Need for Speed Underground 2 Reviews

• Great Racing Fun, but Almost Too Much of a Good Thing

  
  By AHNHLGKIZ2N3B on 2005-01-21
  Need for Speed Underground 2 (NfSU2) is the latest installment in a long-running series of EA racing games. The "Underground" element wraps the game up in a world of nighttime drag races and super-tuned and modified import coupes ala "The Fast and the Furious" movies.
  
  The most engaging part of the gameplay is the career mode, which allows you to build your reputation and your bankroll by entering events found throughout a sprawling urban landscape. All of the now-familiar features are here: a variety of race types, a huge selection of cars and options to be unlocked, purchased and installed, etc. There's a lot of straight-up racing fun to be found on these streets.
  
  The graphics are really good; not Gran Turismo good, but close. The cars are especially fine, and you've got ample opportunity to examine your customized baby. You'll occasionally get a mini-mission to have your car photographed for a magazine cover where you control the background, "pose" and camera angle. Sure it's kind of a silly way to build your bank, but not a total waste after you've spent an hour selecting the perfect color scheme and combination of paint and artwork for your car.
  
  One minor gripe about the graphics is the lack of options for camera angles. Given how big the city is, the always-nighttime gameplay and the fact that some shortcuts and objectives are tucked away between buildings, it can be tough to spot things. I feel the other reviews when they complain about long times searching for this or that between races. Another minor problem is the perpetual nighttime during gameplay. Coupled with the brightly lit and highly detailed environment, it's sometimes too much to look at and the car can actually get lost in the overall scene.
  
  The controls are intuitive and well-designed. One of my favorite features is the ability to use the right analog stick as the accelerator and brake. Couple it with a manual transmission (shifting uses the L2/R2 buttons) and you've got a great amount of subtle control over your car. It's not as good as playing with a wheel and pedals, but it really beats the usual x-and-square two-button setup (which is also available at all times if you prefer).
  
  Does it play a lot like GTA-lite? Of course it does; it's meant to do so. There's a plotline running through the career mode focused on getting revenge on the rival who did you wrong before you landed in Bayview. It's not as deep or sequential as the GTA missions, so you're free to do pretty much whatever you want in whatever order you want. This can be good or it can lead to a lot of aimless driving around.
  
  The game also struggles a little bit with identity - what game does NfSU2 want to be? It's not an exact sim like Gran Turismo, although you can certainly tune and tweak your car's performance options all day long if that's your thing. The race action has a big-time arcade feel, but it's not simply an arcade racer because of the GTA-esque missions in career mode. During some lulls in the action, you may find yourself wanting to pop this out in favor of one of those other games instead.
  
  Nonetheless, the good easily outweighs the bad in this good-looking and ultimately exciting racer. It does a very nice job of satisfying fans of all flavors of driving games: arcade, sim and mission.
  
  PROS
  * Beautifully-rendered cars (and SUVs) that can be exhaustively customized in terms of looks and performs
  * Exciting racing action with very little learning curve
  * Well-designed controls make the most of the PS2 controller
  
  CONS
  * Too much time getting around the huge environment
  * Notable lapses in realism, i.e. gigantic crashes with no consequences; no cops at all (I guess then it would simply be a GTA clone)
  * Lots of product placement gets a bit heavy after a while - meet me at Burger King, the garage is next to Best Buy, I'll call you on my Cingular wireless, etc.
  
  
  
  

• GREAT GAME! *Note: I actually own the game

  
  By ADPBMYJAN79EG on 2004-11-18
  Yes, thats right, im a reviewer who OWNS this game, unlike the reviewers under me who are just talking about what it will be like when it comes out. To acknowledge some of the other reviews talking about sponsors of the game...thats how street racing is, you get sponsors. Also, the people complaining about fine tuning of cars, once again, thats how street racing is. They made this game more realistic than the previous one. The free roam option (career) has changed in a better way, I'm more of the guy who would rather get my missions/races done so i can get better cars or upgrades to race them online. The online option is also another great great feature. The graphics on this game are beautiful as always. The control seems to have changed just a little, maybe to make it easier, but its hard for me to notice a change. The sound has changed for the better, sounds are more realistic and clear. The music of the game is good, but not my preference. Its got a demo of Burnout 3, which is also a good game. This is just an all around good game, very addictive since you can get better cars as you progress and then race online. Also, if you dont have online features, I highly recomend it, I just got it when Mortal Kombat Deception came out. It adds a VERY high replay value to the game, you can beat a game over and over again but theres always new people to fight/play/race online. For only $39.99 its a great deal as opposed to xbox's high priced Xbox Live subscription required service.
  
