Hello there Ladies and Gentlemen, to kickstart 2023, we're going to review Need For Speed High Stakes, after 23 years, is the game still good? Find out in this review. Download link for Need For Speed High Stakes Complete Edition nfsmods.xyz/mod/2811
Best racing game ever, I happened to play that game on pc back in 1999 and graphics were amazing for that era! You can even see how rocks hit your windshield 🔥🔥🔥
My favorite aspect of NFS:HS is the way menus are designed. They’re extremely elegant, and make it feel like you’re at some prestigious international auto show event with the cars on display.
This was the first racing game I ever played as a kid, and it kickstarted my lifelong special interest in cars. So good to see it getting the love it deserves :)
Despite technically this wasn't my first NFS I ever played (that honor goes to NFS3), NFS High Stakes is my all-time favorite NFS game, period. The car selection, the setting & levels, THE MUSIC OH MY GOD, THE MUSIC!!!!!!1111 And car showcases. Good Lord I still re-watch those from time to time, the showcases in this game are stunning! And above all else - the fully-featured actually highly engaging Career mode that is just so freaking fun to play & strategize, especially with car upgrades, car damage & repair management. The high adrenaline knockdown events, the exhilarating tournament series, and the titular 'High Stakes' events. The trophy room is just :chef's kiss: the cherry on top.
Weird how the Australian version has the most amount of cars and it's still affordable on eBay. But anyway, I am so glad I stumbled upon this review, because I had no idea about Need for Speed: High Stakes Complete. And now I want to be able to try it out for myself! Thank you so much!
When playing NFS HS on the original PS1, I use the single race mode against one opponent (duel race) to improve the frame rate. Traffic can be turned on as well for only a small hit to performance, but no full-grid racing and no night tracks helps smooth things out. I also like to use the F50 against a McClaren F1 CPU for a really challenging 1v1 race. I definitely have to check out the game running on DuckStation. It looks like the best version. Great video. Thanks!
Miss playing this game, the graphics blew my mind way back when lol as did the interior view (I always wanted other NFS games but only ever played a PC demo for NFS III before trying High Stakes so I wasn’t even aware that pov existed). The menu soundtrack gives me the ultimate nostalgia as does the showroom voice over ❤️
nfs4hs is the best racing game ever! I played it a lot in early 2000s and once in couple of years, I have nostalgic urge to play it once again. I played PC version but I've kind memories to play PS1 occasionally as well.
This game came out when I was 9.....at the time, my mother was dating a state trooper in Massachusetts, and he introduced me to Hot Pursuit III and High Stakes...he loved these games and we played them quite a bit....the music from High Stakes is super nostalgic for me. I'm trying to avoid playing this game again to remember it fondly and not find out whether it aged well or not. Lol
“Without any more to-do (adieu)” “When it was released it garnered a lot of attention when it was released” ESL speakers need to stop doing video essays it’s so annoying to listen to
Second-best, both among classic entries AND overall, I'd say. Porsche Unleashed (the PC version to be precise) is even better. Those are the games modern NFS entries should be modeled around.
Nowdays the only game that has similar feelings is Forza Horizon 4, because of european place. Forza Horizon 5 remind some tracks of NFS 2!! But definitely a remaster of this NFS would be a miracle.
It’s fun on the ps1, but compared to NFS III (which is older) the controls are laggy and the frame rate drops insanely low when other cars are on the screen. Unless the game was outsourced I don’t see how it could play that much worse than an older title.
If I had the time, resources and the knowledge to reverse-engineer this specific PS1 game like it has been done on Driver 2 (now called RE-Driver 2), I would be in it.
What a nostalgic game! I remember playing with my brother and I always picked a green Corvette lol Yes, the slowdowns were annoying, especially on the final tournament. the AI was tough, and if you "manage" to catch up with them, the framerate takes a hit. We never finished the final tournament though. Fantastic review as always! But you missed the horn sound with the Titan car ;) you can hear "OH YEAH! " or something. Good times.
