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
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/27 9:20 PM )

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

Groups +

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)

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

Best of the series so far

The Good
The vehicle amount is quite big, 80 cars without downloadable cars, but there are more when you got to the official website at the time of release. I enjoyed the track layout and missions add to the replay value. The music was very usual for EA, mix of funky songs in between but then it drops from good to absolutely terrible, that I got stretched like wire when I hear a bad song here. Thankfully you can manage the playlist in the option menu The tracks are based around Europe, France and Germany. There are also five circuits around Monte Carlo (though all five circuits are in night). Each track has its own time of day too, but it is static. There are details here and there which range from rain to animated people. For example in Normandie you can see a old woman sitting on a chair, and a man cleanning the junk on the floor. Engines sound well, horns sound like they should, background noises like rain, animals etc. There are extras like slides, videos and showcases for each car.

The Bad
Tracks are very limited, lack of custom tournaments, driver models are limited, and have about four models each. Some Factory Driver missions are nearly hard to beat. The AI seems to have catchup but it annoys me alot. Sometimes the vehicles spin out of control, so you lose the pack very often and you will keep an eye for the damage meter.

The Bottom Line
It is the best of the series, it is simulation like but looks arcadey. Get it in any way you can and enjoy it. Trust me.

Windows · by BlaringCoder (169) · 2015

The best Need for Speed yet, and one of the best driving games ever.

The Good
Make no mistake, this game is a masterpiece. The graphics and sounds are simply stunning. The sceneary and the cars look perfect, as real as you're going to get on a PC these days. The handling of the cars is excellent, and each car is subtley different form the next. The controls are stunning, and with a decent wheel (force-feedback preferably) this game drives better than anything else out there. For the first time in a driving game, you really feel that you're behind the wheel of a fast car.

The game has two modes. The test driver mode gives you a chance to test drive a variety of Porche's on your way to becoming chief test driver, and there are some brilliant missions to undertake, like "deliver this car to the docks in 3 minutes, and don't damage it!", or the truly excellent "take this guy out for a drive and scare the crap out of him!"

The main game is very well thought, racing Porches through the ages. You start in 1950 (the classic era) with a few bucks in your pocket. Buy yourself an old 356, and enter the first race. Do well in that race and you'll earn money which you can use to repair and upgrade your car. As you progress you can buy other cars to drive in the later races. At the end of an age, you get the chance to win a special edition Porsche. For example, at the end of the classic era, you get several laps of Monaco in a 550 Spyder - win the race and you win the car.

The Bad
There's not much wrong with this game. It does need a pretty beefy PC to play. On my 500MHz system if I use the wheel, I have to turn off the rear-view mirror or it just gets way too jerky. Racing with the keyboard is OK, but the wheel is just so damn good.

The Bottom Line
Personally, I don't like Porsches. When I first heard of this game I grumbled and complained about it as only a Yorkshireman can. But I put aside my prejudices, and have not looked back. If you don't have this game, get it. If you don't have a wheel, get one. Put to two together, and you have perfection. Trust me.

This is without doubt, the finest arcade racer there is, bar none. It's not a simulation, so I don't have to compare it with Geoff Crammond's games, and I'm glad about that. I'd be afraid it might win.

Windows · by Steve Hall (329) · 2000

[ 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".

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Need for Speed: High Stakes
Released 1999 on Windows, PlayStation
Need for Speed: Collector's Series
Released 2006 on PlayStation 2, Windows
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Released 2002 on PlayStation 2
The Need for Speed: Special Edition
Released 1996 on DOS, Windows
Need for Speed: Carbon (Collector's Edition)
Released 2006 on PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox 360
Need for Speed: Carbon
Released 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows...
NFS: Unbound
Released 2022 on Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (Limited Edition)
Released 2010 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Related Sites +

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1398
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

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.