  

• Awesome Game

  
  By A3S0W7WZ9LMEL1 on 2004-11-29
  In NFSU2 you can do almost anything to your car. You can change your front and rear bumpers. You can change window tints and spoilers and side skirts. That isn't even half of what you can do to your car. You don't have to buy everything in packages like the the first NFSU you can buy parts separately. You can also add spinners, other rims, and hydrolics! You can add a sound system and trunk neon colors and engine neon colors. There are a lot more cars in the sequel opposed to the first one. For instance there are Escalades, Navigators, Hummers, Civics, the new 2005 Mustang, Skylines, RSXs, Audi TTs, Audi A3s, Supras, and much, much, more. You have your own garage so you can hold more than one car at a time. You can even tune your car for any kind of race. 3 new styles of races have been added. This game is extremely fun and to me is worth $49.99. If you like racing games this is the game for you unless you like Nascar type games.(for Tony to use the hydrolics you hold down R1 and move the left analog stick then it will make the hydrolics go up depending on which way you press the analog stick.)
  
  

• 2 Cool to Wait

  
  By on 2004-11-09
  Okay, not only are there 30 cars, there's millions of different customization options for your cars. Including lambo doors,sound systems, and lots more. Races happen out of the blue, and the city it takes place in is huge and free roaming, so the playing is less linear. Also, the car list also includes a Mustang, Mazda RX-8, and also a Lexus IS300!
  
  

• Great Game. Better Than The First.

  
  By A2WS409CFVVKDS on 2004-12-13
  This game is a great game. You can customize your car in many different ways (custom gauges, engine and trunk neon, hydralics, doors, split hoods, spinning rims, new bumpers and lights, you can change your car's light color, new cars, new vinyl, SUVs [Escalades, Navigators, and Hummers H2], etc.). It's a free roaming city and you discover hidden shops to get secret parts. Also there are new modes. In Street X, you go on a drift track but you race on it so corners are real tight. In URL, you go in a race track with no traffic and the reward is high (depending on your sponsor/contract). In outrun, you find a race car roaming around and challenge him to an outrun. You must get 1000 feet away from your opponent (it's really not that far. it's like 2-4 blocks). Also, you choose what races you want to race (unless you are required to in your sponsorship contract and you must do so many races in your contract.) And there are many chances to get on a magazine or DVD cover. Also, you take your own picture for the cover (most of the time). This game has improved greatly from the first and there is new music from: Snoop Dogg, The Doors, Chingy, Terror Squad, Spider Bait, Queens of the Stone Age, Ministry, and a lot more. I would definately get this game. It's worth the $50 and it will keep you busy for a long time with all the new features. If your not sure about getting the game, rent it first (I did at gamefly.com and it was worth it. I thought it would be like the first game but it was REALLY different).
  
