Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for PC Video Review

Gaming Pastime reviews Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit for PC.
Developed and published by EA, Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit was released for PC in September, 1998. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit contains a nice mix of high speed racing and awesome police chases.
Links
Need for Speed III Modern Patch - veg.by/en/projects/nfs3/
Fan-made Installer - www.nfsplanet.com/en/nfs3/files/
Check out our written review:
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[@contrabardus]

I remember everyone being amazed by the reflections and lighting in this game. It might seem silly now, but back then this was mind blowing.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Im honestly still impressed.

[@emilkata]

I was impressed that the graphic options allowed the wheels to turn left and right! 😅

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

@@emilkata Back then there was a lot of weak PCs that even the smallest change in the graphics (like even disable a 2d background) could made the difference in framerate.

[@apictureoffunction]

Honestly even the minimal "reflections" present on the cars here were very impressive for the time

[@rousyhsntsss7]

Eu gosto muito desse jogo, quero muito ter esse jogo mas não sei como conseguir, alguém me ajuda por favor?!?!

[@khaliqsantos9055]

The greatest soundtracks of any racing game I've played. That Yellow Lamborghini Diablo SV is still my favourite supercar till this day cause of this game.

[@califaern3sto]

"...drive a Diablo, and expect to be the center of attention wherever you go. It's THAT kind of car."

[@hugogarcia292]

I crushed those race courses with the SV DIABLO LAMBORGHINI!

[@Megumi646]

Red Corvette for me

[@borla4491]

That vehicle is my second choice, behind the Italdesign Nazca C2.

[@RacerC45]

This game was my childhood on the PS1.

[@samsoulee]

you and me both man 😎👍

[@mr.legacy6396]

Childhood on pc ÷_÷ good memories

[@nsgames24]

Same here. First NFS game I played and have been a fan of the series since.

[@Snipey1904]

My first NFS game too!

[@RacerC45]

@@Snipey1904 Actually believe it or not was the original NFS on PS1.

[@lds_drive]

I played the shit out of this way back when, and my dad kept asking me why the cars were always floating.

[@HyperVanilo]

The driving physics in PC version is so weird, every time you sharp turn the car will decelerate a lot

[@Hyvelez]

Remember when me and my dad tried this game with the graphics set to max, I was mindblown by how photorealistic it looked back then! Then again I thought the same thing about the first NFS game as well. Would love to see a review of that one as well.

[@hartsickdisciple]

This was one of my favorite games in the late 90's. My Voodoo Banshee brought it to life.

[@samsoulee]

I remember that the soundtrack was Very good !

[@MrJob91]

recently the composer died

[@mid-s_to_earlysViBEZ]

@@MrJob91 :(

[@borla4491]

@@MrJob91 Romo Di Prisco?

[@Mx64MaxyImpress]

@@borla4491 Saki Kaskas Without him,we might not hear is kickass rockin soundtrack Especially, "Little Sweaty Sow" which is first song you ever hear race in first track at "Hometown"

[@Blueoriontiger]

Grew up with this game in 2000-2004, played it for a number of years till I went to college. You couldn’t go wrong with it. One of the biggest things I appreciated was it’s soundtrack, especially the techno songs. Those tunes directly influenced my love of trance and those styles of music today. Fun fact, the same same guy who did the rock music bits for NFS3, did some notable tunes for both Mass Effect 2 and 3. :)

[@easezgin]

Salute, Rom Di Prisco! He is still active and kicking!

[@mackmagic17]

​@@easezginI thought he passed away

[@easezgin]

@@mackmagic17 Saki Kaskas passed away. RIP legend

[@Geforce2187]

A fun fact is that I first played this when it came out back in nineteen ninety-eight when the Undertaker threw Mankind off Hell in a Cell, plummeting sixteen feet through an announcer's table

[@MikeRox83]

How absolutely stunning that game looked with a VooDoo 2. Was my introduction to why GPUs were the way forward. At the time, my teenage self struggled to comprehend how the PC ver looked so much better than the PS1 ver.

[@supinedragoon4097]

This was the first racing game I ever played. The song on Empire City, Warped, is one of the best video game songs I've ever listened to.

[@crimsonkate8241]

NFS 1,2 & 3 all had epic soundtracks & 3 was probably the pinnacle of that approach. After that they changed the music to shorter songs with a more commercial sound that were much more forgettable. Rear Flutterbalst #19 was my fave.

[@davidt1621]

Couldn't agree more about the nostalgia. I remember that if you hit that boardwalk shortcut on Atlantica just right, you don't even have to brake. Learning to make those turns at high speed made the difference between hitting a spike strip and winning.

