Need for Speed Underground allows you to build a completely unique exotic ride by earning cash to pay for custom body kits and a host of car mods by winning events. But just creating the ultimate custom street racing machine will not get a racer to the top; it takes a certain amount of attitude and razor sharp driving skills to compete in the tough world of urban racing. The game features 20 fully customisable licensed cars from Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru, Toyota and other top manufacturers. There are hundreds of ways to customise one's ride with aftermarket parts from dozens of providers including AEM Inc., Audiobahn, Bilstein, Dazz Motorsport, DC Sports, Eibach, Enkei, GReddy Performance Products Inc., HKS, Holley, Injen, Jackson Racing, MOMO, Neuspeed, Nitrous Express Inc., O.Z. s.P.a., PIAA, Skunk2 Racing, Sparco, StreetGlow, and Turbonetics Inc.
Summary
In my opinion, as a big fan of racing games, this is the best game i've ever played. I also own Midnight Club II which i also consider a very good game (see my review for that one also), but since i have bought this game, i havent touched Midnight Club II. I'm sure i will go back to it, but for now NFSU is just so addictive that i cant put it down. It does have a couple negatives, but i certainly wouldnt call them flaws because its still a phenominal game reguardless. The premise is simple enough, as most racing games are. The eye candy (and theres alot of it) sucks you in, and the gameplay keeps it fun for a long time. There is 111 levels (that is a little decieving since some of the levels are only a race or two) and you keep unlocking accessories, designs and cars along the way. I am one of those who refuses to spend $55 or $60 on a game, but this is the only one i can think of that could very well be worth it.
Sound
ok, this will get a 4 too. the overall is still darn near perfect, but this area was a little lacking. Infact, if you can grant me one more opportunity to compare it to its closest competitor, i must say that Midnight Club II was on the right track by giving you access to all 35 or 40 songs that it put in the game, and letting you skip to the ones you like as if it was your own personal CD player right there in your car. i personally thought that 3/4 of the music in Midnight Club II sucked, but having that option was a great idea. In NFSU, the # of songs is few and you have no choice (as far as i've found) as to when they are played. User control would make a world of differance. The songs are very upbeat and there is a good mix of rock and hip hop. also, there are several well known songs that you could recognise and that alone makes you want to bob your head to the beat as you race at 180 mph which is nice. larger selection and more control wouldve earned it a 5 though.
Gameplay
The gameplay is solid. I oppose those who had a big problem with the car's handling and turning ability. To me, it is dead on. The physics in this game are fantastic and there are no car control issues at all in my opinion. as for the selection of customizations, it is vast and very fun. there are so many vinal designs to decorate your car with that it is almost tiring just looking through all of them. im talking about hundreds. so, you are sure to make your car look as spiffy and sporty as you can immagine a'la Fast & the Furious. I also love the wide variety of automotive brand names that have added to the realism. when you are given engine parts, you can chose the manufactuer of those parts as if you were in your very own Auto Zone. while one doesnt effect your car more than another (in the same level of performance), it's still very cool to represent a certain manufacturer. then you can go to the decails and chose to put those favorite manufacturer decails on your ride. not tacky, very smooth. There is a good selection of cars, but those GT series fans wont be impressed. there are 20 differant models, and they are all licenced and look identical to its real life counterpart. if there were twice as many, i probebly would love it more, but 20 is certainly plenty. This in my opinion is where Midnight club was deficient...they didnt have licensure for the cars, and while the makers (Rockstar) tried to make them look like real live models, it failed to impress. it is definitely a huge plus for this game though. While i'm going to rate this game a 5 overall because it is so superior to others, and is so increadibly fun and addictive, i will give this category a 4 for the reason that it lacks two absolutely wonderful things (both of which Midnight Club II has and does well)....Replays for one, and secondly free reign to drive where you want to with no boundries. With Midnight Club II, it can get away with lesser graphics because of these 2 things. I still like NFSU more, but if it had those two things, i probebly would quit my job, collect unemployment and sit at home playing Need For Speed Underground until i had carpel tunned syndrome.Unfortunately it lacks them, so i shall stay employed but it would be great if you could see tv camera style replays of the races. you get quick glimpses of what i'm talking about when you crash (which are very cool unto themselves), and when you go over a jump and get air (very quick glimpse!). more of that would have been great. as for the free rome, it is a feature that does get a little old, but it gives you a better appreciation for the graphic quality of the buildings and surroundings. it also is a very stress free way of driving your car and just sppreciating the eye candy that you have helped to create. so, due to that lacking, its less than perfect...but still awesome.
(Reviewed by: stagoalie)
For me, this game is eddictive for you who have known the trick for driving the car..! :D
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