Need For Speed III Hot Pursuit (PS1 Gameplay)

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, released in Japan as Over Drivin' III: Hot Pursuit, is a 1998 racing video game, developed by Electronic Arts Canada and published by Electronic Arts. It is the third major title in the Need for Speed series, significantly incorporating police pursuits as a major part of gameplay. Hot Pursuit remains focused in racing using exotic sports cars, but features races that primarily take place in locations within North America, including varied settings and climates. In addition, police AI is significantly improved over its predecessor, utilizing several tactics to stop both the player and opponent. The game was released for PlayStation in March 1998 and later received an enhanced port for Microsoft Windows in September 1998. A PlayStation 2 version was developed, but later cancelled. The game title's suffix, "Hot Pursuit", is a term for a police pursuit. The game had a sequel that was released in 2002 as Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2.

With police pursuits reintegrated into the game, Hot Pursuit's gameplay now consists of two categories. The first encompasses standard racing, as it has been in its predecessors, The Need for Speed and Need for Speed II, in which the player is allowed to race against one (including split-screen races) or seven other racers in normal circuit racers, knockouts, or tournaments (which allow the player to unlock bonus vehicles and a bonus track). The second category is dubbed the "Hot Pursuit," where police pursuits are included in races; the mode allows the player to select a standard sports car to race against a single opponent in a police-scattered track, and in the PC version only select a police variation of a sports car to pursue and stop all six racers before they complete their race. Completing both Hot Pursuit challenges in the PC version on every track of the game unlocks additional police sports cars.

Two modes were introduced in the game. The two-player split-screen mode allows two players to race using the same computer. The "Knockout" mode consists of 7 races with 8 racers on randomly chosen tracks, in which conditions such as selected difficulty, weather, and so on that the player has chosen before starting the race-series will apply. Each race consists of two laps where the driver who finishes last will be eliminated from the race lineup. All other drivers advance to the next round and carry on with the battle until there is only one player left, who technically wins the knockout competition. The game also supports network play through a serial port, modem, or IPX, and internet gaming through TCP/IP protocol. It also allowed spawn installations of itself to be installed on other machines.

Racing tracks are greatly varied, with settings ranging from wide desert canyons to homely countryside villages, as well as snow-capped mountain ranges. A particular track in the game is even host to a modern and intricate structure identified as the Electronic Arts development office. Most tracks contain one or more secret shortcuts which can dramatically alter the outcome of a race.

The game also boasts some fairly impressive graphics support for its time, allowing up to 1152 x 864 pixel x 16bit in-game resolution, wide screen support, car chrome effects, and slider settings for car detail and view distance. Motion-sensored controllers receive support as well, granting the players a more thorough gameplay experience by actually allowing them to "drive" the cars.

Car tuning is also introduced, allowing any car's handling to be customized by adjusting low or high end properties for Engine Tuning and Gear Ratios, front or back Brake Balance, slow or fast Braking Speed, soft or stiff Suspension, low or high Aerodynamics as well as Rain or Racing tires. Any of these options can be modified via sliders to offer a digit-sensitive, percentage-based effect to the selected car's overall performance. Higher-end engine and gear tuning, for example, will compromise acceleration for better tops speeds. Rear-based brake balance and slow braking speeds make for wider, drifting turns, and aerodynamics provide even higher speeds at the loss of handling.
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PlayStation - Microsoft Windows
Electronic Arts
1998

[LolItsADaniel]

This was the game that got me addicted to games. It's funny to come back and see how pixelated it is, but in my mind it looked just as good as recent NFS games.

[gambleanimations]

Police Officer: You Can't escape!
Me: Well obvs because I'm stuck in a closed circuit.

[arsnik]

Wow, I forgot how much i miss that ps1 startup sound.

[LittleSlim]

I played this game so much with my Uncle Roland. Damn. Miss those days. He passed on in Nov. 2020. Gonna miss you Uncle Ro. God bless. Thanks for all the great memories.

[paulpjr]

The beginning of this brought me back in time. Wow I remember loving this game and thought it had great graphics too. I can't believe how pixelated things were but it was really fun with the sound, music and police chases.

[kennythx]

this takes me back. remembering playing this with my uncle anytime i went over as a kid and using only the vette no matter what lmao. this game is why im in love with cars today and why im a mechanic

[agitosblades]

For someone who has just recently gotten into ps1/ps2, it's really fascinating seeing the ps1's hardware run this whole game especially with the voice acting on top of the a wall collision. Good stuff

[NoteHeart]

"Say good-bye to this baby."

Even they know they're top notch.

[spiderjerusalem]

I loved this game so much back in the day.

[fallenlotus]

This game got me into playing the NFS series. Every soundtrack suited each level. Damn, takes me back.

[pelicanbeak]

You knew when the Corvette cop came you were screwed

[sinodeutsch]

i used to spend hours just free roaming around this game like a sort of GTA V Grand Senora desert

i think this is where my love for GTA free roaming really was born

[omegagamer]

Growing up as a kid in the ps1 days boy the time fly’s lol

[tjtaylor]

I haven't played this game in 15 years, but i just picked up my PS 4 controller and "played" along with... every turn, every drift was still there in my muscle memory. Can't believe the dude missed the shortcut!

[YyJester]

I loved this game as a kid. I wish I had stronger, more clear memories about it.

[theguardian]

"Arrested"? that is if the driver survived.
I remember when the NFS games used to actually be fun.

[coldpiece]

Played this forever with buddies back in the 90s when only winning by skill mattered no pay to win

[JOHNizSiK]

cop : " Hey, watch the paint job!"

[kplkpl]

those cops are just making a fit to stop your car
Cops: blah blah blah blah blah!

[Michigan]

I remember when I thought these graphics were insanely good. I guess it makes sense when the console you played before this was the Sega Genesis. It's also insane that somewhere deep in my brain was the track layout for this track. I remembered what was around almost every turn before he got there. D: