Need for Speed Underground: A Review of the Classic Racing Game
If you are a fan of racing games, chances are you have played or heard of Need for Speed Underground, one of the most popular and influential titles in the genre. Released in 2003 by Electronic Arts, Need for Speed Underground revolutionized the racing scene with its immersive gameplay, stunning graphics, and catchy soundtrack. In this article, I will review the game and explain why it is a classic that deserves your attention.
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Introduction
What is Need for Speed Underground?
Need for Speed Underground is a racing video game and the seventh installment in the Need for Speed series. It was developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts. It is available for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, and Arcade platforms.
The game focuses on the underground street racing culture, featuring cars from the import scene rather than exotic sports cars. The game offers a career mode with a storyline, a garage mode where you can customize your car with various performance and visual upgrades, and online multiplayer support for up to four players.
Why is it a classic game?
Need for Speed Underground is a classic game because it was one of the first games to capture the essence of the street racing culture, inspired by movies like The Fast and the Furious. The game introduced many innovations to the racing genre, such as a dynamic weather system, a realistic physics engine, a diverse urban environment, and a rich soundtrack featuring hip-hop, rock, and electronic music.
The game also received critical acclaim from critics and gamers alike, who praised its gameplay, graphics, sound, and replay value. The game sold over 15 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games in the Need for Speed series.
Gameplay and Features
Racing Modes and Events
The game offers four main racing modes: Circuit, Sprint, Drag, and Drift. Circuit races are lap-based races on closed tracks, Sprint races are point-to-point races on open roads, Drag races are straight-line races on highways or city streets, and Drift races are based on sliding your car around corners to earn points.
The game also features several unique racing and mission-based events, such as Knockout (where the last racer in each lap is eliminated), Lap Knockout (where the last racer after a certain number of laps is eliminated), Time Trial (where you have to beat a set time), Outrun (where you have to overtake another racer and stay ahead for a certain distance), Tournament (where you compete in a series of races), Underground Racing League (where you race against professional drivers), DVD Covers (where you have to win races with certain conditions to appear on magazine covers), Sponsorship Deals (where you have to complete challenges from various sponsors to earn money), and Car Specialties Shop (where you can unlock new parts and upgrades for your car).
Car Customization and Performance
The game features 20 licensed cars from manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru, Toyota, Honda/Acura, Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mazda, Hyundai, Dodge, Pontiac, Toyota Supra ,and many more. You can customize your car with hundreds of options from major aftermarket parts manufacturers such as AEM Inc., Audiobahn., Bilstein, Dazz Motorsport, DC Sports, Eibach Enkei, GReddy Performance Products Inc., HKS, Holley, Injen, Jackson Racing, MOMO, Neuspeed, Nitrous Express, NOS, O.Z, PIAA, Skunk2 Racing, Sparco, StreetGlow, Turbonetics Inc., and more.
You can modify your car's performance by upgrading its engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, tires, nitrous oxide, turbocharger, supercharger, weight reduction, and ECU. You can also tune your car's settings such as gear ratios, tire pressure, ride height, camber angle, and nitrous duration.
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You can also change your car's appearance by applying various paint colors, vinyls, decals, spoilers, hoods, roof scoops, side skirts, bumpers, headlights, taillights, exhaust tips, neon lights, window tints, spinners, and hydraulics. You can also choose from different styles of wheels and tires.
Story and Characters
The game's story mode follows the protagonist (a nameless street racer) who arrives in Olympic City to compete in the underground racing scene. The protagonist meets Samantha (voiced by Kelly Brook), a mechanic and a friend of Eddie (voiced by David Palffy), the leader of the Eastsiders crew and the reigning champion of the city. Samantha helps the protagonist get started in the racing scene and introduces him to other racers and crews.
The protagonist soon rises through the ranks and challenges Eddie for the title of the best racer in the city. Along the way, he encounters various rivals and enemies such as Melissa (voiced by Brooke Burke), Eddie's girlfriend and a skilled racer; Kurt (voiced by Michael Benyaer), a cocky and arrogant racer who works for a mysterious sponsor; TJ (voiced by Bill Bellamy), a friendly but shady racer who offers the protagonist various deals; and The Mystery Driver (voiced by Ja Rule), a mysterious and powerful racer who seems to have a connection to Eddie.
The game's story mode consists of 111 races and events that are divided into five stages. Each stage has a different theme and difficulty level. The game also features several cutscenes that advance the plot and show the interactions between the characters.
