NEED FOR SPEED III: HOT PURSUIT
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The NFS game of choice

By JAMES ANTHONY

Like to settle in behind a computer screen and drive fast. Really fast? So fast that you have to avoid the boys in blue who are chasing you at 200 kilometres an hour? If you do then Need For Speed III is likely to be your thing.

Forget the road code, speed limits and sense as you plant your foot in a selection of high-powered cars that include Australia's Ford GT Falcon and the Holden HSV GTS.

The aim of the game is to career around some lovely country roads, through some of those marvellous old American sheltered bridges and tear down the main streets of small towns.

You have a choice of ways to do it, firstly you can practice speed runs without any other vehicle on the road - this is great for getting to know your vehicle and the course - then try hot pursuit, where you take on the police in some pretty fantastic racing. This part is a huge amount of fun that usually ends in being rammed by the police and ticketed (twice) before you get thrown in the cells.

The sound is really good, the gameplay simple and it really lets you just get straight into the mayhem.

Need For Speed III on the PC is streets ahead of the Playstation version. The game is compatible with EyeScream 3D glasses and they really do make the vehicles, roadsigns and other objects stand out on the screen. Well worth a look.

ORIGINALITY 75%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 85%
PLAYABILITY 85%
ADDICTION 80%
ENJOYMENT 80%