The classic and unbeaten original, The Need for Speed for 3DO was the best in this series.
Original in the series, the 3DO platform version of the game had the best overall quality and style of any of the games of the same title for other platforms such as PC, playstation and saturn. From the rumbling deep sound quality of the engines, the clear to read interior shots of the real cars, and yes, even the personality of your opponent (long live Brennan Baird), this version is a step above all the other releases.
For 1994, the graphics on this game are impressive. Never since this version was the actual interior of the car youre driving (including the shifter that popped on the screen when switched gears) included in any of the follow up games (the playstation version the resolution made the gauges unreadable, and the sequals just used cheesy drawn in interiors when they were present). The frame rate was noriceably slower on the 3DO, but the overall graphics to me were done in a more earthy tone and the backgrounds looked more real than that of other ports.
The sound matched the quality of the visual effects, and thankfully at that time Electronic Arts didnt feel the need to put obnoxious music blaring while youre driving in the game, after all if youre racing you want to hear the motor right? The doppler effect worked nicely as the opponent car blew you away.
The best feature about the original game that I absolute hate about every other need for for speed is the fact that it is illegal car racing on STRAIGHT tracks. Who on earth thought it made sense to have cops and traffic on a circuit race? Why would you go laps in a circle with police and helicopters etc chasing you down...I hated that on every other need for speed that was made. I also hate how on current versions everything is fast and furious, stickers and huge rice boy pipes put on cars like GTOs and old vipers? What the hell?
For me, this is still the best in the series, and I would gladly go out and buy a revamped, updated version of the original. I wish EA would go back to using actual road and track data rather than relying on themselves to make cars realistic. Designing the cars to actually accelerate and get the right top speed in the correct gear patterns was a great idea...unlike some of the competitors (the fabled grand turismo for example which uses retarded unrealistic gear ratios and top speeds). I dont know why a company would move away from having a respected car expert like road and track assist them with creating these games.
The original was innovation, the rest are just cookie cutter immitations.