Need for Speed: Underground 2

Need for Speed: Underground 2
Developer(s) EA Black Box
Pocketeers (GBA)
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Composer(s) Tom Salta
Series Need for Speed
Engine EAGL (Modified)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Game Boy Advance
GameCube
PlayStation 2
Xbox
PlayStation Portable
Nintendo DS
Mobile phone
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Need for Speed: Underground 2 (NFSU2 or NFSUG2) is a cross-platform racing video game and the eighth installment in the popular Need for Speed driving game series published and developed by Electronic Arts. Released in 2004, it is the direct sequel to Need for Speed: Underground, and is part of the Need for Speed series, available on Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Mobile phones. Like its predecessor, it was also commercially successful, and sold eleven million copies worldwide.

The game entails tuning cars for street races, resuming the Need for Speed: Underground storyline. Need for Speed: Underground 2 provides several new features, such as a broader customization, new methods of selecting races, the "explore" mode (just driving around freely, like the Midnight Club series, in a large city known as "Bayview"). The City Center was based on Philadelphia, Beacon Hill was based on Beverly Hills and Coal Harbor was based on Camden, New Jersey, and Bayview as a whole is a microcosm of the west coast of the United States. Underground 2 also introduces several SUVs, which could be customized as extensively as other Underground 2 vehicles and used to race against other SUV racers. Brooke Burke is the voice of Rachel Teller, the person who guides the player throughout the game.

The game has been ported to PlayStation Portable, under the title of Need for Speed Underground: Rivals. The Nintendo DS port introduces a new feature in which the player is able to design custom decals to adorn any vehicle in the game.

Gameplay

In-game Need for Speed: Underground 2 screenshot, in which races are roughly similar to that of Underground and still revolve around import culture.

In addition to the racing modes included in the previous Underground game (Circuit, Sprint, Drag and Drift races), four new variations of races have been provided in Underground 2. One racing mode was dropped, this being the Knockout competitions. Still, a Lap Knockout option is available when racing Circuit in non-career races. Underground 2 is unique among the games in the Need For Speed series in that it requires players to drive to a certain place in the city in order to begin a race (other games allow the player to select a race from a menu). Most races are marked on the in-game radar, but some are hidden and the player must search for them, should he/she decide to play them.

A circuit race is a standard race that involves up to four cars driving around a track that loops back to the start line of itself. A circuit race is typically a maximum of four laps and minimum of 2 laps. A sprint race is just like a circuit race except that the track does not loop back to the start line. It's a race from A to B involving a maximum of four vehicles, and because of the track design there is only one lap. Street X races are similar to Circuit races, but they take place on closed courses similar to Drift races.

Drifting is one of the easier types of racing (depending on difficulty level) in Need for Speed Underground 2. One difference to the drifting mode compared to the original Need for Speed Underground is that the player drifts with the other competitors at the same time. Players race against a maximum of three competitors. Points are awarded when the player successfully slide the car and finishes the drift without hitting any walls. Like the Street X mode, no nitrous oxide is allowed. There are also some special downhill drift races where the player starts at the top of a hill and has to slide down from top to bottom, a drifting equivalent of a sprint race (from point A to point B). In these races, there are no other racers, however there is normal city traffic. Players increase their points by sliding past city cars. Drag racing is a point-to-point race that forces players to use a manual transmission. Steering in this mode is simplified to simply allow for lane changes, while the game handles the steering along the lanes, and the player focuses more on maintaining an optimum speed for the car. The Nitrous Oxide meter is enlarged and displayed on the left side of the screen.

The Underground Racing League (URL) is a set of tournaments which takes place in a specific set of closed tracks outside city streets - either actual racing circuits or airport runways. URL tournaments typically consist of one to three races, with the player racing against five opponents. In tournaments with two or more races, a points system is used. At the end of each race, drivers receive a specific amount of points according to their standing in a race. The total score at the end of these races determines the winner of the tournament.

While cruising around the city, players can challenge other cruising opponents in a one-on-one race(these are called "Outrun Races"). The leader is given the freedom to pick his/her racing route, and must attempt to outrun the opponent and distance themselves from him/her to as much as 300 metres (980 feet) to win.Winning these outrun races may get the player some bonus unique upgrades. This racing formula is similar to that of Tokyo Xtreme Racer and Wangan Midnight video games, which uses health bars instead of distance to determine the winner. Once a certain amount of victories have been won by player in certain levels, the player is awarded a unique part free of charge by another racer. These parts are necessary to achieve 100% completion of the game.