  
• Almost a perfect game
  By A3ENKQGBPDMR8N on 2005-01-18
  I just got Underground 2 and it tore my attention away from San Andreas, just to give you an idea of how addicting it is. The NFS franchise has done it again. They've managed to go beyond their expectations and deliver the racing game of its time. Some people are eagerly anticipating Gran Tourismo 4, but I've always preferred the NFS games.
  There are major improvements that were both a relief and a milestone at the same time. First is the graphics. Crisp, clear and a lot of definition. It makes Underground 1 look like a PS1 game. Then there's the gameplay. There's a lot more variety with cars, modifications and tracks. The free roaming is a great idea too (although not completely original). Also, as you would expect, there's a bunch of side stuff you can do, like doing photo shoots, challenge races, hidden races and of course, trade ins and mods. Also, returning to the franchise is the replay feature.
  I don't do online gaming, so I can't comment on that aspect.
  Now here's the part where I explain why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. As I said before, the free roaming feature is cool. Also, it can be a bit annoying at times. You have to drive all over to do anything, including entering races, doing mods and also swiching cars. Sometimes a shop and/or race will be clear on the other side of the map. The GPS tracking system is the saving grace here, but sometimes you can't activate it and then it becomes a real pain. My other major gripe is the trade ins. On Underground 1, if you traded cars, you would still keep all of your custom parts. Well, not in Underground 2. If you get tired of driving your car, you'd better make sure you have some serious bank before you switch cars because you have to start all the way from bare bones stock.
  Complaints aside, this is a really fun game. I do wholeheartedly recommend it.
  
  
• bought it but waste of money
  By on 2004-11-18
  this game is boring!!! it was a total waste of money. races are dull. city too big. save your money and don't make the same mistake i did. read the gamespot review for the truth at: www.gamespot.com they gave an honest evalutation.
  
  i wish i would have listened but i'm just going to sell this game.
  
  
• Awesome!
  By A2UKEH5JHX63KE on 2004-11-02
  I can't wait for Need for Speed: Underground 2 Comes out! It is going to be awesome. The best cars of the Import world, coupled with TWICE as many upgrades as the original means one awesome experience!! I can not wait for it to come out. The cars include the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, Mitsubishi 3000GT (WHICH IS AWESOME, BECAUSE I HAVE ONE IN REAL LIFE), The Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, and many others. This game is going to be so much better than Midnight Club 2. I recommend you go out and buy it IMMEDIATELEY when it comes out! You won't be disapointed!
  
  
• good game, loooooooooong load times
  By A1PDDIS9PD941T on 2004-12-12
  this is a good game but be prepaired for long load times!!! they should have worked this problem out before release!!!!
  
  
• Driving Physics
  By A2TL1MAAAE0FSO on 2004-12-24
  NFSU 2 has made leaps and bounds over NFSU as far as driving physics are concerned, but there are still a few flaws. On the pros side vs NFSU(1):
  1. You now have to brake and downshift for some corners
  2. Different car types react differently, ie front wheel drive, rear wheel drive
  3. Rain does decrease traction
  4. You don't have to replay a level over and over because one section of the track is too tight (remember NFSU drawbridge jump circuit track where you had to dive a narrow alley with bumps that threw you off your driving line)
  5. If you touch and opponent's car or they touch you it doesn't mean that you will spin each other out right away
  Cons:
  1. You still just bounce off walls and bounce off walls. You might have to downshift after the third or fourth strike in a row
  2. "Catch Up" mode seems to really kick in on the straight stretches of highway. You can win a sprint race with a large margin every time
  3. Still no damage to the cars, probably because they are actual licensed cars. As a manufacture you don't want models of how your cars break up
  4. The cars are almost too stable; yes I just said that in NFSU they were too hard to control on some tracks. The only time you really notice a lack of control is with rear wheel drive cars and/or at the 150 mph + range. A little tweaking in this area will yield the perfect balance in a future addition of the game. (I don't have the stabilize function activated.)
  That said, NFSU 2 is a great game that will keep you entertained for hours. It seems that programmers don't want to do that anymore; after all you won't buy another new game right away at 50 bucks if you are still playing NFSU2.
  
  
  