Because he is reviewing the Ps1 version, its important to note that back then both versions are completely different games, same with hot pursuit and porsche unleashed
Considering what I know about cars now, it is basically a sin that they included a Pontiac instead of the Nissan GTR in the American version......When I was 9 and the game came out, all I knew was that Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari made some beautiful cars. Lol
The PSone version as well as the PC version were great in their own right, as for the frame rate, you know you can use DuckStation and overclock the CPU of it.
I remember playing this game when I was like 10 on a PS1 and I decided to download it to Duck Station. For some reason I see some input lag. When I press the button to turn, the car turns like 0.3-0.5 seconds AFTER. I don't remember it was like this on PS1. NFS 3 runs good tho.
You missed only one aspect: nobody should play PS1 version of NFS4. PC version is much more refined. P.S. what's up with your sound mix? Can't here race sounds and music.
and how is the PC version refined? It's NFS 3 with extra tracks and i barely see any difference between NFS3 and NFS4 on PC other then the name. PS1 version despite it's flaw with framerate were better.. the tracks on PC version felt way too tight while on PS1 not only was the tracks the right size in terms of how wide it is but even physics/handling were better there.
Dont forget about the messed up proportions on the pc version. And higher fidelity like anti aliasing and higher resolution doesnt make a game look better. It basically exposes the horrible textures and the horrendous car models in the pc version. The limited resolution on the psx version did actually a great job concealing this flaws. From a technical standpoint the psx version is far more impressive. You have individual light textures in headlights unlike the pc version which uses simple dummies and actual reflections on the cars.lighting is also better in the psx version. There a reason why EA choosed to repurpose the engine of tge psx version of the high takes for the PC version of NFS Porsche.
@@luna__gx2520 "It's NFS 3 with extra tracks and i barely see any difference between NFS3 and NFS4 on PC other then the name." That doesnt make it bad, and it has enough improvements. If isnt broken dont fix it. You could argue NFSHS on PS1 is NFS3 with the simulation handling permanently active. "PS1 version despite it's flaw with framerate.." You name it. Thats why its more refined. "the tracks on PC version felt way too tight while on PS1 not only was the tracks the right size in terms of how wide it is but even physics/handling were better there." The tracks size definitely dont feel better in PS1, as tracks clearly werent designed with this physics in mind. Every track, even the first one with the fastest cars are way too long, even police chases suffer from this. In PC everything was more cramped because you feel in complete control over the car which allow to take those turns and every race didnt feel like an endurance one.
@@nerdius8204 The PS1 version is not more technically impressive, especially when it runs at 10 fps at times. PS1 would never be able to run the engine of PC, with PC being able to use Voodoo, D3d or Nglide. PC version had better textures, as you can see on PS1 everything at the distance is very pixelated and uses very low LOD. PC didnt used any LOD. Tracks also had more elements on screen on PC and traffic cars were rendered in the entire track. The car models in PC had actual car damage instead of being a pixelated texture which didnt affect geometry, cockpit view in 3d and the lights in PC had actual dynamic lightning instead of forced vertex lightning. Reflections are prebaked on PS1. "There a reason why EA choosed to repurpose the engine of tge psx version of the high takes for the PC version of NFS Porsche." Which was a mistake.
@@sebastiankulche arguable since ps1 physics felt much better and that is the ultimate decider of whether or not a driving game is worth playing, not the graphics (although frame rate is huge many racing games feel fine at 30fps, r4 ridge racer or touge max 2 for example), the little details in the terrain or car is not what makes the driving/racing fun. Ridge racer for example hasn't been half as fun since it moved into the ps2 era and onwards simply because the physics were noticeably worse than the ps1 era.
NFS went downhill after this; Hot Pursuit 2 (2002 release) was good but just lacked a little.... everything with Most Wanted, Underground, etc. turned into lame ricer garbage with dumb pointless story lines, boring street cars and CLEAR attempt to capitalize on the then popularity of the Fast and Furious movie franchise. Exotic cars racing through beautiful scenery didn't come back until NFS Hot Pursuit (2010 release) and the series has been basically shit since again. All EA would really need to do is basically remaster High Stakes with the same cars from that game and new EXOTIC cars since and it'd be an INSTANT buy from so many fans. Would be amazing if they could bring back some of the track designs from the original NFS, Alpine and Coastal were waaaaaay ahead of it's time and if updated to today's graphics would look incredible.