Cars

As in Need for Speed: Underground, Underground 2 continues to offer similar vehicles for purchase and modification, most of which consist of Japanese models, with a sizable number of European and American models. In addition, Underground 2 is the first game in the Need for Speed series to offer three SUVs as racing vehicles, which may be modified more extensively than their compact counterparts. Also, it is the second game in the Need for Speed series after Need for Speed: Underground to offer a Korean-made car (Hyundai Tiburon) as a racing vehicle. A total of 29 cars are available for both versions of the game plus 2 unique for each of them: the PAL version of the game includes the (Peugeot 106 and Vauxhall Corsa), while the NTSC version includes the (Acura RSX and Honda Civic).

Customization in Underground 2 was significantly expanded compared to previous iterations from the series. Visual customization has expanded with the ability to customize the car's front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoiler, hood, exhaust tips, doors, roof scoop, wheels (including the ability to put on spinners), headlights and taillights, side mirrors and paint. Vinyls and decals can also be added, as well as car stereos (speakers, amplifiers & subwoofers), hydraulics, nitrous bottles and under glow neon. Most visual modifications to the car have no actual effect on vehicle performance. The sound systems, for example, could be put in the trunk of cars, but served no purpose other than visual cues. Hydraulics can be used in combination with nitrous at a start of a race which can cause a car to do a wheelie and for some cars get a better launch. The performance and handling of the car is affected by cosmetic modifications like spoilers and hoods, which affect the downforce of the car. All of these modifications are required for game completion.

The car's performance can also be enhanced by upgrading the car's engine, engine control unit (ECU), transmission, suspension, adding nitrous oxide, tires, brakes, reducing the car's weight, and adding turbos. The player has the ability to either upgrade the performance through upgrade packages or by purchasing individual parts of each performance category. NFS: Underground 2 also introduces a dyno-tuning system which allows players to specifically tune certain aspect of the car such as suspension springs, front and rear shock absorbers, gear ratios, aerodynamics, brake bias, individual tire grip, etc. The player could then test the setting via a dyno test at which point they would be given specific information such as 0–60mph (0–100km/h) time, max torque, etc.

SUVs, also known as sport utility vehicles, were a new element added to Need For Speed: Underground 2. In this mode, players could modify, tune, and drive SUVs in the same manner as they could with normal cars. Players could choose to race in an event with SUVs only, or in a mix of cars and SUVs. Like cars, users are able to add on parts to SUVs to increase their performance and handling. However, the added weight of SUVs make them much harder to maneuver, especially at higher speeds. SUVs were not featured in any later editions of the Need For Speed series (except as non-playable police vehicles) until 2012 with the remake of Most Wanted.

Multiplayer

Need For Speed Underground 2 had online multiplayer capability on PS2, PC, and Xbox, however by 2010, EA Games had shut them down, rendering the feature inoperable. [2][3]

Plot

The player races around in his Nissan Skyline GT-R over Olympic City, the setting of Need for Speed: Underground. He then receives a race challenge from a rather ominous personality who offers him a spot on his crew, but "won't take 'no' for an answer". The player races off — Samantha calls the player to inform him about the party — only to be ambushed by a mysterious driver in a black Hummer H2, who blinds the player with his headlights, then totals the player's Skyline, and the flashback fades out.

Fast forward to the present, the player arrives in Bayview with the keys to a Nissan 350Z, which is waiting for him outside the airport. The Player is able to complete a few number of races before returning it to Rachel. After he arrives at the car lot in the city core district, he takes one of the cars for free, as it was paid for by his damaged Skyline.

