The first installment of the Need for Speed series, developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts was first released for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994, then ported to MS-DOS, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn during the mid-to-late 1990s. The premise of the game involves racing in sport cars, including several exotic models and Japanese imports.
In the late 1990s, an edition for Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS known as The Need for Speed: Special Edition has been released. Featuring new two tracks, game engine enhancements and a bonus car Warrior PTO E/2, which can be unlocked after beating the Tournament Mode.
A good selection of tuners, muscle cars and exotics exists such as the Lamborghini Diablo VT, Dodge Viper RT-10 and the Toyota Supra (JZA80). As for the localized Japanese release, there's a variety of Nissan cars available to drive (for PlayStation & Sega Saturn only) such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) and the Nissan R390 GT LM race car. You can check the Car Showcase Mode, in which it features the general stats, performance, technical and historical info about your chosen vehicle. It also features magazine-esque slideshows, interior views and videos of the said vehicle in real life. Additionally, a handful of challenging tracks to race also exists, and the Special Edition release adds two exclusive tracks.
Driving physics is pretty realistic, like the graphics by its 1994 standards, because EA cooperated with Road & Track Magazine for realistic vehicle statistics. Because the driving physics is too realistic for an arcade game, you have to brake very carefully on corners; however, AI racers in this game never brake before corners and barely lose any speed, making the game very frustrating to play. Also due to license issues with Road & Track Magazine, nowadays this game is never mentioned again by EA official, a very sad treatment for the series' actual ancestor. This is one factor that proves the game, like the Tom Clancy's branded franchises, didn't age very well.
There's good sound design such as the wind noises when driving with the cockpit camera on, adding some realism in it. In addition, an awesome rock-based soundtrack is available made by the late Saki Kaskas, Jeff Dyck and Alistair Hirst. You can even clearly tell how much enthusiasm the Showcase narrator put in when listening to the narration. Back in the days developers actually put their passion into what they make.
This is also the very first NFS game to feature cop chases. It will be further developed in subsequent NFS games and become one of the series' iconic features. But the cops are rather annoying. First, your are automatically pulled over once cop cars overtakes you. Then, the busted cutscene involves a ridiculous police officer cocking his shotgun and spewing a very tasteless prison rape joke, which is pretty inappropriate for a E-rated video game.
It's very great overall. Enjoy! And let EA know what you think, even if you are against them for their stupidity...