Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, released in Japan as Over Drivin' III: Hot Pursuit, is a 1998 racing video game, developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts. It is the third major title in the Need for Speed series, significantly incorporating police pursuits as a major part of gameplay. Hot Pursuit remains focused in racing using exotic sports cars, but features races that primarily take place in locations within North America, including various settings and climates. In addition, police Al is significantly improved over its predecessor, utilizing several tactics to stop both the player and the opponent. The game was released for PlayStation in March 1998 and later recieved an enhanced port for Microsoft Windows in September 1998. A PlayStation 2 version was developed, but it was canceled, however. During the Electronic Arts Keynote on June 14, 2010 EA announced that a new Need for Speed game under the same name, scheduled for release on November 16, 2010. The game's title suffix, "Hot Pursuit", is a term for police pursuit.
Cars
The car list of Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit includes a selection of American, Australian, and European sports cars. Almost every car in the game has a showcase option which allows players to view real-life information, pictures, and a 360 degree interior view of the real life vehicle although downloadable cars do not include showcases. Its also possible to perform fine-tuning and compare cars via in-game performance regardless of class.
Racer Cars
- Class A
- Ferrari 550 Marenello
- BMW Italdesign Nazca C2 (PSX version only)
- Italdesign Scighera (PC version only)
- Jaguar XJR-15 (Bonus Car)
- Lamborghini Diablo SV
- Lister Storm (Official download for PC)
- Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR (Bonus car in Hot Pursuit Mode for the PSX)
- El Nino (Bonus Car)
- Class B
- Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car (Wal-Mart Edition of the PC only)
- Chevrolet Corvette C5
- Ferrari 355 F1 Spider (PC version only)
- Ferrari 355 F1 Berlinetta (PSX version only)
- Ferrari 456 M GT (Official download for the PC)
- Jaguar XKR (PC version only)
- Lamborghini Countach
- Class C
- Aston Martin DB7 (PC version only)
- Ford Falcon GT (Australian edition of the PC version only)
- HSV VT GTS (Austrailian edition of the PC version only)
- Jaguar XK8 (PC version only)
- Mercedes-Benz SL 600 (PC version only)
- Spectre R42 (Official download for the PC)
Need For Speed III Hot Pursuit Police Department
Police Department
- Hometown Police Department
- Hometown County Sheriff's Office
- Hometown Highway Patrol
- Redrock Ridge County Sheriff's Office
- Redrock Police Department
- Redrock Highway Patrol
- Atlantica Police Department
- Atlantica County Sheriff's Department
- Atlantica Highway Patrol
- Rocky Pass Police Department
- Rocky Pass County Sheriff's Department
- Rocky Pass Highway Patrol
- Country Woods Police Department
- Country Woods County Sheriff's Department
- Country Woods Highway Patrol
- Lost Canyons County Sheriff's Office
- Lost Canyons Police Department
- Lost Canyons Highway Patrol
- Aquatica Police Department
- Aquatica County Sheriff's Department
- Aquatica Highway Patrol
- Summit Police Department
- Summit County Sheriff's Department
- Summit Highway Patrol
- Empire City Police Department
- Empire City Sheriff's Department
- Empire City Highway Patrol
- Crystal Lake Police Department
- Crystal Lake County Sheriff's Office
- Crystal Lake Highway Patrol
- Performance Highway Patrol
Police Vehicles
PC Version
- Pursuit Chevrolet Corvette
- Pursuit El Niño
- Pursuit Lamborghini Diablo SV
- Ford Crown Victoria (1st Generation)
- Eagle Talon
- Ford Falcon (EL)
- Land Rover Discovery
PS1 Version
- Chevrolet Caprice (Gen. 3)
- Land Rover Discovery
- Ford Crown Victoria (1st Generation)
- Lamborghini LM002
- Eagle Talon]
- Chevrolet Corvette C5 (Beginner Level)
- Lamborghini Diablo SV (Expert Level)
Police Officers
- Hometown Police Officer (Hometown and Country Woods)
- Redrock County Sheriff Deputy (Redrock Ridge and Lost Canyons)
- Atlantica Police Officer (Atlantica and Aquatica)
- Rocky Pass Police Officer (Rocky Pass and Summit)
- Empire City Police Officer (Empire City)
Police Stations
- Hometown Police Station
- Hometown Sheriff Station
- Redrock County Sheriff Station
- Redrock Police Station
- Atlantica Police Station
- Atlantica Sheriff Station
- Rocky Pass Police Station
- Rocky Pass Sheriff Station
- Empire City Police Station
- Empire City Sheriff Station
Dispatchers
- County (Hometown, Redrock Ridge, Rocky Pass, Country Woods, Lost Canyons and Summit)
- Central (Atlantica, Aquatica and Empire City)
Police Helicopter
- 2 Empire City Police Choppers can be found in Empire City bonus track.