It is then that the player embarks on a quest to become the top racer in Bayview and eventually take down the man who sabotaged his ride months ago. After winning many races and getting many sponsorships, the player runs into a street racing crew called The Wraiths. After winning against them, the player progresses until he hears more about the Wraiths, who have been manipulating sponsor deals in their favor (and against both the player and Rachel), before a URL (Underground Racing League) race. The player challenges them to a series of URL races and eventually gets to Caleb, who is the man responsible for wrecking the Skyline in the prologue. After the player beats The Wraiths in yet another URL race, an infuriated Caleb with his modified GTO challenges the player to one final race. The race is a 5-lap circuit race and only appears when you finish the last URL event. After Caleb is defeated, the player gets his role back as the best driver in Bayview.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PC) 83.50%[4]
(Xbox) 82.61%[5]
(PS2) 80.77%[6]
(GC) 79.98%[7]
(PSP) 76.44%[8]
(GBA) 69.45%[9]
(NDS) 65.44%[10]
Metacritic(Xbox) 83/100[11]
(PC) 82/100[12]
(PS2) 82/100[13]
(GC) 77/100[14]
(PSP) 74/100[15]
(GBA) 72/100[16]
(NDS) 65/100[17]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge6/10[18]
EGM8.33/10[19]
(PSP) 7.83/10[20]
Eurogamer6/10[21][22]
Game Informer8/10[23][24]
(GBA) 3.5/10[25]
GamePro[26]
(PSP) [27]
Game RevolutionB[28]
(GC & PSP) B−[29][30]
GameSpot(GBA) 8/10[31]
(PSP) 7.9/10[32]
7.4/10[33]
(NDS) 7.2/10[34]
(GC) 7.1/10[35]
GameSpy[36][37][38]
(PSP) [39]
(NDS) [40]
IGN9.1/10[41]
(PS2) 9/10[42]
(GC) 8.3/10[43]
(GBA) 8/10[44]
(PSP) 7.9/10[45]
(NDS) 7/10[46]
Nintendo Power(GC) 3.8/5[47]
(NDS) 6/10[48]
(GBA) 2.8/5[49]
OPM (US)(PS2) [50]
(PSP) [51]
OXM8.9/10[52]
PC Gamer (US)88%[53]
Detroit Free Press[54]
The Times[55]

Need for Speed: Underground 2 received positive reviews. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 86% for the Mobile version;[56] 83.50% and 82 out of 100 for the PC version,[4][12] 82.61% and 83 out of 100 for the Xbox version,[5][11] 80.77% and 82 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version,[6][13] 79.98% and 77 out of 100 for the GameCube version,[7][14] 76.44% and 74 out of 100 for the PSP version,[8][15] 69.45% and 72 out of 100 for the Game Boy Advance version[9][16] and 65.44% and 65 out of 100 for the DS version.[10][17] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PSP version a score of all four sevens, for a total of 28 out of 40.[57]

The game is widely regarded as the one of the best games of the series (Along with the following year's Most Wanted) and is remembered for the quality of the gameplay, the length, the endless customization, the interesting side-missions, the graphics and the addition of "Free Roam". However, some of its elements were criticized as well, such as having to drive excessive amounts to get to specific races, bland voice acting and strong product placement for companies with no connection to auto racing, such as integrating the logo for Cingular, an American wireless communications company, into the game's messaging system and displaying it on-screen for much of the gameplay.[58] The GameCube version was also criticized for its unstable frame rate and inferior graphics. The hip-hop slang used by the characters (such as calling the money "bank"), the comic book styled cut scenes, and a lack of police also garnered criticism.

GameSpot gave the Mobile phone version a score of 9.2 out of 10 and said that it "isn't just the best racing game ever made for a mobile phone; it's also a much-needed showcase for V Cast technology. This game boasts game length and replay value so many orders beyond the mobile norm that it calls for a total paradigm shift. Simply put, mobile gaming just got a much-needed kick up the evolutionary ladder."[59] IGN gave the same version a score of eight out of ten and called it "a big step for mobile gaming, in my opinion. While there are things I did not like about the game -- loading and some control issues -- I cannot deny that this is one hell of a package. If you want a game that maxes out your 3D handset, Need for Speed Underground 2 is the game to get."[60]

Detroit Free Press gave the Rivals version all four stars, exclaiming, "The racing here is just flat-out fun, with growling engines, jumps and shortcuts that allow you to smash through fences. But there are thoughtful additions, including Party Play."[54] The Sydney Morning Herald, however, gave the Rivals version three-and-a-half stars out of five and said, "While not PSP's best driving game, Rivals is an entertaining street racer that offers quick thrills."[61] On the other hand, the same newspaper gave the GameCube, PS2, PC and Xbox versions a score of four stars out of five and said, "While the driving action isn't quite as satisfying as the superb Burnout 3, it's still strong enough to keep you playing through the 150 or so races."[62] The Times also gave the game four stars out of five and stated, "The courses in this game are just as much the stars as the cars. The dazzling downtown locations are massive, dominated by skyscrapers whose light bathes the streets in a radiant glow."[55]

The game sold around 11 million copies[63] and entered the "best-sellers" of each console PS2's Greatest Hits, Xbox's Platinum Hits and GameCube's Player's Choice).