[@DJBV]

this was a showcase for pc in 1998 best looking racing game on pc that year

[@gillespriod5509]

this one and high stakes best game ever! teenage memories! i still play them

[@ALIEN-qy9bl]

I love this game! I've played the PS1 version and there are some differences between PS1 and PC version. Great review to a great classic. Thanks!

[@stef4o23]

First game I played with my then brand new 3DFX VOODOO BANSHEE. At the time, the graphics seems super realistic, my friends and I just couldn't believe our eyes. In my memory, it still is quite beautiful!

[@father042]

1:25 The best NFS theme song Brings so much nostalgia

[@VdWck]

It was one of the first racing games I played. Played in on PC. I love it. It doesn't look too bad today!

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

For 1998 along with Crash 3 and Half Life 1 they were peak graphics of the era, and still aged so DAMN well thanks to its art direction. They look realistic enough but also simpler and "semi unrealistic", if you understand what im trying to say.

[@MrJob91]

I played this game a few months ago. You can still download extra content lol

[@danyaprosto5125]

What?

[@MrJob91]

If you search forums you can find downloadable content and the extra cars released officially

[@ruthlessadmin]

First game I played when I got a Voodoo Banshee. I was probably 15 or 16 at the time and it blew my mind.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Some people would see High Stakes like just a more complete version of NFS3, and therefore, much better (like Worms World Party/Armageddon kind of thing), and while i agree than High Stakes is a masterpiece and without any doubt a top 3 of the series, this would be very unpopular, but i still prefer NFS3 for only two reasons, the handling on rain that is so stiff (unless you use a fully upgraded Porsche 911 Turbo or the Mclaren), and all the padding it has the career mode and unlocking the cars in the hot pursuit mode. NFS4 is the most complete experience, but NFS3 imo was the most refined and consistent one. I understand why people prefer High Stakes though, and it still lived up to the magnificence of NFS3.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

The best NFS ever made by far imo. Controls and track design was absolutely perfect, also I miss the feature than future NFS lacked what NFS3 have like the showcase of the cars or the weather and the possibility to customize the races as you want.

[@heavyaccept]

Great supercars, great stages, great graphics, great audio and music. So many good memories from both PC and PS1 gameplay. Simply the best Need For Speed game of the NFS series!

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

x2. Even future NFS arent as perfect, revolutionary and polished as this one.

[@haaxxx9]

Does... Does High Steaks can fit in the list? I hope so.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

@@haaxxx9 Along with MW, High Stakes is one of my favorite of the series by far, but NFS3 imo is peak Need For Speed gameplay. No other game in the series i think was so polished.

[@NinjaxShadowXx]

This was the 1st racing game I played on pc I loved it sooo good I wish EA showed it more respect it deserves a modern port or remake remaster

[@vipset87]

anyone remember thinking these graphics were absolutely amazing?

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

For me they are still amazing.

[@RacerC45]

You know, another one of my favorite games was Gran Turismo on the PS1 simply because it introduced me to racing games and techno music.

[@Justyouraverageguy94]

Would love to see a review on nfs high stakes. Great review.

[@Jessafur]

A remade version of the first video I ever watched on this channel? Yes please!

[@BmikroB]

I sat through the whole video with a big goofy smile on my face, while tears ran down on it uncontrollably. While I still prefer NFS4's single player career mode and damage model (which adds quite some depth to otherwise mundane racing), I still love both 3 and 4 equally. But I won't deny, that roaring monstrous Hot Pursuit intro gets me every time, emanating power & evoking so much pleasure in me, it really is a Grand thing in my eyes. It had been etched into my soul, and to this very day it (along with NFS4) Hot Pursuit represents The benchmark of a true Need for Speed experience. Putting tuner fiestas, open-world-centered games, or even pure sport-ish/simracing-oriented entries in the series aside, I do believe that NFS3 embodies the very essence of NFS identity: cops vs. racers driving scary-expensive & stunningly-looking cars in a beautiful scenic world rich in diverse locations with dramatic time of day variations along with extreme weather conditions. And I won't even start on games must-having funky electronic music coupled with banging rock tunes, cars of that specific era, menu & UI effects and overall presentation, cars' showroom plus slideshow with narration, etc. etc. - it all goes w/out saying. In my opinion there are only 2 games who got very, very close in bringing back that classic NFS DNA: Hot Pursuit 2010 & Rivals 2013. Thank you for this video, and for bringing Hot Pursuit back up. I think it really is one hell of a Game changer not just for the NFS series, but for the racing genre as a whole.

