Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

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Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
20 to County, in pursuit of a yellow Diablo.
Genre(s): Racing Platform(s): PlayStation Microsoft Windows Release Date: PlayStation NA: March 25, 1998 EU: April 1998 Microsoft Windows NA: September 23, 1998 EU: 1998 Developer(s): EA Canada (PS1) EA Seattle (PC) Publisher(s): Electronic Arts Series: Need for Speed Predecessor: Need for Speed II Successor: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (Chronologically) Need for Speed: High Stakes (Release)

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is a racing video game released in 1998. It is the third major installment in the Need for Speed series.

Why It's a Hot Pursuit

1. Introduced the concept of police pursuits as a part of the gameplay, and became a staple of NFS titles.
2. Graphics are great by late 1990s standards.
3. The gameplay, unlike newer titles, is fun. Especially in PS1 version where cops using loudspeakers are hilarious.
4. You can play either as a racer or a cop. (PC release only)
5. The bonus track, the cyberpunk-styled Empire City, is a worthy prize for beating Knockout mode.
6. Awesome hidden Easter egg tracks. (PS1 release only)
7. Car tuning is introduced, which provides improvements for speed and handling.
8. This game, and its sequel Need for Speed: High Stakes, features manual transmission that provides better handling than automatic transmission (PC release only). Some cars (like Corvette C5 and DB7) even have different gear numbers under different transmission corresponding to their real life production lineups.
9. Hot Pursuit's pursuit system has been significantly improved in terms of AI and police tactics over the first Need for Speed.
10. The soundtrack is awesome. Like Need for Speed II, there are interactive soundtracks specifically for each track.
11. Introduced Need for Speed fans and gamers to the incredible Lamborghini Diablo SV (especially the standard Giallo [yellow] SV with black SV logo vinyls), the underrated successor to the iconic Lamborghini Countach (which is also in the game). Since its introduction, the Diablo SV has become an icon of the franchise, with only the BMW M3 GTR (E46) from Most Wanted becoming more iconic.
12. There are lots of nice mods for the PC version you can download online.
13. One of the earliest PC games to have official DLC, with cars like the Spectre R42, the Ferrari 456 M GT, and the Lister Storm joining the roster. Better yet, they're all free.

The Only Bad Quality

1. Both of versions have some issues:
   • PC version:
     • This version won't run on a 64-bit computer, so you won't be able to play this game on modern Windows PCs without using the compatibility mode and some manual alterations.
       • Thankfully, the PCGamingWiki has ways of fixing these issues.
     • This version lacks the PlayStation version's Easter egg tracks, and there is no way of adding new tracks to the game aside from modding the existing nine tracks.
   • PS1 version:
     • Crazy rubberbanding.
     • There is a hidden gimmick that if you have finished more than about 60%-70% of the race consecutively without getting busted (from the start or the last time you get busted), your remaining tickets will reduce to 1 unconditionally. It can be very confusing to play if one doesn't know about this gimmick.
       • Its sequel, Need for Speed: High Stakes, fully inherited this feature and is still hidden.
     • There is an unfinished track which is the alternate route of Empire City. It is confusing why developers scrapped this track. Certainly not for time constraints because they have time to make Easter egg tracks mentioned above.
       • See TR02B for more details.

Reception

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit was met with positive reviews and reached number 10 in the UK charts. It was heralded during its time for its intense action and beautiful graphics.

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