• A Great Game. Does Have Its Minor Setbacks!
  By on 2004-12-26
  I really think EA did it for sports/racing games this year, by releasing one of the greatest racing games ever. While I agree this game is truly awesome, there is one minor complaint I have. This new 'free roam' thing gets kind of of annoying in career mode, because driving to all those areas is annoying and it takes a toll on my hands. Also, I am done with the game and what I found out is that the story just keeps repeating itself and gets boring after like, half an hour of playing it. You got your drift, circuit, drag, sprint, street x, your underground racing league, and your special events. All you do in the game is drive to different locations where races are and you keep doing the same thing over and over and over throughout the whole game. That's why I gave the fun rating a four, not five. Now, aside from that issue, this game overall rocks. The customization in this game is unbeleivable. There are so many different types of parts, upgrades, and cars, that you won't even believe your eyes. I like all the new upgrades they added in this game that they didn't have in the previous game. Stuff such as scissor doors, and suicide doors, and the ability to make your engine hood open in many different ways than one. Plus, I like that they added SUV's in the game. The addition of SUV's in the game should not make you buy it though, because there is such a great selection of cars that you won't even notice that there are SUV's in the game. Overall, do I think you should get this game? Of course, the $50 bucks you drop for this game are definately worth it. There is more to this game than just racing. Like modifying your cars, racing with your friends in multiplayer, or playing people from around the world in online racing, which is probably the coolest new addition in this game. A definite, racing game fan must have.
  
  
• A big step foward in the racing genre
  By A1QH68RK79BDL0 on 2005-01-01
  First of all I do not own this game but I did rent it. And I have to say I was really impressed. Like Midnight Club 2 Need for speed now has a new explore mode where you can drive over hundreds of miles of terrain. In explore mode you can go to all kinds of shops each with their own types of upgrades. Such as Car Lots, Performance shops, car specialty shops, and car design shops. Upgrading your car is trully addictive, you can get anything from hydrolics, neon lights, speakers in your trunk, and even scissor doors. The racing is great and has great car control. The car physics are very realistic. The sound is very clear, and the music is alright. My biggest complaint is probably the load times, it feels like it takes for ever. That is the only complaint for me, although I don't think I'll buy the game.
  
  
• Street Racing
  By A3W4D8XOGLWUN5 on 2006-01-19
  I arguably sometimes enjoy the thrills of a mean, lean driving machine. At first, I often had so much troubles with trying to decide what a great racing game really is like. That has been the cases with games like Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot Tag Team Racing, and the classic Need For Speed series. Since it came out in the late 90's, it has been one of the most driven and outrageous race games of all time. That has shined in so many different ways from its Underground, adn its Hot Pursuit days as well. Arguably fans of the Underground series have really seen the madness of street racing at its fullest. Now, the madness has returned.
  
  Need For Speed: Underground 2 for the Playstation 2, is a wicked, wild and outrageous game for all gamers alike. The object is simple, you have to drive your way to become the best of the underground world throughout the city of Bayside. As you travel in the city, you can unlock cars like the Subaru Impreza WRX, the Mazda Miata, and SUV's like the Hummer H2, and the Lincoln Navagator. But it is not just the speed of the car, it also is about how you design your cars that also can make your experience as extreme as you need it to be. The graphics and gameplay are absolutely amazing, and deliver for Playstation 2 owners. As for the music, it really can be wild at times, ranging from Rap and Hip Hop, to hard driven Rock. The control is very simple to get used to at times, but when you play the drag races, you have to make sure your cars are on manual transmissions instead of automatic. Otherwise, you's lose your way in the drag races. That is one disadvantage, and another one is that you sometimes spend too much time trying to discover the races in the Bayside area, where it can be frustrating to uncover and meet certain challenges for gamers.
  
  All in all, Need For Speed Underground 2 for the PS2 is a great buy for die hard race fans. While so many are considering the recent Need For Speed Most Wanted over Underground 2, this might be a batter game for those who might not be able the master the fierceness of the most wanted era. This definitely is a must buy for Playstation 2 owners, or anybody who has the need for speed.
  
  Graphics: B+
  
  Sound: B 1/2+
  
  Control: B 1/2-
  
  Fun & Enjoyment: B
  
  Overall: B 1/2+
  
  
• Patience required!
  By A347AE1ZVBE65N on 2006-03-14
  The only faults I can find in this otherwise great game are the horribly long load times and how long it takes to get a decent car to race with. The game is very addictive, especially when it comes to tuning your hard-won new car. Customization of your car is extremely detailed and is almost as fun as racing. The computer cars give you a real challenge in certain types of races, but you can change the difficulty level if you find it to be a little too hard at first. The scenery is gorgeous! Being able to drive anywhere you want is really fun too. I actually prefer this game over EA's newer release: Most Wanted. I would recommend this game, but patience is needed for your first few hours of gameplay.
  