[@Ronnybue]

You should play it online with us!

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

While probably in the core NFS4 is better, i think the AI is worse, especially in the NFS3 tracks and the damage system and the high stakes mode can be so frustrating at times. I find NFS3 (at least the PC port) the most perfect game in the series.

[@crimsonkate8241]

While NFS Underground, Most Wanted & Carbon were largely fun they moved so far away from the NFS vibe I'd grown up with. When Pro Street came out I was so disappointed I traded it for Test Drive Unlimited & TDU & TDU2 filled the NFS void for many years for me. Recently tried Hot Pursuit 2010 & Rivals & they do capture a bit of the retro NFS vibe, though Rivals takes the pursuit chaos to a whole new level lol.

[@nerdynautilus5373]

Well this was a blast from the past, thanks!

[@snkrhead]

your reviews are golden

[@LeeeHack]

Great game! And a really nice review. Well done! I also played it as a kid and still reach for it from time to time (the modern patch does the job). As for the pursuit being too easy, there is a easy way to elevate the challenge: just replace every car.viv in the pursuit directory (where car models are stored) with the car.viv from the Pursuit Diablo Sure, the cops don't always know how to handle it properly, but it still makes the pursuit mode much more challenging and fun :)

[@superduperjew]

nice reviews, these were my childhood :)

[@CYON4D]

Nice review, I grew up playing the classic NFS games. They are really special for me.

[@andreasheiss8441]

Great review - thanks!!! NFS3 was my first game where I testet my fiirst graphicscard nVidia Riva TNT - it was mind blowing at that time 😅

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

The weather effects and some tracks designs are still mindblowing imo.

[@balla4life24]

Who remembers getting the El Niño car to 228 mph on the hometown map?

[@goran2009]

This was my first game on my new PS1 console in 1998! Brings back awesome memories...

[@Cykelpump33]

Completing the tournaments on "Expert" felt really satisfying. Once you're down to the final stage you have learned how to cut corners perfectly and will dominate the race. Old NFS like these aren't for everyone in terms of difficulty but damn they're well made pieces...

[@StigDesign]

i hope you review nfs4 too :D Veg`s Patch works on that too :D not widescreen tho the voice guy is actually a voice-artist from canada doing hockey etc he did nfs4 too :D rom Di Prisco is the tecno music guy he did alott on nfs2,3,4,5 :D

[@HDscreenerX]

You've mentioned the soundtrack but you haven said how good it is. "Need for Speed III Soundtrack - Aquila 303", "Cetus 808", " Knossos", "Romulus 3", "Whipped", "Triton", "Pi", "Minotaur", "Monster" and "Sirius 909" by Rom Di Prisco are the best, plus some other ones. I'm over 40, and even today I have some of these on my playlist, perfect for the gym, brings back the nostalgia, it was something magical about this game. Thinking about making a jet skiing video using "Aquila 303 '' soundtrack, I wonder how many older folks would know where this soundtrack comes from. Thank you for the Review.

[@madblank]

You should have mentioned the split screen too, that was a great feature we rarely see today.

[@Zusse]

The memories this was my favorite game as a kid

[@juniorg8507]

Nice just subbed dude

[@campaspe810]

Man that menu music wow memories

[@lgk4805]

"This hot pursuit mode is a bit tame compared to other entries" PS1 version: *laughs in extremely brutal and rubberbanding A.I*

[@borla4491]

It aint no joke.

[@borla4491]

Them guys in the Caprices will came from behind out of nowhere?

[@zef9151]

HP and HS on PS1 are extremely brutal lol

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Yeah, is one of the main reasons why i prefer the PC version along with the driving. In PS1 it feels so stiff.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

@Wadsy Rubberbanding would never be good in racing games and that is a fact. Is even worse than rubberbanding in U1 since at least in that game the opponents slow a bit if they get too far of you but in PS1 NFS3 a single mistake even at the beginning of the race and is all over.

[@squid667]

I still play this game. I never get tired of it.

[@cletusnifler3503]

Just installed this now playing it online with a friend, thanks!!!

[@aprestoargentino5695]

That menu theme...

[@tropixx_xlr1549]

What happened to the other review with the mods? That was so cool you pointed mods out for this awesome game.

[@thomasgianopoulos9774]

This just also happened to be the first real game I played. Also can you do a review of NFS 4 next?

[@kadenthoreson9915]

I remember always crashing and finishing in last and getting upset at the fact a bunch of npcs were better than me 😂

[@califaern3sto]

1998 I was 7 and I'd play this game on PS1 at my cousins house, such a great game!

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

I still have this game on my PSone.