Hello there Ladies and Gentlemen, to kickstart 2023, we're going to review Need For Speed High Stakes, after 23 years, is the game still good? Find out in this review.
Download link for Need For Speed High Stakes Complete Edition
nfsmods.xyz/mod/2811
Best racing game ever, I happened to play that game on pc back in 1999 and graphics were amazing for that era! You can even see how rocks hit your windshield 🔥🔥🔥
This game got me through Freshman year in college, I played it so much! I loved that you could download cars on PC, so great!
Graphic still look good 😊😊
My favorite aspect of NFS:HS is the way menus are designed. They’re extremely elegant, and make it feel like you’re at some prestigious international auto show event with the cars on display.
This was the first racing game I ever played as a kid, and it kickstarted my lifelong special interest in cars. So good to see it getting the love it deserves :)
Despite technically this wasn't my first NFS I ever played (that honor goes to NFS3), NFS High Stakes is my all-time favorite NFS game, period. The car selection, the setting & levels, THE MUSIC OH MY GOD, THE MUSIC!!!!!!1111
And car showcases. Good Lord I still re-watch those from time to time, the showcases in this game are stunning! And above all else - the fully-featured actually highly engaging Career mode that is just so freaking fun to play & strategize, especially with car upgrades, car damage & repair management. The high adrenaline knockdown events, the exhilarating tournament series, and the titular 'High Stakes' events. The trophy room is just :chef's kiss: the cherry on top.
Weird how the Australian version has the most amount of cars and it's still affordable on eBay.
But anyway, I am so glad I stumbled upon this review, because I had no idea about Need for Speed: High Stakes Complete. And now I want to be able to try it out for myself! Thank you so much!
When playing NFS HS on the original PS1, I use the single race mode against one opponent (duel race) to improve the frame rate. Traffic can be turned on as well for only a small hit to performance, but no full-grid racing and no night tracks helps smooth things out. I also like to use the F50 against a McClaren F1 CPU for a really challenging 1v1 race. I definitely have to check out the game running on DuckStation. It looks like the best version. Great video. Thanks!
Lol u crazy. The CLKs and F1s are effing fast and corner well!
Miss playing this game, the graphics blew my mind way back when lol as did the interior view (I always wanted other NFS games but only ever played a PC demo for NFS III before trying High Stakes so I wasn’t even aware that pov existed). The menu soundtrack gives me the ultimate nostalgia as does the showroom voice over ❤️
nfs4hs is the best racing game ever! I played it a lot in early 2000s and once in couple of years, I have nostalgic urge to play it once again. I played PC version but I've kind memories to play PS1 occasionally as well.
It's such a shame you only show PS1/PSX version when PC was way ahead
there are so many good racing games on ps1 that I don't consider this classic in my top10. what an era!
This game came out when I was 9.....at the time, my mother was dating a state trooper in Massachusetts, and he introduced me to Hot Pursuit III and High Stakes...he loved these games and we played them quite a bit....the music from High Stakes is super nostalgic for me. I'm trying to avoid playing this game again to remember it fondly and not find out whether it aged well or not. Lol
it's still fun to me, maybe more fun now seeing how crappy most modern racing games are
I feel it aged wonderfully, I still play it time to time. Download the PC one, get some mods and enjoy!
1998, we went to buy a 32 MB video card with a friend and then we rocked hard in HS! Sweet memories...
“Without any more to-do (adieu)”
“When it was released it garnered a lot of attention when it was released”
ESL speakers need to stop doing video essays it’s so annoying to listen to
Second-best, both among classic entries AND overall, I'd say. Porsche Unleashed (the PC version to be precise) is even better.
Those are the games modern NFS entries should be modeled around.
