chris
11-24-2004, 06:18 PM
NFS Underground 2
Reviewed by cpd, November 25 2004.
Now the mere mention of NFS Underground will have some people holding up crosses, as if UG were the game version of evil. But stay with me, because the latest iteration, Underground 2 attempts to correct some of the things we didn't like about the previous one, and by and large they've suceeded, quite brilliantly in fact.
What you need to remember first is that Underground 2 is an arcade game, and wasn't attempting to be a full simulation, but what it does promise to be is fun. And it is very fun.
You play the part of the racer who has just arrived in Bayview who is taken in by the stunning Rachel (game version of Brooke Burke) who herself is quite an accomplished underground racer, with a fully "kitted out" and "sick" Nissan 350Z. You however start out more modestly by purchasing your first car, likely a Peugeot 206 or any number of other entry-level models. You'll quickly discover the 206 and the Mazda MX-5 are the pick of the entry level models.
Then you go out and start driving around to various events which have been loaded into your map, or you happen come across another racer on the road who might challenge you to an "Outrun". In these, when the other cars tail-lights sort of blur, you hit F1 to accept the challenge, and then it is basically drive as quickly as you can to get ahead, and you then drive where you wish with the aim to lose your opponent (get 300m ahead of them).
This is achieved by any number of means. You might choose to head for the ring road (a multi-lane fast motorway type of thing) if you are in a vastly more powerful car, or choose to find the most twists and turns if your car has superior handling. Or you might do as I did, spin the opponent out, and then make hay while the sun shines so to speak. ;)
You will have to complete a number of events in order to progress:
Drift: Here you slide about wildly while attempting to maintain a high average speed and not crash into anything. The longer your drifts, the more points you get.
Sprint: On these events you have to get from Point A to Point B in the fastest time possible, ahead of your opponents who will even play dirty to beat you on occasions.
Circuit: A circuit style event .
Drag: A sprint from start to finish line
URL (Underground Racing League): This is lap based racing on a dedicated race-track.
Street X: Tough races on tight technical closed courses.
As you progress, you will be offered sponsor opportunities. You'll get cash bonuses, but you'll also have to complete races for them. You also get opportunities to have your "ride" photographed. You don't just slowly drive along to these locations however, as the photographer is always conveniently in a hurry. So you will be going flat out to get there in time.
As you progress and earn more money, you can also upgrade your car at any number of shops located throughout the city, some of them quite well hidden, but usually distinguished by brightly coloured lights. Your first effort will be to upgrade your ride to get improved performance. As you progress further, you'll also get the opportunity to have a free car of your choice under sponsor deals. Choose wisely. Some cars will be slow no matter how much you upgrade them. Your second car should probably be the Toyota Celica when it becomes available.
As you move through the city, keep an eye open for cash bonuses.
Now if you have played UG1, you'll note the big difference in the whole career mode. Instead of strictly defined missions as in UG1, you have more freedom to determine the order in which you complete your tasks. Outrun challenges are a quick and easy way of making money, provided you don't waste time at the start.
The second thing you'll notice is the vast size of the city in comparison to the restrictive environments of Underground 1. You do have GPS navigation functions to help you navigate the sometimes complex series of motorway interchanges.
You'll probably also appreciate the sounds, especially of cars like the Nissan 350Z or the rich roar of the Pontiac GTO (aka Holden Monaro). The menu graphics are also much improved, especially the garage. You'll also come across the dyno test facilities. These are particularly nicely done, and you see your car taking a virtual dyno test. Visually and audibly quite impressive.
Shock and awe tactics from EA? You bet. :)
So to sum it up, if you can look past the whole modified culture of the game, you will likely find it a pleasant surprise and probably addictive, especially with the more involving and more interactive gameplay, and the massive virtual city which are in my opinion the best aspects of this game.
Like many of you I was sceptical at first - but you can believe me when I say EA might have themselves a winner here. And it is good.
URL: http://www.eagames.com/official/nfs/underground2/us/home.jsp
Distributor: Electronic Arts
Brand: EA Games
Genre: Racing
Sale date: Available now
Minimum quoted requirements: Windows XP, 2000, ME 98, 933mhz CPU or better, 256mb RAM or better, 8x or faster CD/DVD drive 2gb or more HDD space, DX 9.0c compatible sound, video (32mb or greater) and controller.
Review machine: Windows XP Pro SP1, 1531mhz AMD XP 1800+, 512mb RAM, DX 9.0c, GeForce 4 Ti4200 128mb
Review copy supplied by Electronic Arts
Reviewed by cpd, November 25 2004.
