Risk It All To Win

The newest entry in Electronic Arts' ever-expanding line of racing simulations is here: Need for Speed: High Stakes is the fourth in the NFS line, boasting among other things damage models for the first time. Other new features include a "win money to buy more cars to make more money" scenario, a damage model, new courses, a damage model, more cars (for a total of thirteen), and a damage model. Did we mention the cars take damage?

Oops, cafe in the way

Nice castle

Released only months after NFS 3, High Stakes boasts the same (if not better) great graphics, competitive computer AI, weather condiitons, and the Hot Pursuit mode of its predecessor. In fact, besides the changes mentioned above, NFS HS is extremely similar to NFS 3, making it feel more like a half-version update.

Tunnel of love

BMG'w ugly red interior

Not to be taken lightly

Just because there aren't a lot of changes in High Stakes doesn't mean it's a sequel to be overlooked. Quite the contrary, if any game should be overlooked, it's NFS 3. High Stakes feels like the game that NFS 3 should have been, making yours truly, who purchased NFS 3, just a wee bit bitter.

Kickin' up grass

Night driving dangers

For those of you unfamiliar with the Need for Speed line, here's the low-down: The Need for Speed series is a series of games which allow you to race very, very fast production cars, from the Ferarri 550 to the McLaren F1, through a variety of fictional-but-realistic courses. The emphasis is on racing, with little to no off-track exploration allowed. You can race against one car, a bunch of cars, in a tournament, multiplayer, with or without traffic, etc.