Need for Speed: ProStreet (2007). Play online

Summary

Need for Speed: ProStreet reimagines the series by moving the action off illegal city streets and onto closed, legal circuits. The focus is on precise, disciplined racing, yet the gameplay keeps that arcade adrenaline I love.

The title lets you fine‑tune performance, handling, and aerodynamics, with a wind‑tunnel preview that shows how each body kit reshapes airflow. You can smash cars in the realistic damage model, repair them for cash, and choose from real‑world tracks like Portland International Raceway, Mondello Park, and Japan’s Autopolis. Four distinct modes – Grip, Drag, Drift and Speed – each demand a different setup, turning every event into a mini‑puzzle.

The DS version, built by Exient Entertainment, squeezes all that depth onto a handheld. It keeps the four race modes, adds a rhythm‑based mini‑game to pump out hydraulics, and lets up to eight racers link via Download Play or Wireless LAN, while Nintendo Wi‑Fi Connection handles online leaderboards and blueprint swaps. Critics gave this portable spin a warmer reception than the consoles, appreciating how much content survived the downgrade.

Storyline

Need for Speed: ProStreet on the DS puts you in the shoes of Ryan Cooper, a former street‑racer trying to rebuild his reputation. Cooper signs up for a string of showdown events run by different racing organizations, each event packing several races against computer opponents. Finishing a race hands you points and cash; points open tougher events while cash lets you buy new rides or upgrade the ones you already own. The series builds toward the ultimate challenge – taking down the elite group called the Kings. Beat every King and Ryan is crowned the Street King, completing his comeback.