  
• AWESOME game to play on the SONY PLAYSTATION 2
  By A3QJZCBZ1D7XL9 on 2004-10-26
  Need for Speed Underground 2 is going to be a REALLY TOTAL AWESOME game to play
  
  I give it 5 Stars "Highly Recommended" REALLY TOTAL WORTH IT TO BUY & PLAY this game on the Sony Playstation 2 game system
  
  
  
  
• Let the Adrenaline Rush begin again
  By A9TNVK8EWTOI6 on 2004-11-02
  Need for speed underground 2 is unbelievable. The reason I give this game 4 stars is because it hasn't come out yet. When the first game came out I downloaded the demo for PC and loved it. Then I got the game for Christmas for PS2. It was incredible. I just recently downloaded the NFSU2 demo off of www.fileplanet.com and it is awesome. The graphics are incredible. They have actually added cool things to the game such as a Burger King. I passed it driving and though I was seeing things. Also the appearance of the main menu is also more attractable. NFSU1 was dull at the main menu. The car you race with is the Nissan 350z and this game is worth buying
  
  
• three thumbs up!
  By A3BBEN8CDL5ISW on 2004-11-04
  This game looked awesome ever since my friend showed me an ad for it in ps2 mag. he always gets games before me, so im determined to get this one first because it looks plain awesome! no boundaries, awesome beautiful tech cars, what more could you ask for? i heard it even has SUV's! MC3 and all other competition stands no chance! ordering mine today? do the same!
  
  
• good game too dull
  By on 2004-11-11
  too much celebrity crap in this game. not enough good gameplay. if you want celebrities put someone like ron jeremy or lexington steele in the game to make it cool.
  
  
  
  
• not what I expected
  By AS61PIZG8DAX2 on 2004-12-03
  after rushing out to buy this game the day after it came out, and then rushing home to play it, I was quite disappointed. I had sold the first version so i could get some extra change to buy this version. I must say, the graphics in this game are quite good, but otherwise, besides the free-roaming (which is a pain in the a**), this game is the same as the first one. Yes, the cars are different, but they run the same as in the first version. I recommend buying or keeping the first one, unless you are ecstatic about the free-roaming and the new addition of cars.
  
  
• Burnout 3 is where it is really at
  By AD0J5KK4WQXNS on 2004-12-29
  This first real 256mb card game to take a tumble.
  
  NFSU2 installs and looks like the best car game ever made, but it isn't. As the intro screen finishes its loading you find yourself inside Grand Theft Auto, a map in the corner, someone telling you to go to a flashing icon and you drive off to some race to acquire more cash, win more cars and get some turbo and tuning. The graphics on a 256mb card look smashing, beautiful reflections, fast driving through the city... but it just falls short because... that is all it is about.
  
  Having played Burnout 3, virtually the same type of game, nothing like Burnout 1 or 2, I have to say than 3 beats this games hands down, not because of the quality of graphics, or the accuracy of the car models, but simply because it is more apt for this games title and also offers crash control physics where you can spin your car in slow motion, win more points via damages... oh wait I am reviewing another game now... and really that says it all.
  
  NFSU2 is really just a STFU2 in comparison to much better games out there. Although it looks gorgeous and that first drive is a creamer Burnout 3 just leaves this one spinning. It is just not as fast, not as creative and not as enjoyable as the real new hot trail blazer.
  
  Play it when it becomes a cheap classic in two years time and instead get in the better ride next door. You will thank yourself that you did.
  
  Pros
  . Graphics are 256mb card worthy.
  . That first ride is like a bat of hell.
  
