Warnings
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
For the 2012 game, see Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012).
Key points
- A port based off the PS2/Xbox original versions.
General information
- Need for Speed Wiki
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- This game is not available digitally.
- A faithful higher resolution desktop icon can be found on the community site.
Version differences
- Black Edition content includes:[3]
- '67 Camaro SS and BMW M3 GTR
- Specially tuned rides
- Three exclusive races
- Black Edition challenge
- Bonus DVD
Essential improvements
Patches
- Patch 1.3 is the last patch for the game. Resolves a number of issues and is strongly recommended.[4]
- Scales the resolution of road, vehicle, and rear view mirror reflections.
- Adds traffic lights, car shadows, shader and particle effects to the rearview mirror.
- Restores geometry such as front-end reflections and world detail.
Skip intro videos
Instructions[citation needed]
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- Go to
<path-to-game>\MOVIES\
- Delete or rename
attract_movie_english_ntsc.vp6 , ealogo_english_ntsc.vp6 , and psa_english_ntsc.vp6 .
Notes
- If you have another language then the delete the file with your language instead, and if you have the PAL version the files will have PAL instead of NTSC at the end.
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Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
- Need for Speed: Underground 2 savegame grants you extra in-game cash[5]
Video settings
- ThirteenAG's fix requires the latest patch. See Patches.
Template:Video settings
Set custom FOV with NFS-VltEd[6]
|
- Download NFS-VltEd.
- Extract the contents and open the application.
- Click on File → Open and select the installation folder.
- On the left side, expand camerainfo and default.
- Select the camera you want to modify (bumper, close, etc.)
- On the right side, expand FOV and change the value beside [0] to the FOV you want.
- For the hood camera, you may have to change the value for each car individually.
- Click on File → Save to apply the changes.
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Set custom FOV with RockportEd[6]
|
- Download Ultimate ASI Loader and extract it to the installation folder.
- Download RockportEd and extract it to
scripts\ in the installation folder (create if it doesn't exist).
- Start the game and press Insert to show/hide RockportEd.
- Select the Camera Editor and adjust the FOV slider.
- Click on Save Preset to apply the changes.
Notes
- Other options such as camera height and vertical angle can also be adjusted.
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Set windowed mode[6]
|
- Download ThirteenAG's fix.
- Extract
scripts\ and dinput8.dll to the installation folder.
- Create
wndmode.ini inside the root folder of your game installation.
- For bordered window change the line
Border=0 to Border=1 (or add it if you haven't launched the game after creating the file) in wndmode.ini .
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Motion blur
Input settings
Template:Input settings
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
- By default, game plays sound in 22.05 kHz. To change into high quality 44.1 kHz, set level of details to 2 or max (sometimes to level 3), and restart the game.[citation needed]
Natural stereo virtualization
Use DSOAL
|
- Download DSOAL from here.
- Drop
dsoal.dll , alsoft.ini and dsoal-aldrv.dll near the game's executable (<path-to-game> )
- If you already copied HRTFs to
C:/Users/YourNameHere/AppData/Roaming/OpenAL before, the game will use it. To disable it change line in alsoft.ini: hrtf=false
- You may want to check out preconfigured DSOAL to use especially for this game with some tweaks here
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Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
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Traditional Chinese |
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French |
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German |
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Italian |
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Polish |
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Russian |
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Available here. |
VR support
Network
Multiplayer types
Issues fixed
- TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for fixing issues in this game.
Poor frame rate and crashes
Install DirectPlay
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- Windows 8/8.1/10 removes important DirectX components, causing game to run poorly, and possibly lead to multiple crashes. These components can be brought back by installing DirectPlay. More about DirectPlay here.
- Go to Control Panel, and select 'Programs'.
- Select 'Turn Windows features on and off'
- Click on 'Legacy Components' and check the box 'DirectPlay'.
- Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer.
- It is recommended to reinstall the game after installing DirectPlay.
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Can't install both NFS Underground and NFS Most Wanted (2005) on the same PC
- This problem occurs because both games use the same name for their main executables (
speed.exe
). After installing one game and attempting to install the other, its autorun program assumes it's already been installed.
Workaround[citation needed]
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- Install the first game. It doesn't matter whether it's Underground or Most Wanted.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Change the name of
speed.exe to anything else.
- Install the other game.
- Restore the original name of the first game's
speed.exe .
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Controller deadzone issues
Fix left stick deadzone[8]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Deadzone can be adjusted in
NFSMostWanted.WidescreenFix.ini .
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Stability issues
Install MWFixes[9]
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- Fixes and improves the game's stability.
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Can't set shadows on Intel GPU
- On a PC with Intel GPU (or with Nvidia Optimus technology), the Shadow detail option is inactive.
Change CPU Affinity[citation needed]
|
- Open Windows Task Manager.
- Look for
nfs.exe process.
- Right-click it, then click Set Affinity.
- Leave a checkbox on
1 with the other unchecked.
- Click OK.
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Game settings keep resetting
Run the game in compatibility mode[citation needed]
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Set options: "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" and "Run program as an administrator".
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Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9 |
|
Shader Model support |
2.0 |
[10] |
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
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Disable AI catch-up (rubber band effect)
Use NFSMWExOpts[citation needed]
|
- Download NFSMW Extra Options.
- Extract
scripts\ and dinput8.dll to the installation folder.
- Open
NFSMWExtraOptionsSettings.ini .
- Change
NoCatchUp = 0 to NoCatchUp = 1 .
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Mods
- NFSMW Extra Options - Script mod which improves your gaming experience in many ways.
- High Quality Vinyls (Recompiled version) - A port of the high quality vinyls from the Xbox 360 version to PC.
- Modern Rockport v. II or 1.0 - Comparisons between various texture mods can be found here
- NFSMW World Controller - Can be used to change the camera, time speed, and HUD visibility.
- NFS Music Player - This is a custom music player replacement and a BASS library interface for NFS.
- Xbox Rain Droplets - Basic implementation of xbox rain droplets from SkyGFX for other games.
- NFSMW Remastered UI - HD UI without requiring TexMod, re-scaled most of the icons and other things
- NFSMW: Upscaled HUD - UHUD is a recreating of NFSMW 2005's UI from scratch using mostly vector materials, with original texture proportions to help keep the same look.
- Upscaled Minimap Textures - Upscaled map in menus (not in game map on HUD)
- Fiery Cop Explosion Mod - Restores the effects resembling presented in PS2 demo cinematic/trailer.
- Original Music in 44.1 kHz - Replaces the in-game 36kHz music with it's 44.1 kHz counterparts.[11][citation needed]
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
2000 |
XP |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 4 1.4 GHz
| Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
256 MB |
1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
3 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI Radeon 7500 Nvidia GeForce 2000 MX or GTS Series Intel 950/i915g S3 GammaChrome S18 Pro DirectX 9.0 compatible
| ATI Radeon 9800 series Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 DirectX 9.0c compatible |
Sound (audio device) |
DirectX 9.0c compatible | |
Controller |
Keyboard and Mouse |
USB-based DirectInput compatible Gamepad or Racing Wheel |
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
- ↑ Applications writing to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
will be redirected to other locations based on various criterias, see the glossary page for more details.
References