Now the mere mention of NFS Underground will have some people holding up crosses, as if UG were the game version of evil. But stay with me, because the latest iteration, Underground 2 attempts to correct some of the things we didn't like about the previous one, and by and large they've suceeded, quite brilliantly in fact.
What you need to remember first is that Underground 2 is an arcade game, and wasn't attempting to be a full simulation, but what it does promise to be is fun. And it is very fun.
You play the part of the racer who has just arrived in Bayview who is taken in by the stunning Rachel (game version of Brooke Burke) who herself is quite an accomplished underground racer, with a fully "kitted out" and "sick" Nissan 350Z. You however start out more modestly by purchasing your first car, likely a Peugeot 206 or any number of other entry-level models. You'll quickly discover the 206 and the Mazda MX-5 are the pick of the entry level models.
Then you go out and start driving around to various events which have been loaded into your map, or you happen come across another racer on the road who might challenge you to an "Outrun". In these, when the other cars tail-lights sort of blur, you hit F1 to accept the challenge, and then it is basically drive as quickly as you can to get ahead, and you then drive where you wish with the aim to lose your opponent (get 300m ahead of them).
This is achieved by any number of means. You might choose to head for the ring road (a multi-lane fast motorway type of thing) if you are in a vastly more powerful car, or choose to find the most twists and turns if your car has superior handling. Or you might do as I did, spin the opponent out, and then make hay while the sun shines so to speak. ;)
You will have to complete a number of events in order to progress:
Drift: Here you slide about wildly while attempting to maintain a high average speed and not crash into anything. The longer your drifts, the more points you get.
Sprint: On these events you have to get from Point A to Point B in the fastest time possible, ahead of your opponents who will even play dirty to beat you on occasions.
Circuit: A circuit style event .
Drag: A sprint from start to finish line
URL (Underground Racing League): This is lap based racing on a dedicated race-track.
Street X: Tough races on tight technical closed courses.
As you progress, you will be offered sponsor opportunities. You'll get cash bonuses, but you'll also have to complete races for them. You also get opportunities to have your "ride" photographed. You don't just slowly drive along to these locations however, as the photographer is always conveniently in a hurry. So you will be going flat out to get there in time.
As you progress and earn more money, you can also upgrade your car at any number of shops located throughout the city, some of them quite well hidden, but usually distinguished by brightly coloured lights. Your first effort will be to upgrade your ride to get improved performance. As you progress further, you'll also get the opportunity to have a free car of your choice under sponsor deals. Choose wisely. Some cars will be slow no matter how much you upgrade them. Your second car should probably be the Toyota Celica when it becomes available.
As you move through the city, keep an eye open for cash bonuses.
Now if you have played UG1, you'll note the big difference in the whole career mode. Instead of strictly defined missions as in UG1, you have more freedom to determine the order in which you complete your tasks. Outrun challenges are a quick and easy way of making money, provided you don't waste time at the start.
The second thing you'll notice is the vast size of the city in comparison to the restrictive environments of Underground 1. You do have GPS navigation functions to help you navigate the sometimes complex series of motorway interchanges.
You'll probably also appreciate the sounds, especially of cars like the Nissan 350Z or the rich roar of the Pontiac GTO (aka Holden Monaro). The menu graphics are also much improved, especially the garage. You'll also come across the dyno test facilities. These are particularly nicely done, and you see your car taking a virtual dyno test. Visually and audibly quite impressive.
Shock and awe tactics from EA? You bet. :)
So to sum it up, if you can look past the whole modified culture of the game, you will likely find it a pleasant surprise and probably addictive, especially with the more involving and more interactive gameplay, and the massive virtual city which are in my opinion the best aspects of this game.
Like many of you I was sceptical at first - but you can believe me when I say EA might have themselves a winner here. And it is good.
URL: http://www.eagames.com/official/nfs/underground2/us/home.jsp
Distributor: Electronic Arts
Brand: EA Games
Genre: Racing
Sale date: Available now
Minimum quoted requirements: Windows XP, 2000, ME 98, 933mhz CPU or better, 256mb RAM or better, 8x or faster CD/DVD drive 2gb or more HDD space, DX 9.0c compatible sound, video (32mb or greater) and controller.
Review machine: Windows XP Pro SP1, 1531mhz AMD XP 1800+, 512mb RAM, DX 9.0c, GeForce 4 Ti4200 128mb
Review copy supplied by Electronic Arts