Need For Speed: Underground 2

[Pilot_51]

I bought this game a couple days ago and I've been glued to it since. In short, it takes the goods of both Asphalt and Ridge Racer (I should note that I haven't played through Ridge Racer, I've only played single card multiplayer) and slaps in a load of its own goods. Not to say that it doesn't have negatives, but they're rather hard to notice unless you're expecting much more out of the game.
I was mostly hoping this game would have a PC style free-roam, but to my disappointment, it doesn't. It does however feel a little more like free-roam than the others, providing shortcuts and obstacles, as well as plenty of scenery similar to Asphalt.

The graphics are great, 60 frames per second with nice looking textures all over the place. The major downside I notice is that you can see the draw distance a few hundred feet in front of you in many areas (not bad enough to make reacting a challenge).
Sounds are really nice too, but there's a few things that could use more or less sound than they have. You can't hear any engine noises from other vehicles, and the horns on traffic vehicles is the same sound and it continues for a few seconds, which is an extra reason why it's annoying to crash into them. Might I add that every vehicle going in the opposing direction honks that same honk, and a few going the same direction. Music is good too, not vocal as I understand many people want, and not top notch quality, but good for a handheld in my opinion.
The AI is fairly good, they're often a challenge and don't do things you can't do (as it seems the Asphalt AI does), but they do occasionally get stuck after crashing into traffic. The traffic AI is pathetic, you can stop a mile in front of them and they'll run into you, and they go right through stopped traffic.
Driving realism is another plus, it feels much more realistic than Asphalt or Ridge Racer, but there's a couple noticeable unrealistic things. Crashing can be really fun when you're not competing, especially because you can flip and fly and make others do the same. Sweet moment #1: Once during a race, one of the AI racers ran head-on into traffic directly in front of me, then I hit his back end and as I was flipping I saw his car flying some 50 feet in the air! Collisions boxes seem to be realistic too, but it's not so easy to test it out quickly. Sweet moment #2: I was driving down a straightaway and an AI opponent hit something that made him flip around, and as he was at a 90 degree angle to me and one end bounced in the air, I zipped by under his high end.
Menu features are plentiful, but one thing missing (which I needed to be told by another review to realize it) is replays, which would've been a big help in those "sweet moments". The vehicles are extremely customizable, although things like spoilers and what-not are just for looks and don't change performance. Everything (colors, tints, rims, neons, scoops, body kit, and vinyls) are many, especially the vinyls which are up to 55, although neons have only 6 colors. The minigames are interesting and challenging, but there are only 4, so they won't last very long before they get boring.
Multiplayer is untested, but I expect it would have all the race types of single player.

I don't want to run this too long, so if anyone has questions or wants to point out anything I should've mentioned, just reply and I'll do my best to help.

Overview (out of 10)
Graphics: 8.5
Sounds: 7.5
Menus: 8.0
Realism: 8.0
Customization: 8.5
Overall: 8.5
Worth it?: If you like racing games, definitely

[theONE]

the game sounds ok... how the multiplayer?

[bignds]

im buying this when it comes out in ten days exact from now.
quick questions-
hows the career mode?
can you talk a bit more about free roam please?

[Pilot_51]

I guess I blended that in too much with the rest...
I haven't tried multiplayer yet since I haven't found anyone with the game (each player needs the game). There is no free roam, the closest to "free roam" is "free run", which just lets you race the track alone, and unfortunately with a lap limit (4 max) like all the other modes.

As for career mode, I'm almost done with it, and it's challenging. I found that even towards the end of the career, you can pick a slower vehicle and the AI will be slower too, which makes it easier to avoid traffic and walls and has helped me win some tough races. I've had so much trouble that I tried improving my win/loss ratio by quitting before crossing the finish line not in first place, but I found out the other day that quitting counts as a loss (they got smart). Nitro doesn't seem to add as much speed as it should, it mostly just adds a fisheye camera and noise, with a small increase in speed, that is unless the AI uses nitro the exact same time I do. There's loads of stuff that can be used in high score lists, such as max speed, best jump, distance driven, minigames, etc.
One thing to add in sound, there's a good quality echo when you go in tunnels.
Some more on realism, the front and back wheels spin independently depending on grip and engine/brake. With certain vehicles, you can lock the rear wheels with the E-brake and burn rubber with the front wheels. I notice bouncing is a little overdone though, crash and you'll be bouncing or wobbling for awhile, which makes it really difficult to control until it settles down about 5-10 seconds later, although it's a relief to pass your competitors doing it.

I think this game totally owns Asphalt and Ridge Racer in almost everything, but I do notice a few things that NFSU2 is a bit limited on that the others have better functionality, although so far it seems to be minor (other than the single card multiplayer of Ridge Racer). I'm ready to sell Asphalt now that I have this game, but I won't since I like having lots of games.

[theONE]

i hope NFS:Most Wanted is good

[DS_Maniac]

I hated this game. The only thing I liked was customizing my car. It just gets soo hard that you wanna throw your ds out the window. My advice is stay away and wait for something better, this is another 'rushed' ds game, imo.

[bignds]

its hardly rushed, EA had gone a few months off the orginal release date to make everything right. just because it gets hard doesnt mean its a bad game. i think its a brilliant game and worth the money, theres 66 evens to complete, cars to unlock and so many different customs to unlock, then after that you can have the odd quick race, a variety of modes and multiplayer.

[Euan]

Never really taken this game into consideration before this review, but you seem to like it. I loved the RACING on NFSU2 on the PS2 - mainly because I was good at it :D - but hated the free-roaming aspect of the game. Maybe after my holidays when I've played my summer games to the death I will pick this one up.