n4patch Alpha

The first alpha release of the patch collection for Need for Speed: High Stakes (NFS4).

Features

• best_lap.n4p: Displays the best lap time of the current race.

• race_again.n4p: Allows restarting Career mode races, even after crossing the finish line.

• tournament16.n4p: Supports up to 16 participants in Career races, customizable tournament points, knockout eliminations, prize money for positions 9 through 16, and configurable traffic.

• career_selection.n4p: Supports multiple careers with an in-game career selection dialog.

• custom_career.n4p: Adds career customization options, including repair and car-selling restrictions, initial balance, and car selection restrictions.

• uphill_fix.n4p: Fixes physics issues on steep uphill sections and game crashes caused by the rear-view mirror on certain custom tracks.

Compatibility

The patches are designed for NFS4 version 4.5 with the veg patch. They should theoretically also work with the original version 4.5, but this has not yet been tested.

On Windows Me, five out of six patches were successfully loaded. Full testing on Windows 98 has not been performed.

Installation

1. Copy ddraw.dll into the game directory, next to nfs4.exe.

2. Create a patches directory and place the .n4p files inside it.

3. Launch the game.

Patch loading status is recorded in n4patch.log.

Warning! This is an experimental alpha release. Backing up your player profiles and career files before installation is strongly recommended.

Additional Information

For a detailed description of features, limitations, and known issues:

Alpha n4patch (WIP)

For information about configuring the new career parameters:

Career Editor Extension for T16 Support