theuerkorn's Full Review: Need For Speed: Underground 2 for Windows
Last year EAGames updated their Need For Speed series with the popular Underground theme and pretty much jumped straight to position of the best racing game in 2003.
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (NfSU2) is EAGames' 8th installment in the Need For Speed series and confusion sure enough is not ended since there is still a Need For Speed II in stores. So if it doesn't say NFS "Underground 2", it's not the latest version (as of 2004). Anyway, last time I compared NFSU to Midnight Club 2 (MC2). Oddly enough, NFSU2 still compares best with MC2.
Since NFSU2 is a sequel to the successful Need For Speed Underground, it has quite some similarities and shares a great part of it's features and gameplay. If it's not discussed here, chances are that it's similar to the 'old' version. For that reason I will only cover the differences and for the overall game idea refer to the respective review.
NFSU2 = NFSU + MC2
GOOD: Despite it's sequel character and even initial cut scenes referring to the first part, NFSU2 (2.3 GB) is not an extension and NFSU (2.0 GB) is not required. Further, one starts from scratch again, and it takes a while to have access to the fun cars again. :-(
GOOD: Anyway, starting the game the first time already reveals a major change. NFSU2 now sports free-roaming and feels a lot like MC2 where one drives around town to find races and 'hidden' shops etc. Story and characters are better developed as well.
BAD: Cut scenes are more extensive now, but the comic style doesn't really win me over since it's mostly static pictures (like a slide show). Highly praised Brook Burke can be seen in many 'photos' but little more. Overall, all cut scenes are pre-rendered in low resolution and high compression. (visible artifacts)
BAD: NFSU2 is different from NFSU and the terrible manual does very little to explain basic interface details. So it happened that I got 'stuck' temporarily in one of the training missions, since there was no info to be found on how to enter a garage or even how to use the SMS which is a central communication device throughout the game.
GOOD: Nevertheless, another first impression that's hard to ignore is the even more impressive look of this game. Amazingly enough, it feels even smoother on the same hardware than NFSU did. Only the instrument graphics bothered me a little bit as they appear distinctively lo-res even though they're not.
GOOD: NFSU2 now sports a 'hood view' which adds a sense of dimensions when dashing thru tight spots -- something the bumper cam never really did too well. Already know from EAGames' F1 series, NFSU2 now allows to replay a race from different camera perspectives and indulge in a recent victory (or learn from mistakes). It looks gorgeous in highest settings!
SOSO: While graphics improved, the sound changed as well and music is now heavily towards rock and oldies, while NFSU was mostly rap and techno. Good or bad, that depends on your preference. I found the old tunes a little more appropriate for a racing game.
GOOD: As the game progresses, your success gets you the attention of sponsors which offer certain deals (usually 3 choices) which are different depending on the sponsor and how confident you are. Should you accept, you're required to participate in certain races and win in order to collect your prize. Again, more similar to MC2 than NFSU.
SOSO: Controls are overall good and just sometimes a little sluggish. Make sure to pick a good game pad for best results. Speaking of game pads, NFSU2 doesn't support rumble. My biggest 'issue' however is the inconsistent user interface between the game and the menu screens, some of which don't allow full control via game pad.
BAD: The difficulty cannot be chosen before each race anymore but is 'fixed' for a chosen career. To some degree I liked NFSU more, which allowed to try a track in highest difficulty and if necessary retry in a lower level.
GOOD: The roads are still always wet looking but NFSU2 finally delivers an explanation why. It now rains in most races and the cool thing about it are the rain drops on the windshield which distort the picture close to reality.
SOSO: The list of licensed cars and tuning equipment has been greatly increased. Nevertheless, NFSU2 still requires them to be unlocked before using. So you still start low and work your way up.
BAD: My biggest disappointment with the new list of cars is that my favorite one from NFSU didn't make it into NFSU2 ... the Honda S2000. However, now you will find SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade. No additional car models can be downloaded or otherwise added.
GOOD: Online racing has been improved but LAN parties will be happy to know that NFSU2 now supports MultiPlayer games via LAN. However, I had no chance to test either and can't say too much about it.
GOOD: My system (2.4G P4, 1G DDR333 RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro) runs NfSU2 with good speed in 1280x1040 (32bits) and feels overall faster than NFSU.
FINISH LINE
Need for Speed Underground 2 is a worthy successor of last year's best arcade racing game. A few little quirks aside, NFSU2 received considerable improvements and may be a sequel but feels more like an independent game.
Graphics are simply awesome and car models look so good, they could easily star in a car commercial. The new models now sport SUVs -- a decision I don't completely understand, but sure a great thing for some racers.
Product placement and advertising is huge in NFSU2 and sure does not stop at the Cingular SMS or Best Buy sign all over the city. There is nothing particular wrong with it, but it sure is much more than in NFSU.
So NFSU2 is clearly better than NFSU, but also shows more elements of MC2. I guess it's more like the best of both worlds and Need For Speed is one more time an excellent arcade racer ... and a failsafe consideration for 2004's holiday season.
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