  Cons
  . Just not fast enough.
  . Nothing new.
  . Crash physics are better elsewhere.
  . Gameplay tries to be something it is not, namely GTA
  
  
  
• Race Time
  By A1ZG1XBE7OVHZ3 on 2005-01-03
  This is Nick M saying the racing game Need for Speed Underground 2 is my favorite game I own. The graphics are amazing and the thing I learn from this game are fenomanal. I leared about all the parts to a car and what makes it tick, or just look cool. I love to play Need for Speed Underground 2 and race with my friend or just work on my car. 5 stars
  
  
• Great Game
  By A2D42LOGXQV9FK on 2005-02-01
  I was a little hesitant about trying this game at first, because I hadn't liked the first few Need for Speed games, but when I heard about how it was free-roaming and you could get so many cool parts for your car, I had to try it. I ended up getting it a couple days after i tried it, and I still love it. The graphics are amazing, the driving is very realistic, and best of all you can make your car look really cool. However, there are a couple thigs I don't like, such as the hydraulics automatically disengage once you pass 30 MPH, and whenever you crash or go over a jump, it slows it down and gives you a different view, which can get annoying. But, overall, this is a great game, and I recommend it to anyone, of any age, that likes cars, racing, or just going fast.
  
  
• released too quick!
  By A2IB251CHO6BX4 on 2005-02-08
  This game seems to have have alot of glitches!the biggest ones are I have done this game three times finished the world map of races and have gone as far as possible three times without even being offered the last underground league races to win the wrx and the skyline and there are no more races period in search mode.It seems if you are going to release a games you at least need to hint as to what to do to finish it.
  
  
• A Great Game
  By on 2005-02-08
  This game is very fun. If you like cars and speed this is the game for you!
  
  
• This game is the best!!!
  By on 2005-02-19
  Need for Speed Underground 2 is a very addicting game. This game is the best in all the Need for speed series. In this game not only do you just race but you get to drive aroung on the streets and drive to the different enhancement shops. There are a variety of different races including, drag and circuit. If you liked the other games in the Need For Speed series, you are going to love this game! Awesome Game!!!!
  
  
• not as I expected
  By A143O79A5RFJV7 on 2005-03-20
  Whn I bought this game I thought we were going to be in different cities, but just one city makes it boring. Good graphics and bad plot. Why not put Brooke Burke instead of draws of her? You can find plenty of cars and that's great, design them and make changes, challenge other drivers and make slips. But after some minutes you get tired because it's almost the same every time you play.
  
  
• Need To Succeed
  By A2LY1KSSNBXT2L on 2005-07-15
  Last year, EA took its long-running Need for Speed series in an exciting new direction with the release of Need for Speed Underground, a racing game that focused on making the import tuner scene the star of its arcade-style racing show. The game worked really well, combining the right level of car customization with good track design, challenging opponents, and impressive graphical effects. Now, one year later, a sequel is on the streets, adding some new race types and a big, open city to cruise around. The actual racing in Need for Speed Underground 2 is still pretty good, but unfortunately most of the stuff you do in between races keeps you away from the game's best moments.
  
  
  
  Underground 2 gives you a whole city to drive around, but there's not much to do in it.
  Need for Speed Underground 2 tries to inject a story into your career mode using static-image cutscenes that pop up before some races. The effect is similar to what the Max Payne series does with its noninteractive sequences, though that game pulls it off much better than Need for Speed Underground 2 does. Dopey story short, you're sent off to a new town after getting ambushed by a rival racing crew, and you'll have to start from scratch with one car and a handful of races to get you going.
  
  The biggest change made by this year's game is that the action now takes place in one large city. You're given free rein to drive around wherever you want, and you'll have to drive to races to drive in them. You'll also have to drive to different parts shops to customize your ride--in fact, you'll have to find most of the game's shops by cruising around the city, looking for the right type of colored lights. The game gives you an onscreen map, but shops don't show up until you've found them, and some races don't actually appear on the map, either.
  
  On paper, this whole open-city thing sounds like an interesting idea. Someone probably sat down and said, "Well, everyone likes Grand Theft Auto, and it has an open city, so our game has to have an open city as well. In fact, let's even make it so that different sections of the city are locked away until you progress to a certain point in the career mode." In practice, driving around the city is a real drag that keeps you out of the action longer than you'd like. The game also rarely takes advantage of the open city for racing purposes, staging a majority of its events on preset tracks, rather than attempting to go for a Midnight Club-like "get there however you can" feel. There's a menu in the garage that lets you jump to a handful of different events, but most races don't show up here, and none of the shops do, either, making it completely useless.
  
