didn't fit the wild arcade roots. I didn't like it then, and now, it still feels awkward and dated next to rising stars like Forza. It crashed.
The real mess was Undercover. This game made me quit race games for good. It felt empty, buggy, and tired a bad copy of Most Wanted. The world felt dead, the story was weak, and it seemed like the team had given up. It was a sad, empty time.
Pros:
- ProStreet at least tried a new thing (though it didn't work out).
Cons:
- Both lacked the soul and shine of the best years.
- Undercover was buggy and a creative low.
Today's Play: Skip it (1/10) & If you like stories, you may enjoy Undercover, even though it was weak and predictable.
Light Moments: Shift (2009), Hot Pursuit (2010), & Rivals (2013)
I did not play many games that came after. Now, playing Shift and its next part, I was in awe. They are top-notch sim-racers, maybe the best from NFS ever. If you like a clean, track-based race game, these are for you.
Hot Pursuit (2010) felt like a fresh start. The visuals still wow today, and playing it felt like a movie scene. It was pure, big fun. I found Rivals not long ago, and wish I played it before. It builds on Hot Pursuit but adds wild online play where real folks jump in as racers or cops any time. It's a true gem from when NFS was not doing well.
Pros
- All three games look great and are well made.
- Each gives a fun, different racing feel.
- Rivals had online play that was ahead of its time.
Cons
- These were good times in a hit-or-miss period for the series.
Fun to Play Now: Yes (8.5/10)
note
I know that there’s Need for Speed (2015) and Need for Speed Payback. I didn’t mention them here because I don’t own them in my library, so im sorry for that.
New Times: Heat (2019) & Unbound (2022)
Games like The Run and the 2015 reboot felt tired and empty. Now to the latest ones. Heat and Unbound look amazing. Miami's neon in Heat and Unbound's anime style are top-notch. But, the fun stops there. After hours, I felt bored. The worlds felt empty, the racing dull, and the soul missing. They are pretty but shallow.
Pros
- Eye-catching art and nice car fixes.
Cons
- Boring races that tire you fast.
- Dead worlds that don’t grab you like the old times.
- The heart of the series is not there.
Fun to Play Now: Looks Cool, Feels Empty (4/10)
Last Thoughts Is the Magic Still Here
This ride has been up and down. I see why I left racing games. The Need for Speed I loved the one with character, great chases, and a cool vibe is gone. Yet, I'm sad I left those great times behind for so long. Playing old games like Most Wanted and Underground hit deep.
The magic isn’t in the new games, but lives on in the old great ones. As I end this, I think I’ll go race in another Blacklist race. The old ones last forever.
What is your top Need for Speed game ever Drop your thoughts below
