Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed

aka: NFS 5, Need for Speed V, Need for Speed: Porsche, Need for Speed: Porsche 2000, Need for Speed: Porsche 2000
Moby ID: 1398
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Description official descriptions

Need for Speed is back with more! Drive over 80 different Porsches, from the first 356 Ferdinand to the 2000 911 Turbo over multiple tracks. Some tracks have alternate paths. Others are rally tracks where you go from one end of the track to the other instead of doing circuit racing.

Two completely different single-player modes available. First, there's factory driver, which have you join Porsche as a test driver. As you complete different challenges, which can vary from doing specific manoeuvres in pre-alloted time to racing fellow drivers, you will make your way up to Ace Test Driver. Second, there's Evolution, which is the "career mode", you start with enough money to buy one 356, and start racing. As you win races, time will pass, new cars will become available, or you can peruse the used car market. Buy/repair/sell cars, win races, buy enhancement parts for your car, and make your way to the end of the modern era...

You can also play online via EARacing.com, where you can pick customized cars in your Evolution stable or choose stock cars and race up to 7 other cars simultaneously.

The graphics have been enhanced and the physics model changed to reflect a true 4-point system, and you can feel the difference between the different vehicles.

Spellings

  • 极品飞车:保时捷之旅 - Simplified Chinese spelling

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Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Windows version)

181 People (165 developers, 16 thanks) · View all

Lead Programmer
World Rendering
Car Rendering
3-D Programming
AI Programming
Physics and Simulation
Cameras and Controllers
Tools
Audio Programmers
Communications Programming
Interface Programmers
Additional Programming
Lead Artist
Lead Track Artists
Lead Car Artist
Lead Graphical Interface Artist
Tracks
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 88% (based on 30 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 86 ratings with 7 reviews)

Better buckle up, you're in one heck of a ride!

The Good
In terms of racing games, this one has it all. Don't be put off by the fact that the only cars featured in this game are Porsches. There are 80 cars in this game and each one is realistically modelled and has it's own distinctive feel. I've never driven a real Porsche so I don't know exactly how accurate the controls are, but this isn't meant to be a perfect simulation, it's meant to be fun and it delivers beautifully. Power slides, controlled skids, and 360's are made easy. It is also easy to completely lose control of your car if you're not careful making for some very exciting racing action. I don't remember the last time I got such a rush playing a computer game.

This game also delivers with depth of play. There are 3 race modes: Evolution, Factory Driver, and Quick Race. The Evolution mode takes you through the entire history of Porsche cars starting you in the year 1950 of the Classic Era. By winning tournaments and collecting prize money you are given the opportunity to buy new cars to race in the next event. You can also buy special parts for your cars to enhance their performance. The Factory Driver mode lets you play the role of one of the elite Porsche test-drivers. You will be presented with a series of challenges from running a simple obstacle course on the skid pad to getting your boss to the train station on time while weaving in and out of traffic. Quick Race is a good mode if all you want to do is burn some rubber and test the limits of these speed machines. The game also includes the Porsche Chronicles, an encyclopedia on the history of the various models, and 9 European road courses along with 5 closed track courses.

The thing that struck me the most the moment I started the game was the graphics. They are stunning. As you race through the valleys of Normandy you will be able to see the sun creeping out from behind the hills, and the hill's shadows cast down across the track. Mist rises from cascading waterfalls as you zoom by. You will see farmers sweeping the porches of their sleeping village homes and dock works carrying crates through the industrial zone. You have to see it to believe it. Replays are excellent.

Did I get it all? No, I forgot to mention the spectacular physics modelling and the incredible 3D models of the cars (even the interior of the car is modelled!). I could go on and on, but I think it's better if you see for yourself.

The Bad
About the only real complaint I have about this game is that not all the tracks are available to you right away. You have to unlock them by completing the eras in Evolution mode. This is a typical feature in a race game but I find it very annoying.

I also found the road courses to be rather short. In one of the faster modern cars they can usually be completed in 2-3 minutes. It would have been nice if they had included some kind endurance track.