[@rid71k]

Is this a reupload i distinctly remember you doing this review

[@Gamingpastime64]

It's a re-review.

[@TheRageLivesOn]

if you ever get to reviewing NFS Hot Pursuit 2, i hope the PS2 version gets it's own spotlight because that is one of my favorite racing games of all time

[@Gamingpastime64]

We will be reviewing the PS2 games.

[@TheRageLivesOn]

@@Gamingpastime64 :)

[@tropixx_xlr1549]

Best of the classic Need for Speed games, the vehicle handling and physics is absolutely legendary!

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

@@tropixx_xlr1549 I disagree

[@acegrafik]

3:10 Naaah,keyboard is the way....Still got my CD-ROM copy and played it few timers a year.

[@HunterTinsley]

Much respect to Hot Pursuit, but I'll always prefer High Stakes. You gonna review that one?

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Aka Road Challenge. That was my favourite too.

[@johannlabertaler6095]

By Neptune, imagine this with today's graphics. Full customization, no cringy cutscene stuff, friggin mod support, free dlc... Oh, what a wonderful dream

[@pimbech]

It has splitscreen multiplayer!

[@naviennisshanth8195]

can you also review the midnight club games? they are some the best the playstation 2 has to offer

[@angrytomasz]

Unit 17 go ahead ....this boy is done.

[@loudmusickillsthepain648]

Great game. Even compared to the remake that i didn't know existed and the remaster of the remake.

[@matandcat2506]

When you stop the car at 4:19 and the policeman stands there looking like pinhead! 🤣🤣🤣

[@xXSupahXFlyXx]

Are you going to do high stakes next?

[@thewampire4640]

Fun fact, if you’re driving the speed limit the ai cops will ignore you! Thought that was a neat feature which you can use to let them agro on your opponent

[@HarmonicaPL]

How did you make the game to run so smooth? I've laso used the modern patch, but the game (and also NFS Road Challenge I've bought) run with very poor fps

[@vivekantoni2134]

I feel like crying. Ahhh I hope there is a time machine!

[@jacobleukus6930]

Played it on the original PlayStation and it was the first racing game I got into too. That intro brought back some damn good memories Edit: 4:18 the fuck? Is that pinhead?

[@comment.highlighted]

Great Classic Racing Arcade Game 🙂

[@geg_otmopo3]

My favourite NFS. Remember playing it with my dad on split screen, good times. For me, this game has the best atmosphere, that exotic European feeling, I don't know... Tracks are so unique and different from each other, even those which are set in the same area (like Aquatica and Atlantic, Country Woods and Hometown). And music. No, MUSIC. Many people would say, that High Stakes is better in almost every way, but for me it's just bland compared to OG Hot Pursuit.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

I also prefer much more NFS3 honestly. Sure, you have lots of cars, better graphics and new game modes, but having to pay money for the damage of your car or make a bet and lose is so annoying. Plus i think the polices in High Stakes are dumber than Hot Pursuit 3, especially in the original Hot Pursuit maps. Or some tournaments can be so boring because the same track can be repeated up to like 4 times in a row! NFS3 imo is peak Need For Speed gameplay that no other game surprassed. Is just perfect.

[@nonamenoname1942]

I still remember this Atlantica map)...

[@TheMovieslingers]

My first car game !!!

[@frontier_etc]

even on PS1 with 15 fps this was great

[@guguigugu]

love it love it love it

[@survivalist56]

tell me is there such a modern patch mod for Need for speed 2 ?? It does not run on modern systems ) !!!!

[@musclerocker]

Will it come out on steam

[@cannedbeverage7687]

This seems familiar. Is this a re-review? I'm asking because I can't watch this right now.

[@Gamingpastime64]

It is

[@PhuTran-wi7ep]

Just like me, nfs hot pursuit 3 is my first racing game I ever play.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Same with me although i dont remember if it was Stunts first or this.

[@pippo17173]

Its always fun to play as the cops to stop other racers.

[@interpol007]

Is high stakes coming up?

[@JimDamIsdera1]

7:20 you hit spike strip before finish line

[@jerreldavidson2676]

I hope you review need for speed most wanted 2005

[@neyhoff5305]

Joguei muito. Deu saudade baixei pra jogar denovo

[@SEGAClownboss]

Still the best NFS as far as I'm concerned.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Yeah, it feels so perfect to play even to this day.

[@sp8ng3r84]

Romelus 3=great song

[@rousyhsouzah7865]

Olá boa noite sou a Rose como faço para ter esse jogo need for speed 3 hot pursuit no meu PC? Por favor me ajudem... Amo esse jogo....