References

  1. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground Rivals Release Information for PSP". GameFAQs. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Online Service Updates". Electronic Arts. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hinkle, David (February 17, 2010). "Next wave of EA game server shutdowns detailed". Engadget (Joystiq). Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Need for Speed: Underground 2 for PC". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground Rivals for PSP". GameRankings. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for DS". GameRankings. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 (xbx: 2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Need for Speed: Underground 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for GameCube Reviews [mislabeled as "Xbox"]". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground Rivals for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Need for Speed Underground 2 for DS Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  18. ↑ Edge staff (December 25, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2". Edge (144): 60.
  19. ↑ EGM staff (December 25, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GC, PS2, XBOX)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (186): 96.
  20. ↑ EGM staff (May 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals". Electronic Gaming Monthly]] (191): 94.
  21. ↑ Reed, Kristan (November 22, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  22. ↑ Jennings, Ronan (October 3, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground: Rivals". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  23. ↑ McNamara, Andy (December 2004). "Need for Speed: Underground 2 (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer (140): 162. Archived from the original on January 8, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ Mason, Lisa (May 2005). "Need for Speed Underground: Rivals". Game Informer (145): 132. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ Mason, Lisa (February 2005). "Need for Speed: Underground 2 (GBA)". Game Informer (142): 125. Archived from the original on June 10, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  26. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (November 15, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GC, PS2, Xbox)". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  27. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (March 22, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals Review for PSP". GamePro. Archived from the original on March 23, 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  28. ↑ Gee, Brian (November 29, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 Review (PC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  29. ↑ Gee, Brian (November 29, 2004). "Need for Speed: Underground 2 - GameCube". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  30. ↑ Dodson, Joe (April 14, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  31. ↑ Provo, Frank (November 17, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  32. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (March 17, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals Review". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  33. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (November 16, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 Review (PC, PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  34. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (May 26, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground 2 Review (DS)". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  35. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (November 16, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 Review (GC)". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  36. ↑ O'Donnell, Ryan (November 17, 2004). "GameSpy: Need for Speed Underground 2 (PC)". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  37. ↑ O'Donnell, Ryan (November 17, 2004). "GameSpy: Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  38. ↑ O'Donnell, Ryan (November 17, 2004). "GameSpy: Need for Speed Underground 2 (GCN)". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  39. ↑ Williams, Bryn (March 25, 2005). "GameSpy: Need for Speed Underground Rivals". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  40. ↑ Chapman, David (May 23, 2005). "GameSpy: Need for Speed Underground 2 (NDS)". GameSpy. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  41. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 12, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (PC, Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  42. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 12, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  43. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 12, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GCN)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  44. ↑ Harris, Craig (December 9, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  45. ↑ McNamara, Tom (March 21, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  46. ↑ Harris, Craig (May 13, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (NDS)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GC)". Nintendo Power 188: 113. February 2005.
  48. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 (DS)". Nintendo Power 193: 99. July 2005.
  49. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 (GBA)". Nintendo Power 187: 140. January 2005.
  50. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 120. December 2004.
  51. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground Rivals". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 108. May 2005.
  52. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2". Official Xbox Magazine: 76. December 25, 2004.
  53. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2". PC Gamer: 54. February 2005.
  54. 1 2 Schaefer, Jim (March 27, 2005). "A FAB FIVE: First PSP games race to the front of the pack". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on March 29, 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  55. 1 2 Wapshott, Tim (December 4, 2004). "Need for Speed Underground 2". The Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2015.(subscription required)
  56. ↑ "Need for Speed Underground 2 for Mobile". GameRankings. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  57. ↑ "ニード・フォー・スピード アンダーグラウンド ライバルズ". Famitsu 846. March 5, 2005.
  58. ↑ "GameSpot Best and Worst of 2004: Most Despicable Product Placement".
  59. ↑ Score, Avery (July 15, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground 2 Review (Mobile)". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  60. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (July 13, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground 2 (Cell)". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  61. ↑ Hill, Jason (September 24, 2005). "Need for Speed Underground Rivals". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  62. ↑ Ring, Bennett (October 23, 2004). "Hot wheels". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  63. ↑ Balestriere, Vincent (15 June 2015). "Need For Speed 2015: EA Reboots Franchise With 'Underground' Street Cred". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved 22 August 2015.

External links

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