Need for Speed II

Need for Speed II

Cover art featuring Ferrari F50
Developer(s) EA Canada (PS)
EA Seattle (PC)
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Producer(s) Hanno Lemke
Designer(s) Scott Blackwood
Hanno Lemke
Programmer(s) Laurent Ancessi
Writer(s) Gregg Giles
Richard Mul
Scott Blackwood
Composer(s) Saki Kaskas
Jeff van Dyck
Alistair Hirst
Series Need for Speed
Platform(s) PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)

PlayStation

  • NA: March 31, 1997
  • EU: May 1997
  • JP: July 3, 1997

Microsoft Windows

  • NA: April 30, 1997
  • EU: 1997
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Need for Speed II (released in Japan as Over Drivin' II) is a racing video game released in 1997. It is a part of the Need for Speed series and is the second installment in the series, following Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed.

Setting

The tracks are based on fantasized or exaggerated race courses in otherwise real settings around the world. For example, one in one course cars race through a Hollywood film set while in another cars race along the edge of the Himalayan mountain range.

Gameplay

Like its predecessor, Need for Speed II allows players to race exotic cars, either against computer-controlled opponents or human opponents via a LAN, modem or serial connection. There are three distinct gameplay modes: Single Race mode in which a player simply chooses a car and a course and completes a single race. In this mode, the player can customize both the number and type of opponents as well as the number of laps to be completed. Tournament Mode in which the player must complete a series of races successfully to unlock a bonus car. The Knockout Mode consists of a series of 2-lap races with 8 opponents; the last-place finisher at the end of each race is eliminated from the competition.

The game features eight real life high-end sports cars and concept cars which the player can drive and race against. The "Special Edition" release of the game added four additional cars. In addition, the game features a "showcase" which provides photos, videos, and technical information about the cars as well as the history of each company and background of each car's development.

The game also features several new elements compared to the previous game in the form of customizable car paint and components of their car including gear ratios, tires, and spoilers.

Special features

As in the original Need for Speed, the game features detailed specifications, history, and audio commentaries on each vehicle. The largest feature are several full motion video (FMV) segments for each of the cars, several of them being the professionally-produced videos for the concept vehicles. Additionally, each vehicle interior could be viewed through genuine photographs taken in a 360 degree panoramic view.

Development

Need for Speed II was developed by EA Canada. The lead programmer for the game was Laurent Ancessi with Wei Shoong Teh and Brad Gour as senior programmers.[1] To ensure the physics of fast car handling and performance were as accurate as possible, the programmers collaborated with the manufactures of each vehicle.[2]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS1) 71.39%[3]
(PC) 68.25%[4]
Metacritic(PS1) 71/100[1]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG7.8 out of 10[2]
GameSpot7.0/10[5]
IGN6.0/10[6]
OPM (UK)5/10[7]
Adrenaline Vault[8]

Need for Speed II was met with mixed reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation version 71.39% and 71/100[3][1] and the PC version 68.25%.[4] A GameSpot reviewer liked the game but felt most of the roads were "outrageous" and that the cars would be unfamiliar to many.[5] An Adrenaline Vault review described the game as a "good overall driving experience" with easy installation, realistic sound effects and both an excellent interface and music.[8] Another review like the crisper graphics, smoother animation, rich colors and increased detail compared to the original.[9]

Criticism of the game stemmed from its being easier to play and therefore less realistic than its predecessor.[10] An IGN review felt the game was not as good as the original.[6] Some reviewers felt the steering was a little "jerky," and one went as far as to describe the graphical details as poor.[6] Another issue was that the game required a fast computer at the time, to display the graphics at the highest setting.[8][10] A reviewer for Computer and Video Games didn't appreciate the combination of super realist cars being driven on fantasy tracks and thought that the crashes "look and feel wrong".[2] The Official PlayStation Magazine said the game had "atrocious handling" and that it soon got boring.[7]

Special Edition

Released on November 6, 1997 in the United States and February 2, 1998 in Japan and Europe, the special edition of NFS II includes one extra track, four extra cars, three bonus cars, a new driving style called "wild", and 3dfx Glide hardware-acceleration support.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Need for Speed II (PlayStation) reviews at". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Duncan McDonald (13 August 2001). "PC Review: Need For Speed 2 Review". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Future Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  3. 1 2 "Need for Speed II (PlayStation) reviews at". GameRankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  4. 1 2 "Need for Speed II (PC) reviews at". GameRankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  5. 1 2 Tasos Kaiafas (1997-05-15). "Need for Speed II Review for PC". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  6. 1 2 3 "Need for Speed II". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  7. 1 2 Need For Speed 2 review, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Future Publishing, June 1997, issue 20, page 117
  8. 1 2 3 Shawn Quigley (1997-05-11). "Need for Speed 2 PC review". Adrenaline Vault. NewWorld.com, Inc. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  9. ↑ "The Need for Speed 2 by Electronic Arts. NFS 2 Download and Review". Old Games Collection. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  10. 1 2 Navneet Prakash (2008-03-22). "The Evolution of Need for Speed". techtree.com. UNML. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
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