1: High stakes
2: NFS lll
3 underground
@@diego2817 Underground can't even hope to be above bottom tier.
Thanks for including Complete Edition mod :)
You're welcome man, your mod was amazing as fuck ❤
Nowdays the only game that has similar feelings is Forza Horizon 4, because of european place. Forza Horizon 5 remind some tracks of NFS 2!!
But definitely a remaster of this NFS would be a miracle.
It’s fun on the ps1, but compared to NFS III (which is older) the controls are laggy and the frame rate drops insanely low when other cars are on the screen. Unless the game was outsourced I don’t see how it could play that much worse than an older title.
As fun as High Stakes is, I much prefer the earlier game Hot Pursuit due to the better frames.
The original version on the PS1 is not unplayable it works fine. I played it for dozens of hours and it's a great experience.
For me it is, since it includes all the classic tracks of nfs3 plus some more stuff
Rip saki
Great video!
Ive ordered this NFS for my classic racing game collection i live in England so its NFS Road Challenge for me
If I had the time, resources and the knowledge to reverse-engineer this specific PS1 game like it has been done on Driver 2 (now called RE-Driver 2), I would be in it.
Nice to see you, love your Gran Turismo vids Bro
Yes this is best nfs, Diablo SV my favorite car😊😊Liquid plazma is best music in game
Nfs4 was really best nfs (after nfs 1) love it. I have finished it again lately
Would sit there for hours & hog up the computer playing this game. I miss when NFS was simple.
they need to remaster this game in 4k and modern sim physics with a super punishing damage physics engine and realistic cops, id throw my wallet at it
I would also like to see them do a cannon ball game like "the run" but with fuel usage , maintenance and damage
You can already play it in 4k, and there are too many sim racers these days we need a return of arcade racers
this is probably the best racing game fr
This hot pursuit 2 and underground series my favorite
What a nostalgic game! I remember playing with my brother and I always picked a green Corvette lol
Yes, the slowdowns were annoying, especially on the final tournament. the AI was tough, and if you "manage" to catch up with them, the framerate takes a hit. We never finished the final tournament though.
Fantastic review as always! But you missed the horn sound with the Titan car ;) you can hear "OH YEAH! " or something. Good times.
One of my favorites.
Nfs Hot pursuit 2 is my poison and have high stakes for ps1
Why you use PS1 version? PC have a lot better graphics.
Pc version is crap
i wonder why didn't u use tha actual PC version? also it's my favorite and my 1st ever NFS game
Because he is reviewing the Ps1 version, its important to note that back then both versions are completely different games, same with hot pursuit and porsche unleashed
A fantastic review on this classic game.
I really wanted to love this game but cars controls were just too difficult
Just use your brakes.. this isn't even close to sim level, or even something like gta iv
Why emulate the PSX version man... damn, the mind boggles.
Because it's much better than PC port
@@Sukeban_TV Said no-one ever. 🤣
@@Sukeban_TVIt is not, and emulating it on modern screens only gives more problems like texture jittering.
@@sebastiankulche you need to stop using epsxe and check some new emulators
Oh god, why are you privated the Downfall parodies?
the best is still NFS 3 for sure
I agree with yah
High stakes is best nfs ever😊😊😊
Your racing game trinity doesn't include R4 Ridge? smh
Considering what I know about cars now, it is basically a sin that they included a Pontiac instead of the Nissan GTR in the American version......When I was 9 and the game came out, all I knew was that Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari made some beautiful cars. Lol
The R34 GT-R and the Australian version's cars can be added to the PC version in the same way as the offiicial addon cars
To answer the question of the thumbnail: yes, yes it is.
jeez, but why the PS version? it was the crappiest, also lagged like hell
The PSone version as well as the PC version were great in their own right, as for the frame rate, you know you can use DuckStation and overclock the CPU of it.
Ps version has better physics and controller vibration
I remember playing this game when I was like 10 on a PS1 and I decided to download it to Duck Station. For some reason I see some input lag. When I press the button to turn, the car turns like 0.3-0.5 seconds AFTER. I don't remember it was like this on PS1. NFS 3 runs good tho.
