I'd like to talk to you guys about a NFS game that's pretty much dropped off the radar after it was released in 2000...Porsche Unleashed.

Like the title suggests, this is a game where you drive nothing but Porsches. If you don't like Porsche, you may as well save yourself some time and stop reading now.

Anyway, there are a lot of Porsches around here... Like forty of them...spanning the years of 1948 to 2000. However, I will say they copy the Gran Turismo technique of saying there's a lot of cars (which is true, technically), and then making about a dozen copies of the same car. You have about three or four 356s...about four 924s, about six 944s, three 968s, three 928s...and only god knows how many 911s (although I bet you expected that). So in reality, there's only about 15 or so unique models.

On the other hand though...Porsche mostly focused on the 911 and didn't make too many other models...so really, what could EA do? And you do get drop-top convertibles and targa tops in a lot of the models...which is pretty cool. So far as I know this is only one of two NFS games where you get to drive with the top down (the other being Hot Pursuit 2).

Most of the gameplay modes are pretty conventional. Time trial, quick race...

There is a police chase mode, but it's really boring. It's essentially a game of tag. You race around on open roads, and you can take pretty much any road you like...and the goal is to evade one (1) police car until time runs out. If he tags you, you lose. Most Wanted this ain't.

Another mode is Factory Driver. This mode is kind of like doing license tests in Gran Turismo, except there's a storyline. Basically you are a Porsche test driver, and you interact with other test drivers as you complete their challenges. And all of these challenges are basically racing down a section of course littered with cones, where you have to beat a time limit. It's...okay I guess. The story is a little interesting, because you do develop rivalries and friendships among the other drivers, and it's kind of fun to see them develop. This mode also goes by fast. There's only 12 challenges and you can do them in a couple hours, easily.

But don't think this game is dull or mildly average at best. I've saved the best mode for last...and this is a mode I wish more racing games would imitate. And, it's the mode you will spend the vast majority of your Porsche Unleashed time playing.

It's called Evolution mode. In a nutshell, picture a career racer like Gran Turismo...where you have to purchase cars to compete in events to win money...which you use to buy more cars to win harder, more rewarding events. Now...add in the element of time. Imagine that time progresses as you progress through the game. And I don't just mean a game clock...I mean everything changes to match the time period. The scenery updates...the cars update...the music updates...even the menus update. That is Evolution mode.

You start in the Classic era (which covers roughly 1948 to 1970). You're listening to 50s rock and roll...most of the menus have old-timey sepia toned photos of classic Porsches. You're driving cars like 1950s-60s 356s and 914s. Instead of walls of tires, the race tracks are lined with hay bales to catch cars that fly off the track.

Then you get to the Golden Era (1970 to 1991) which is my favorite era. The music turns to funky 70s beats...the menus get a lot more colorful. Now you are in cars like 924s, 944s, 928s...and the crazy looking 917 Shorttail race car. You can also see the places you race in have updated a bit to reflect the times. Due to increasing road safety standards, a lot more tracks have lines painted onto the road where there used to not be any lines. They also added mile markers and you can see signs of new, recent construction in places where there was none before.

And finally, we arrive in the Modern Era (1991 to 2000). Now you're driving around in 911 GT2s and GT3s...plus their race car variants. The Boxster convertible makes its appearance too. The music changes to a more techno-type beat, and things overall look a lot more sleek and polished, like they are today. My least favorite era, personally. We already have enough racing games set in modern times anyway.

But anyway, it's a blast getting to race through history, literally. I just wish there were more music. Each era has only about three or four tracks playing while you race, and they get repetitive after a while.

But I think it's well worth the price of admission just to see the Evolution mode...and you can pretty much disregard the other modes if you like.

This is for the first Playstation console, correct?

I should go back and pick up some of the old Need for Speed games since they are playable on PS2 (my PSOne is broke)...

Yes, I mentioned that in the first line. Oh, and I forgot to mention this, but there is an active market economy in Porsche Unleashed as well. Cars become more or less valuable, depending on which time period you are in.

If you like, you can play the market by buying up a lot of new 1962 356 Super 90s in the Classic Era for about $15,000 a pop...and then sell them for $60,000 in the Modern era. Because now these cars are considered rare and valuable. On the flipside...a 1985 928 GTS goes for $150,000 new in the Golden Era...but goes way way down to $33,000 in the Modern Era.

Inflation is also present. Services like the paint shop get more expensive the further you go in the game, due to this. Although races reward more to compensate.

I remember playing this Need For Speed when I was a kid, seems so long ago! I'd love to play it again, but I'd need a PS2 or PS1 and a copy of it, heh I may do so I can also get Road Challenge/High Stakes again Oh the PC version of High Stakes allowed you to race with the top down, a feature taken out of the PS1 version I think? Well, certainly given me something to think about getting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93U86J7Z ... ture=email

To celebrate me getting this game back, I decided to make a video of one of my favorite races in the game...the 917 Shorttail race in the Golden Era. Enjoy! Especially that high quality option.

Heh, nice video dude, graphics are better than I remember

i remember almost getting this game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Hifr88ixw

Since we're all into drifting, I thought you guys might like to see a video of the 911 GT2...by far the most drift-happy car in the game. Makes for some fun powerslides and drifts once you get the hang of this car.