The engine roars in a primal, straining cry as the smell of brake-dust and burning rubber fills the air. The tyres join in the choir of mechanised song as they slowly disintegrate on the asphalt, going sideways in a power-slide dangerously close to the steel barriers on trackside. The hood of the engine-bay vibrates violently as the car catapults into first place, overtaking the only racer in between it and pole position. Through this time one thought dominates the driver’s mind…

The Need for Speed franchise began in a relatively unsuspecting way, with a release on the ill-fated 3DO platform in 1994. The game notably featured real-life supercars like the Acura NSX, Dodge Viper and Lamborghini Diablo, and for pitting these cars in illegal street races. The Need for Speed was soon ported to PC, Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn, and would receive critical praise and become a commercial success…