How to play Need for Speed: High Stakes on Mac

PlatformsComputer

Game summary

Just like its predecessors Need for Speed: High Stakes is an action racing game with a wide selection of exotic sports cars and many different types of tracks. The trademark Hot Pursuit mode game mode from the first game in the series is still present, where players race opponents on tracks filled with regular traffic and police cars that chase the racers. The classic pursuit mode is extended with two additional modes: Getaway and Time Trap. In Getaway the player needs to shake off the police in a set amount of time, or playing as the police trap a speeder before time runs out. In Time Trap an entire race needs to be completed before time runs out, or as the police all speeders need to be arrested. There are minor differences between the two platforms for this game mode, regarding spike strips, road blocks, and back-up. The latter for instance is unique to the PlayStation version. The Pursuit mode is available in multiplayer as well and players can take different sides or race together. It is the first game in the series to introduce a Career mode with a set of challenges. Beating these is rewarded with trophies for unlocks, and money to spend on new cars, repairs and upgrades. In the PlayStation version the Career mode is split up into two different sets of challenges: Tournament (required races) and Special Event (optional races). High Stakes in the title refers to races where players bet their cars. In the PC version these are a part of the Career mode when the player owns more than two cars. In the PlayStation version two players can insert their memory cards and race against each other. The winner immediately receives the opponent's car and it is deleted from the loser's memory card right away. In addition to the new game modes it is also the first game in the series to have a detailed physics models. Damage now affects both the appearance and the performance of the car for the first time.
First released: Jan 1999

Play Need for Speed: High Stakes on Mac with Parallels (virtualized)

The easiest way to play Need for Speed: High Stakes on a Mac is through Parallels, which allows you to virtualize a Windows machine on Macs. The setup is very easy and it works for Apple Silicon Macs as well as for older Intel-based Macs.

Parallels supports the latest version of DirectX and OpenGL, allowing you to play the latest PC games on any Mac. The latest version of DirectX is up to 20% faster.

Our favorite feature of Parallels Desktop is that when you turn off your virtual machine, all the unused disk space gets returned to your main OS, thus minimizing resource waste (which used to be a problem with virtualization).

Need for Speed: High Stakes installation steps for Mac

Step 1
Go to Parallels.com and download the latest version of the software.
Step 2
Follow the installation process and make sure you allow Parallels in your Mac’s security preferences (it will prompt you to do so).
Step 3
When prompted, download and install Windows 10. The download is around 5.7GB. Make sure you give it all the permissions that it asks for.
Step 4
Once Windows is done installing, you are ready to go. All that’s left to do is install Need for Speed: High Stakes like you would on any PC.
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🕹 Editor's notes

Need For Speed High Stakes is the fourth game developed by EA in the Need For Speed series. The game is best suited to the PC but can also run on the PlayStation console.

This game incorporates the engine used in Need For Speed 3 but with new cars, modes, and race tracks. I must admit that the soundtrack in High Stakes is the best one EA has added in the whole series.

Modes

There are different modes included in the NFS High Stakes game, with the most basic one being the Hot Pursuit mode.

In the Hot Pursuit mode, there are two roles you can take up. You can choose to play two characters: a police officer or a speeder. The speeder must race against other players and simultaneously avoid being caught by the police.

The police officer’s target is to nab the speeders before the race ends. Other modes include the Single Race, Tournament, and Knockout modes.

You can drive the best cars in the world and see how you fare when pitted against other racers.

The most significant mode in the game is the High Stake Mode. Here, you can challenge any player to a race, and whoever wins the race will get the loser’s car as the prize.

For PlayStation, you will find it in a separate 2-player mode. High Stakes races can be found only in the Career Mode on the PC version.

Game Setup    

Setting up your race is necessary for Need For Speed High Stakes. You need to select the type of car you want to race with. Some cars are only available if you unlock them, for which you will need to win cash prizes and buy them.

The next step is to select the track you want to race and the cars you want to challenge. Set your game options and start the game.

Games like Need for Speed: High Stakes playable on Mac