That's what makes NFS great. High Stakes' biggest changes are the new damage model and single player career mode. The damage model is like a dream come true for all the speed junkies. In all the previous installments, driving a Diablo at 182mph into a cliff resulted in a few sparks, a few plumes of smoke and maybe a flipped over vehicle. Not this time around.
Damage ranges from scratched paint to totaled piles of scrap metal.
Flat tires, broken glass and headlights, fender benders, engine fires and body damage are some of the other damaging effects poor driving can have on your vehicle. All the damage cars receive affects performance dynamically, meaning that if you have a right front tire blown out, your speed and handling will be drastically affected to reflect the specific damage sustained. Overall the damage model is a welcome improvement even if it's somewhat less realistic than in the real world. The dashboard instruments are softly illuminated and the view tilts as you turn into a corner. Night driving is a totally new experience, never have I seen a game that offered such a realistic nighttime environment.