  You'll start out in some pretty slow cars, so the racing isn't very exciting until you earn enough for a full set of upgraded performance parts. But once you've done so, the racing is fun and the cars handle well. The cars are fast, and things like turning, powersliding, and proper corning technique are easy to pick-up. Like in last year's game, there are a handful of different race types: Circuit races are long lap-based events, sprints take you from point A to point B on a set course, drag racing lets you live your life a quarter mile at a time, and drift races rank you based on how squirrelly you can get on the track. New in this year's game are the street X races, which are essentially regular races that take place on drift tracks. Outrun races take place in various parts of the city--you roll up behind another racer, tap a button, and then try to pass and outrun him or her. You'll also encounter a few races against the clock, in which you'll have to get from one point in the city to another before a photographer leaves the area. Make it, and you'll get to put your car on the cover of one of the game's magazines or DVDs for extra cash. The big new race type is the "underground racing league." These races are the sort of mysterious events where you'll see most of the game's cutscenes. They mostly involve some knucklehead breaking the lock on a race track and then swinging open a gate so your street-racing posse can race on a "real" track, though you'll also bust into airports and such, too. These races are essentially circuit races with racetrack scenery instead of cityscape scenery.
  
  
  
  Tricking out your car's look will let you put it on the cover of a magazine or DVD.
  Though there are three different difficulty settings for the career mode, none of them put up a particularly good fight. As a result, most of the races simply boil down to getting in front of the opposition and then doing what you can to not make a mistake. Between nitrous boosts and drafting, gaining the lead isn't very difficult, and the game doesn't seem to employ any heavy rubber-band AI routines to retake the lead from you, so you can usually stay in front without any trouble at all. When you consider that it will take you about a minute to get in front, and that some of the circuit races can last six minutes or more, this means that a great deal of your race time is spent just cruising along, dodging traffic and not paying any attention to the other cars unless you screw up and get into a wreck. In the event that you do crash, regaining the lead usually isn't too tough, especially if you've purchased a nitrous-oxide upgrade, which shamelessly lifts concepts from the Burnout series, translating powerslides and near-misses into extra boost for your tank. The opposing cars will slow down quite a bit if they take a big lead, making them very easy to beat.
  
  Need for Speed Underground 2's crashes are laughably weak. While high-speed collisions with other cars trigger a slow-motion, cinematic shot of the crash, the game doesn't model any damage at all. It's like you're watching two plastic car models bump up against each other, accompanied by the sounds of an actual car crash. While it practically goes without saying that modeling damage in a game with licensed cars is still a tricky proposition, that fact doesn't make these wrecks look any better. Fortunately, the game's car customization features somewhat make up for this lack of visual detail. Thanks to gamespot.com
  
  
• Don't waste your time
  By A3HD9MHP4TL5OO on 2005-11-14
  I know how to play video games. I play them all the time, and I was not happy with this game. To me, it seemed like the computer would cheat. I could run a perfect race and lose in the last 20 seconds. I don't mind losing, but it constantly happens near the end. Another annoying factor to the game is RAIN, it rains basically EVERY race. Overall, not impressed.
  
  
• GREAT GAME
  By A3V2KWNMNK5RG9 on 2004-10-31
  This game will far exceed rockstar's MC3 dub edition. I know that NFSU blew out MC2. MC2 said it could customize cars, but all you can do is change the paint. NFSU has awesome drag and drift modes while in MC2 its only just different races. NFSU is also more realistic, the graphics are a great deal more detailed, and the nitrous oxide system is as real as it gets. There may be more cars in MC2, but it can't compare to how great the customizable options in NSFU. Too generic? There is nothing new about MC2, that is a veeeeery generic racing game.
  
  
• NFSU2 is gonna be hot
  By A3O31BQQ0751PI on 2004-11-16
  are you even old enough to know who ron jeremy and lexington steele are?
  
  

• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play
• Tips & Tricks Magazine

• Need for Speed Underground
• Gran Turismo 4
• PlayStation 2 Memory Card (8MB)
• Need for Speed Carbon
• Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition