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The gameplay in Need for Speed is addictive. The different gaming modes of Evolution, Factory Driver, and the Singleplayer all provide excellent replayability. Here is a run-down of each gameplay mode:

Evolution - In this chronological game mode, you'll start at the dawn of Porsche, circa 1950. Advancement is accomplished by racing in a series of tournaments, each usually consisting of 3 or 4 tracks. There is a hefty payout for first place, which can be used to upgrade your car or to buy a new one. At the completion of each tournament, you will jump ahead by an average of 5 years. Your purchased cars can be maintained in your garage and are displayed by a menu which shows your car, its condition, and several options. You can make repairs, change the exterior or interior color, adjust the car settings (installed/uninstalled parts, etc), buy new cars, or sell your vehicle. Once you have acquired more than 1 car, you can sell any of them for an asking price of your choosing, which is usually dictated by the current value of your car (shown in the garage screen, along with the purchase price). There are 3 eras to complete in this mode: classic, golden, and modern. The modern era is where you race some of the more familiar and desired cars, such as the Boxster.

Factory Driver - In this skills testing mode, you are a test driver for Porsche. The other drivers constantly challenge you with tasks such as driving around cones and making a quick brake-turn to delivering a car to a certain point in a given amount of time. You'll often be given challenges on the Skid Pad, a wide asphalt arena where various courses are set up using cones, which when knocked over, result in a time penalty. As you complete missions you will receive promotions and the ability to add newer, better cars to your garage. In this mode, you encounter police who, to my rather slight disappointment, don't chase you. Instead, they simply try and get in your way by suddenly pulling out in front of you and stopping. One thing to note in the Factory Driver mode is the fact you cannot re-visit completed missions; once you complete them, they're history.