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)

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

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, if you like Porsches

The Good
Excellent driving model, different cars feel different, the setup changes do make a difference, multi-pathed courses, factory driving mission-based challenges, plenty of tournaments to play, decent online play.

The Bad
Car's handling is slightly exaggerated, inability to create your own missions or tournaments, not enough difference in the parts, money too easy to come by, limited number of tracks, online play could be easier to configure, limited to only Porsches, lack of hot pursuit mode.

The Bottom Line
Porsche Unleashed is the best Need for Speed Up to date. With 80 different models of Porsches (most are minor variants though) from the 356 to the 200 996-style 911 Turbo, and plenty of different tracks, the sim provides many many races. Each of the cars handle differently, and the two modes, factory driver and evolution are a lot of fun making through. However, several problems prevent it from being a true classic. Lack of editor prevents true longevity, and the Porsche-only focus turns off other exoticar fans. Still, this is one of the best driving games on the market. Don't miss it if you like driving games.

Windows · by Kasey Chang (4598) · 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".

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  • MobyGames ID: 1398
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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.