It took three tries (not counting the ill-fated V-Rally), but Electronic Arts has finally struck gold with the third incarnation in their Need for Speed series. The premise was simple: collect the fastest, most desirable sports cars in the world, and pit them against one another in one compact racing game. While the concept (which dates back to the 3DO) was seemingly foolproof, the execution was not. The first two Need for Speed’s were crippled by sluggish controls, jerky frame-rates, and draw-in so bad you couldn’t see one side of a bridge from the other. The track design was also lackluster, as were the car graphics themselves. The Need for Speed franchise was in serious trouble. With Sony’s Gran Turismo on the horizon, EA knew they had their work cut out for them.

Apparently someone listened. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is such a quantum leap over its predecessors, it’s practically a whole new series. Not only does it outclass its brethren by some distance, it even gives Gran Turismo a good run for its money in terms of graphics and gameplay. ‘Out with the old engine and in with the new’ is the theme of the day. NFS III’s new graphics engine accomplishes things never before seen in a console racing game. First off, the cars themselves look amazing. Utilizing a type of specular-highlighting, the cars in the game look almost as good as the cars in Gran Turismo’s Replay Mode.

Additionally, the course graphics sport a high level of detail that’s especially impressive considering the much-improved frame-rate. NFS III moves along at a good 25-30fps and on some of the secret tracks even reaches 60fps in first-person view. Track selection and design have also been vastly improved, keeping races flowing at white-knuckle speeds, and rendering pop-up virtually undetectable. While not exactly Daytona USA, the track layouts will still have you earning every tenth of a second.

Nevertheless, racing games rely on more than just pretty graphics, and it’s here that Need for Speed III shines. NFS III’s abundance of features catapults it past the crowd of mediocre racers and reveals it to be an incredibly deep and replayable racer. Eschewing the more stringent simulation aspects (which are all contained here) of previous games for a more ‘arcade-like’ feel, NFS III offers a variety of modes to satisfy even the most die-hard racing fan, and then some. Single race, Tournament and Practice modes are all present, as well as a Knockout mode where you attempt to win by process of elimination. However, the mode that will attract the true speed freaks is the one that gives this game its title: Hot Pursuit. In Hot Pursuit mode you’re given three tries to complete a predetermined number of laps before the cops nail you. If you’re stopped you’re given a warning, after that, three times and you’re out. Hot Pursuit adds a level of tension never experienced before in a racing game, and NFS III doesn’t stop there. Control is perfect, even with digital, and if you’re using Sony’s new Dual-Analog controller it’s that much better.

Add to this a truly superb soundtrack, composed of the finest drum and bass, techno and jungle you’re likely to hear in a video game. Throw in varying weather effects, which affect your driving strategy, as well as night-driving, complete with beautifully lightsourced high and low-beams, and you’ve got a very complete racing game. In fact the only thing mildly disappointing is that you only race against one other super-car at a time, while negotiating a light, medium, or heavy grid of traffic. It’s a lot like Tokyo Highway Battle in that respect.

Whether gamers will take to Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit remains to be seen. After all, the first two were painfully average at best, and there’s this juggernaut of a racing game called Gran Turismo heading our way in May. However, you won’t find any Lamborghini Diablo’s in Sony’s flagship racer, and anyone with a penchant for racing games would do well to inspect NFS III. It’s not only one of the best looking racing games on any next-generation system, it’s also one of the best playing. Combined with a trunk-full of secrets and bonuses and you’ve got a racer that can go toe-to-toe with Sony’s best. Electronic Arts has pulled a rabbit out of their hat this time, and the fruits of their labors show. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is a serious contender for racing game of the year.