Memory Lane Time Lapse - NFS II SE

1997 Need for Speed II Special Edition [PC]

Track list:

0:18 - Proving Grounds (Norway)
0:50 - Outback (Australia)
1:47 - Last Resort (Mexico)
2:49 - North Country (Northern Europe)
3:59 - Pacific Spirit (Canada)
5:10 - Mediterraneo (Greece)
6:19 - Mystic Peaks (Nepal)
7:41 - Monolithic Studios (U.S.A.)

Here we are with the second NFS. Considering that I've done the first two, the next one in line should be a no-brainer. I will say that I do plan on venturing to other games, but for now I'd like to concentrate on the racing series that's pretty much responsible for my unhealthy obsession for cars and scenic drives.

The sequel to TNFS, Need for Speed II, released in 1997 was the first in the series to have a global theme for its track locations. Like the Special Edition of TNFS, NFS 2 SE received a PC only release later that year. Among many new features was the addition of a Mexican coastal track, Last Resort. This totaled to 8 tracks, with Monolithic Studios as the bonus. Seriously, the Hollywood stage has got to be the strangest, most interesting track in NFS history.

NFS 2 SE was also the first to have optional 3dfx graphics provided you had a 3dfx Voodoo card installed. While it may not look like much today, back then it was the best looking game that I owned, which was soon surpassed by NFS 3 once that rolled in. The differences between 3dfx and software render mode were significant, with different sky textures and even weather effects on some tracks. If you're curious to see what non-3dfx looks like, check the PS1 version out as they're quite similar. The obvious downside to 3dfx is that you lose the nifty 2D cockpit view.

Oh, and one last trivia I'd like to mention: you can drive a T-rex in the game. Yes, you heard me, a T-rex (via cheats). Think that's strange? How about driving your T-rex in traffic... filled with T-rex?! I tell you, what other racing game let's you do that?

Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for any vomit-inducing motion sickness that may ensue from watching this.

Enjoy the ride. ;)

Featured music:

1. Alistair Hirst - Hell Bent for Lederhosen
2. Jeff Dyck & Saki Kaskas - Gore

Other composers that worked on the amazing soundtrack: Crispin Hands, Jay Weinland, Koko Productions, Robert Ridihalgh, and Rom Di Prisco.

dgVoodoo was used to emulate 3dfx