[@toriak]

We play this game every other day ONLINE: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHvCoWegYpKtj5o

[@lkpdesign1209]

pamela fanbus? :D

[@yavimayawurm9769]

I always find it questionable when I see those need for speed games on abandonware sites... I mean really nobody holds any rights? Honestly I doubt it

[@ncrveteranranger5124]

Because licencing Every nfs games older than undercover is not on any store now because licencing issue

[@campaspe810]

haha got it for my birthday in 98

[@bibikwan]

was so disappointed that hot pursuit 2 was nothing like nfs3 and high stakes

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

X2. Still decent, but not flawless and revolutionary like nfs3. That game imo is still the peak of the series.

[@borla4491]

Same. Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2 and Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2010 isn't the same as Need For Speed 3 Hot Pursuit.

[@RacerC45]

You should've compared the PC version to its PS1 counterpart.

[@emulation2369]

Why?! 😐

[@RacerC45]

@@emulation2369 Apples to oranges differences?

[@borla4491]

I rather PlayStation.

[@borla4491]

@Wadsy Yep. It has #substance. The only main things it's missing is , you can't operate a police vehicle and don't have the extra vehicles from the PC Need For Speed 3: Hot Pursuit game.

[@borla4491]

@Wadsy Yep . And the Police Ai are no joke on Playstation.

[@lordofweed]

Best Nfs ever. The new ones are so bad :(

[@haaxxx9]

Played Heat for over 40+ hours, It's okay for the Graphics, Gameplay and controls. The bullshit Social media trend, TERRIBLE music and (Putting it bluntly) flat structure for Heat isn't worth my time revisiting in the future though. Payback was a total mess that is a slot machine simulator for RNG parts for your ride. 2015 Reboot was errrr... forgettable at best. I gave up and brought myself a used NFS: High Steaks copy on Ebay for $10 for my old HP Elitebook that my friend gave to me for free. Put it inside the disk drive and install the settings and... *There is Direct mapping/FFB wheel support, You can customize the HUD from the looks alone, the music is original and it's gets me pumped, you can claim other opponents cars in "High steaks" mode, there is damage's that you can repair in total or separate if you want to save money* ...Why the fuck didn't I played this game when I was younger. I would love it to death if I kn- Well, NOW I love High Steaks!

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

x2 and by far. Most Wanted and High Stakes are second close, but for me they have some nitpicky flaws that put NFS3 as my personal favorite.

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

@@haaxxx9 Payback was just okay for me. Is easy to win better parts, so the RNG aspect never bother me too much. At least it was better than NFS MW 2012, that game suc..

[@haaxxx9]

@@sebastianaliandkulche Funny enough I used to play the hell out of MW2012 on my PS3 back when it came out. But now? Fucking hell I can barely control my car on the road with either the car having too much grip or too lose that is slides all the time and you crash. You can't flip your car over in jumps or that's an automatically crash regardless. The soundtrack is a hit/miss for me, but it did introduced me to Last Dinosaurs and Muse so it isn't that bad. I don't like MW2012 anymore. MW2005... I don't like the game in general. It feels way too grindy for it's own good trying to balance racing and pursuits together and I quickly got bored after I reach the blacklist 10. I can't stomach the soundtrack and dreaded visuals (take away the ugly filter and the game looks much better) at all... Rubberbanding Ai for that game is worse than Mario cart Wii at 150cc/mirror cups. I see what they are trying to do here about being the name of the game but it all feels like a chore in the end.

[@blakedmc1989RaveHD]

@@sebastianaliandkulche MW 2012 wasn't dat bad, at least u wasn't locked to only Porsches like NFS Porsche Unleashed lol

[@ChaseMC215]

I would ask why you are doing a review on a game you reviewd already, but I pretty much gave up on asking that question. Don't answer the question I was going to say

[@javitotito]

Wait this game is on PC!?

[@vipset87]

sooooo i bought nfs hot pursuit remastered thinking it was this game remastered. im soooo sad

[@XxSoulxXCR]

Why not review NFS Porsche? That was a great game!

[@matheusgomes6664]

Night the track is so horrible, i don't see right de the track, in the high stakes improvement night

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

Wrong

[@OuhPii]

Remember that one of my friends played this game like ALL THE TIME back in the day. Annoyed the fck out of me, because I wanted to create gay neighbours in TheSims lol

[@lavrenzo84]

need for speed then was more simulator need for speed today is more arcade

[@sebastianaliandkulche]

The only simulation game before was the first one, but started with NFS2 it was arcade until this day.