If you are adamantly, militantly anti-Porsche and hate everything so much as related to the company you might not like this game.

The Bottom Line
Most of us will never have the money to afford a real Porsche; this is the next best thing.

Windows · by Ghost (120) · 2000

The most realistic game in the Need For Speed series

The Good
Naturally, what led me to buy the game were the screenshots on the box, but it turns out the gameplay was very enjoyable too. There are two special modes, Evolution and Factory Driver, that allow the player to grow and be rewarded. A lot more games are picking up on this now to extend gameplay past the regular arcade mode.

In fact, the driving in NFSPU is more simulation than arcade compared to the previous NFS games. Some will scoff at that, but I enjoyed it. It made the Porsche driving experience more realistic, especially feeling the immense driving difference between a 356 and a 959. Old cars wobble and powerslide, and new cars growl with power. Each car is very customizable with engine/body parts and colors/decals.

The scenery on each of the ten or so tracks is nice, ranging from twisty forest paths to city speedways to snow-capped mountains. The driving controls make a fair amount of sense, and the gauge display is very customizable depending on how much or little you want on-screen.

The Bad
When you first play the evolution mode, it's a great challenge, but after a few plays, you realize you can just buy and sell used cars for profit, and keep racing races you easily run, to earn money, and it starts becoming trivial. Some of the factory driver missions take a huge amount of practice, and it can be frustrating trying to do the same spin over and over until the game decides you did it right.

The menus cannot be controlled with the arrow keys, and so you're caught shifting between mouse and keyboard when you pause the game mid-race.

There are a whole ton of 356 and 911 models in the game, but some are entirely missing from the game, like the 928, 924, and 968. Some of the missing cars are downloadable from the EA web/ftp site, but you can't drive them in factory or evolution mode.

The Bottom Line
Porsche fans will naturally eat this game up, as it covers 50 years of Porsche history in pictures, videos, and of course in the game itself. Even though it's in the Need For Speed series, and the newer cars can get quite fast, the game is more about driving than speed, and learning to appreciate the handling of each car... even the cheap little 914. Even after four years, you can still find this game new in the $10 bargain bins, which is a testament to its long-lasting playability and enjoyment.

Windows · by Andy Voss (1861) · 2006

Porsche, The poor man's Ferrari

The Good
I must say that when I started playing this game I thought I'd be over it in about an hour. But I got so hooked I went out and bought a Playstation style control.

The game has so much depth that after playing every night for a week I was only just over half way through it.

The graphics are great, they give a really good arcade feel but still look detailed enough to make you notice new things next to the track every time you race. The level of detail on each car is to the extreme. Every part of the car is noted, from the leather interior to the air intakes in front of the front and rear wheels.

For someone who isn't really into Porsche I would say that the addictive factor for this game is massive.

The Bad
180 reverse. If I am ever asked to do this again I will scream. As much as I love the game this one almost had me give up. Not to give everything away, but when you are asked to do a 180 in to reverse into 180 you will know what I mean.

I found the police car AI to be a let down. I don't really understand why they are there in career mode. The cops should try to pull you over or not be in the game at all. The spoil tactics used by the cops would have been less of a pain if the cops didn't have cars with about 100 more horses then yours.

The handling of some cars left me feeling about confused. If a Porsche is so high performance then how can you lose the back end doing 250KM round a long right hand sweeper? But as I've never driven that fast or a Porsche I can't compare the attempt at "realism".

Where's the Ferrari?

The Bottom Line
Best arcade game I've ever played.

Windows · by greenmangroup (12) · 2004

[ View all 7 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
Incomplete credits? Mtik333 (29526) Nov 8, 2020

Trivia

Awards

  • PC Gamer Magazine
    • April 2005 - ranked # 28 in the 50 Best Games of All Time list* PC Player
    • (issue 01/2001) - named as "Best Racing Game in 2000".

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by MAT.

Additional contributors: PCGamer77, SchumiFan, Steve Hall, Zovni, Kasey Chang, Unicorn Lynx, tarmo888, Alaka, dartg55, Victor Vance.

Game added May 3, 2000. Last modified March 14, 2024.