You played Ps1 on a CRT originally maybe thts why you see input lag. Maybe oc the cpu in duckstation too (and turn off vsync)
No, I’m playing this on original hardware on a CRT and the lag is absurd. Worse than NFS III.
You missed only one aspect: nobody should play PS1 version of NFS4. PC version is much more refined.
P.S. what's up with your sound mix? Can't here race sounds and music.
and how is the PC version refined?
It's NFS 3 with extra tracks and i barely see any difference between NFS3 and NFS4 on PC other then the name.
PS1 version despite it's flaw with framerate were better.. the tracks on PC version felt way too tight while on PS1 not only was the tracks the right size in terms of how wide it is but even physics/handling were better there.
Dont forget about the messed up proportions on the pc version. And higher fidelity like anti aliasing and higher resolution doesnt make a game look better. It basically exposes the horrible textures and the horrendous car models in the pc version. The limited resolution on the psx version did actually a great job concealing this flaws. From a technical standpoint the psx version is far more impressive. You have individual light textures in headlights unlike the pc version which uses simple dummies and actual reflections on the cars.lighting is also better in the psx version. There a reason why EA choosed to repurpose the engine of tge psx version of the high takes for the PC version of NFS Porsche.
@@luna__gx2520 "It's NFS 3 with extra tracks and i barely see any difference between NFS3 and NFS4 on PC other then the name."
That doesnt make it bad, and it has enough improvements. If isnt broken dont fix it. You could argue NFSHS on PS1 is NFS3 with the simulation handling permanently active.
"PS1 version despite it's flaw with framerate.."
You name it. Thats why its more refined.
"the tracks on PC version felt way too tight while on PS1 not only was the tracks the right size in terms of how wide it is but even physics/handling were better there."
The tracks size definitely dont feel better in PS1, as tracks clearly werent designed with this physics in mind. Every track, even the first one with the fastest cars are way too long, even police chases suffer from this. In PC everything was more cramped because you feel in complete control over the car which allow to take those turns and every race didnt feel like an endurance one.
@@nerdius8204 The PS1 version is not more technically impressive, especially when it runs at 10 fps at times. PS1 would never be able to run the engine of PC, with PC being able to use Voodoo, D3d or Nglide. PC version had better textures, as you can see on PS1 everything at the distance is very pixelated and uses very low LOD. PC didnt used any LOD. Tracks also had more elements on screen on PC and traffic cars were rendered in the entire track. The car models in PC had actual car damage instead of being a pixelated texture which didnt affect geometry, cockpit view in 3d and the lights in PC had actual dynamic lightning instead of forced vertex lightning. Reflections are prebaked on PS1.
"There a reason why EA choosed to repurpose the engine of tge psx version of the high takes for the PC version of NFS Porsche."
Which was a mistake.
@@sebastiankulche arguable since ps1 physics felt much better and that is the ultimate decider of whether or not a driving game is worth playing, not the graphics (although frame rate is huge many racing games feel fine at 30fps, r4 ridge racer or touge max 2 for example), the little details in the terrain or car is not what makes the driving/racing fun. Ridge racer for example hasn't been half as fun since it moved into the ps2 era and onwards simply because the physics were noticeably worse than the ps1 era.
(7@11)))
It is best nfs,music top
NFS went downhill after this; Hot Pursuit 2 (2002 release) was good but just lacked a little.... everything with Most Wanted, Underground, etc. turned into lame ricer garbage with dumb pointless story lines, boring street cars and CLEAR attempt to capitalize on the then popularity of the Fast and Furious movie franchise. Exotic cars racing through beautiful scenery didn't come back until NFS Hot Pursuit (2010 release) and the series has been basically shit since again. All EA would really need to do is basically remaster High Stakes with the same cars from that game and new EXOTIC cars since and it'd be an INSTANT buy from so many fans. Would be amazing if they could bring back some of the track designs from the original NFS, Alpine and Coastal were waaaaaay ahead of it's time and if updated to today's graphics would look incredible.