Editing Need for Speed (section)

==Gameplay==
Almost all of the games in the ''NFS'' series employ the same fundamental rules and similar mechanics: the player controls a [[Auto racing|race car]] in a variety of races, the goal being to win the race. In the tournament/career mode, the player must win a series of races in order to unlock vehicles and tracks. Before each race, the player chooses a vehicle and has the option of selecting either an [[automatic transmission|automatic]] or [[manual transmission]]. All games in the series have some form of [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] mode allowing players to race one another via a [[Split screen (computer graphics)|split screen]], a [[Local area network|LAN]] or the Internet. Since ''[[Need for Speed: High Stakes]]'', the series has also integrated [[Modified car|car body customization]] into gameplay.

Although the games share the same name, their tone and focus can vary significantly. For example, in some games the cars can suffer mechanical and visual damage, while in other games the cars cannot be damaged at all; in some games, the software simulates real-car behavior (physics), while in others there are more forgiving physics.

With the release of ''[[Need for Speed: Underground]]'', the series shifted from racing [[sports car]]s on scenic point-to-point tracks to an [[Import scene|import/tuner subculture]] involving [[street racing]] in an urban setting. To date, this theme has remained prevalent in most of the following games.

''[[Need for Speed: Shift]]'' and its [[Shift 2: Unleashed|sequel]] took a [[Sim racing|simulator]] approach to racing, featuring closed-circuit racing on real tracks like the [[Nürburgring]] and [[Laguna Seca]], as well as the fictional street circuits in various cities like [[London]] and [[Chicago]]. The car lists include a combination of exotics, sports cars, and tuners in addition to special race cars.

Most of the games in the franchise include [[Car chase|police pursuit]]s in some form or other. In some of the games featuring police pursuit (e.g. ''[[Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit]]''), the player can play as either the felon or the cop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/driving/needforspeedhighstakes/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review|title=Need for Speed High Stakes Review|last=Gerstmann|first=Jeff|date=March 31, 1999|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501213505/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/need-for-speed-high-stakes-review/1900-2543827/|url-status=live}}</ref> The concepts of [[Drifting (motorsport)|drifting]] and [[Drag racing|dragging]] were introduced in ''Need for Speed: Underground''. These new mechanics are included in the tournament/career mode aside from the regular street races. In drift races, in games like ''Underground'' and ''[[Need for Speed (2015 video game)|Need for Speed (2015)]]'', the player must defeat other racers by totaling the most points, earned by the length and timing of the drift made by the player's vehicle.<ref name="Draftdriftdrag">{{cite web|url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/552528/page_2.html|title=Need for Speed Underground Game Guide|publisher=IGN|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-date=September 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926162004/http://guides.ign.com/guides/552528/page_2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In drag races, the player must finish first to win the race, though if the player crashes into an obstacle or wall, the race ends.<ref name="Draftdriftdrag" /> In ''[[Need for Speed Payback]]'', the player has to earn a certain number of points to win; increase their multiplier based on how many points they get, whilst passing through a limited number of checkpoints.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2L9HxJlsYA|title=Need for Speed: Payback - Learn To Drift Game Guide|publisher=IGN|access-date=November 1, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918215619/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2L9HxJlsYA&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

The concept of [[car tuning]] evolved with each new game, from focusing mainly on the mechanics of the car to including how the car looks. Each game except ''[[Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010 video game)|Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit]]'' has car tuning which can set options for items like [[Anti-lock braking system|ABS]], [[traction control system|traction control]], or [[Downforce#Front|downforce]], or for upgrading parts like the engine or gearbox. Visual tuning of the player's car becomes important in tournament/career mode after the release of ''[[Need for Speed: Underground 2]]'', when the appearance is rated from zero to ten points. When a car attains a high enough visual rating, the vehicle is eligible to be on the cover of a fictional magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/566/566102p2.html|title=Need for Speed: Underground 2 Review|last=Perry|first=Douglas|date=November 12, 2004|publisher=IGN|page=2|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-date=October 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010050509/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/566/566102p2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like all racing games, the ''Need for Speed'' series features a list of cars, modeled and named after actual cars. Cars in the franchise are divided into four categories: [[Supercar|exotic car]]s, [[muscle car]]s, [[Car tuning|tuner]]s, and special vehicles.<ref name="cars">{{cite web|url=http://www.ea.com/nfs/carbon/us/car.jsp|title=Need for Speed: Carbon (Cars)|publisher=[[Electronic Arts]]|access-date=August 9, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915032027/http://www.ea.com/nfs/carbon/us/car.jsp?ncc=1|archive-date=September 15, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Exotic cars feature high performance, expensive cars like the [[Lamborghini Murciélago]], [[Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren]], [[Chevrolet Corvette]] and the [[Ford GT]]; muscle cars refer to the [[Ford Mustang]], [[Dodge Challenger]] and the [[Chevrolet Camaro]]; while tuner cars are cars like the [[Nissan Skyline]] and the [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]]. The special vehicles are civilian and police cars that are available for use in some games, such as the [[Ford Crown Victoria]] in ''Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit'' and garbage trucks, fire engines and taxis in ''[[Need for Speed: Carbon]]''.<ref name="cars" />

Originally the series took place in international settings, such as [[race track]]s in [[Australia]], [[Europe]], and [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/needforspeed2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review|title=Need for Speed II Review|last=Kaiafas|first=Tasos|date=May 14, 1997|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501213524/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/need-for-speed-ii-review/1900-2543786/|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning with ''Underground'', the series has taken place in fictional [[metropolitan area|metropolitan]] cities.<ref name="UG1">{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/440/440657p3.html|title=Need for Speed Underground Review|last=Mirabella III|first=Fran|publisher=IGN|page=3|access-date=August 9, 2008|date=December 14, 2003|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210085555/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/440/440657p3.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first game featured [[traffic]] on "head to head" mode, while later games traffic can be toggled on and off, and starting with ''Underground'', traffic is a fixed obstacle.<ref name="UG1" /> Most of the recent ''Need for Speed'' games are set in fictional locations of our world, in a number of different time periods. These include, but are not limited to, Olympic, Bayview, Rockport, Palmont City, Tri-City Bay, Seacrest County, Fairhaven City, Redview County, Ventura Bay, Fortune Valley, Palm City and Lakeshore City.