Great Driving Game

With the release of NFS 2 on the Gamecube the price for the original game has come down. I heard good things about this game so I thought I'd give it a try. I was not disappointed! Great customization options, realistic response, cutscenes, and a top-notch sound track make this a worthwhile game.

Soundtrack

The first thing you notice when you boot this game up is the soundtrack, including what were hits at the time it was released. I don't know if I would listen to these songs on my own, but they definitely add some oomph to the excitement of the game itself. "Get Low" has to be my favorite in-game song. Here's a list of songs included (these play while you're racing):

* Who's Who by Dilated Peoples
* Doomsday by Overseer
* Supermoves by Overseer
* Body Rock by X-ecutioners
* Keep It Coming by Nate Dogg featuring Rob Stricklong
* Get Low by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins
* Born Too Slow by The Crystal Method
* Kimosabe by BT
* Ride by lostprophets
* Smashing The Gas by Mystikal
* Need For Speed by Petey Pablo
* Two - Lane Blacktop by Ron Zombie
* 24's by T.I.
* Out Of Control by Rancid
* The Only by Static X
* Broken Promises by Element Eighty
* And The Hero Will Drown by Story of the Year
* Fortress Europe by Asian Dub Foundation
* Sucked In by Jerk
* Snapshot by Fluke
* Action Radius by Junkie XL
* Glitterball by FC Kahuna
* Quarter by Fuel
* The Wonders Of You by Andy Hunter
* Swallow by Blindside
* Invisible by Hotwire

Graphics and Speed

Obviously an important element of a game called "Need for Speed" is that it feel like you're really cruising. Well this game does not disappoint. The physics while not the greatest (there are no exploding cars, for example) are not just believable, they're immersive. This is the kind of game you get lost in- I've played for up to four hours straight without realizing what I was doing. This game really takes advantage of the Gamecube platform- and stretches it to the limit. The graphics are superb. If you customize your car to include neon lights you can see the glow off the street while you're driving- including fog effects when applicable. It really adds to the "underground" feel of the game and makes it believable.

Customization

Another feature that does not disappoint is the ability to tune your ride and make it uniquely your own. While there are not as many options in the engine/performance category, there are hundreds of visual options to make your car complete. The performance options read like earlier racing game customization features: "Engine level 1," "Transmission level 1." The tires are manufacturer specific though, as well as the vinyls and graphics that you can use to really fine-tune the appearance of the car. You can also add spoilers and body features, which look really cool on the car.

Features

* 20 Different Base Vehicles
* Numerous Different Race Types: Drag, Circuit, Elimination, etc
* Lots of Objectives: Magazine Covers, Rankings, etc
* Hundreds of Aftermarket Parts: Customize your Ride!
* Tons of Vinyls and Paint Colors Make Your Car Unique

Overall Impression

This is one sweet game- definitely worth owning. The graphics and soundtrack combine for an immersive street racing experience unparalleled in my opinion (except maybe for the next generation- NFS 2 and the "knockoffs" that have appeared). EA Games is known for pushing the envelope and they definitely did it with this game. If you don't have it already, what are you waiting for?

Recommended:
Yes