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In the world of racing games, there are few franchises that have stood the test of time as well as Need for Speed. With over 150m copies sold across multiple gaming generations, the intoxicating blend of iconic sports cars and arcade-style driving remains as appealing as ever, but what are the origins of the series itself? We went back to the original 1994 franchise debut - Road and Track Presents the Need for Speed - a cutting-edge game initially released on a failing console, quickly gaining traction across multiple ports and releases, making the most of the mainstream technology of the era: PC, PlayStation and Saturn. In this article, we'll be looking at all of them and offering suggestions on the best way to play the game today.Of course, these days, the world of realistic console driving games is dominated by the likes of Gran Turismo and Forza - games that celebrate the automobile, powered by phenomenal simulation models and bestowed with beautiful, super-realistic visuals. However, if you flash back to 1994, the racing genre was a very different place. Arcade racers by Sega ruled the roost, while those searching for a more realistic take on driving were serviced exclusively on PC by the likes of Papyrus Design Group with its superb IndyCar and NASCAR simulations. Console gamers really didn't have a lot of choice.
During this same period, the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer was just one year into its short life, boasting cutting-edge 3D graphics that were well suited to the racing genre. But the 3DO itself was a series of specifications defined by the 3DO company as opposed to a singular fixed platform. Licensees used these specifications to build bespoke boxes and Panasonic was the first to market with its FZ-1 model. Without the cushion of software royalties to fall back on, the company decided to launch at $700, making it the most expensive console on the market - yes, even more than the Neo Geo. The console lasted just three years, due in part to its price, but during its short life, the system received some impressive software - and The Need for Speed attracted plenty of attention.
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