Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999)

3.59 from 170 ratings

366 members have it in their collection · 4 playing now · 46 backlogged · 51 wish listed

How long? Main story 8h (from 1 logged playthrough)

Just like its predecessors Need for Speed: High Stakes is an action racing game with a wide selection of exotic sports cars and many different types of tracks. The trademark Hot Pursuit mode game mode from the first game in the series is still present, where players race opponents on tracks filled with regular traffic and police cars that chase the racers. The classic pursuit mode is extended with two additional modes: Getaway and Time Trap. In Getaway the player needs to shake off the police in a set amount of time, or playing as the police trap a speeder before time runs out. In Time Trap an entire race needs to be completed before time runs out, or as the police all speeders need to be arrested. There are minor differences between the two platforms for this game mode, regarding spike strips, road blocks, and back-up. The latter for instance is unique to the PlayStation version. The Pursuit mode is available in multiplayer as well and players can take different sides or race together. It is the first game in the series to introduce a Career mode with a set of challenges. Beating these is rewarded with trophies for unlocks, and money to spend on new cars, repairs and upgrades. In the PlayStation version the Career mode is split up into two different sets of challenges: Tournament (required races) and Special Event (optional races). High Stakes in the title refers to races where players bet their cars. In the PC version these are a part of the Career mode when the player owns more than two cars. In the PlayStation version two players can insert their memory cards and race against each other. The winner immediately receives the opponent's car and it is deleted from the loser's memory card right away. In addition to the new game modes it is also the first game in the series to have a detailed physics models. Damage now affects both the appearance and the performance of the car for the first time. Read less

Details

Developers: EA Canada
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Genres: Racing, Simulator
Franchises: Need for Speed
Series: Need for Speed

Release dates

Mar 24, 1999 (Full Release) (North_America) PlayStation
Apr 02, 1999 (Full Release) (Europe) PlayStation
Jun 17, 1999 (Full Release) (Japan) PlayStation

Also available on

Need for Speed: High Stakes (1999) · PC

Rating distribution

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Community All Reviews Statuses

Review smokingfliege 5/5 · Dec 13, 2016

One Of The Best NFS

The High Stakes mode was probably the best campaign a NFS ever had. It´s not difficult: From time to time you race against others (1 on 1) and the winner gets the loser´s car. And there is no turning back. You can´t typeset your car if you don´t have another one, though. I already ruined my campaign for a couple …

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