Graphics and Sound
Visual Style and Effects
The game's graphics are impressive for its time, featuring detailed car models, realistic lighting and shadows, dynamic weather effects, and smooth animations. The game also uses motion blur, lens flare, reflection mapping, and particle effects to create a sense of speed and immersion.
The game's environment is based on a fictional version of Los Angeles, featuring various locations such as downtown, industrial areas, suburbs, hills, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, stadiums, and docks. The game also features a day-night cycle that affects the visibility and atmosphere of the races.
Music and Voice Acting
The game's soundtrack is one of its most praised aspects. It features 26 licensed songs from various genres such as hip-hop, rock, electronic, metal, and rap. Some of the artists featured in the soundtrack are Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins, Rob Zombie, Rancid, Queens of the Stone Age, Crystal Method, Overseer, Junkie XL, Fluke, BT, Paul van Dyk, Petey Pablo, Mystikal, Nate Dogg, Xzibit, Snoop Dogg feat. The Doors, Fuel, Lostprophets, Static-X, Element Eighty, Asian Dub Foundation, Hotwire, Story of the Year, T.I.^ , and Terror Squad.
The game's voice acting is also well-done, featuring celebrities such as Kelly Brook, David Palffy, Brooke Burke, Bill Bellamy, Michael Benyaer, and Ja Rule. The voice actors deliver their lines with emotion and personality, adding to the realism and drama of the story.
Reception and Legacy
Critical and Commercial Success
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay, graphics, sound, and replay value. The game has an average score of 85% on Metacritic and 86% on GameRankings. Some of the publications that gave the game high scores are IGN (9.1/10), GameSpot (8.7/10), Game Informer (9/10), and Eurogamer (9/10).
The game was also a commercial success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling games in the Need for Speed series. The game also won several awards, such as the Best Racing Game of 2003 by IGN, GameSpot, and GameSpy, and the Best Soundtrack of 2003 by MTV Video Music Awards.
Influence on the Racing Genre
The game had a significant impact on the racing genre, influencing many other games that followed. The game popularized the street racing theme and the car customization feature, which became staples of the genre. The game also inspired several sequels and spin-offs, such as Need for Speed Underground 2, Need for Speed Most Wanted, Need for Speed Carbon, Need for Speed ProStreet, Need for Speed Undercover, Need for Speed World, Need for Speed Shift, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Need for Speed The Run, Need for Speed Rivals, Need for Speed Payback, and Need for Speed Heat.
The game also influenced other racing games from different developers and publishers, such as Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, Juiced, Forza Horizon, Burnout Paradise, Blur, Split/Second, Driver: San Francisco, The Crew, and more.
Conclusion
Summary of the Main Points
In conclusion, Need for Speed Underground is a classic racing game that deserves your attention. The game offers an immersive gameplay experience with various racing modes and events, a car customization feature that allows you to modify your car's performance and appearance, and a story mode that follows your rise to fame in the underground racing scene. The game also features stunning graphics with realistic effects and a diverse environment based on Los Angeles. The game also boasts a rich soundtrack with songs from various genres and artists. The game received critical acclaim and commercial success, and influenced many other racing games in the genre.
Personal Opinion and Recommendation
Personally, I think Need for Speed Underground is one of the best racing games ever made. I enjoyed playing the game for hours on end, trying out different cars and upgrades, competing in various races and events, and following the story mode. I loved the game's atmosphere and style, which captured the essence of the street racing culture. I also liked the game's music and voice acting, which added to the mood and excitement of the game.
I would highly recommend this game to anyone who likes racing games or wants to try something new. The game is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels. The game is easy to learn but hard to master. The game is also fun to play alone or with friends online. The game is available for various platforms at affordable prices. You can also find the game on various online platforms such as Steam or Origin.
FAQs
Q: How long is the game?
A: The game's length depends on how you play it. If you focus on the story mode only, you can finish it in about 10 hours. If you want to complete all the races and events in the game, you can expect to spend about 20 hours. If you want to unlock all the cars and upgrades in the game, you can expect to spend about 30 hours.
Q: How many cars are in the game?
A: The game features 20 licensed cars from various manufacturers. You can see the full list of cars here: [text].
Q: What are some tips and tricks for playing the game?
A: Some tips and tricks for playing the game are:
- Use nitrous wisely. Nitrous can give you a speed boost when you need it, but it also consumes quickly. Use it when you are behind or need to overtake your opponents, but save some for the final stretch.
- Learn the tracks. Each track has its own layout, shortcuts, obstacles, and hazards. Learn the best routes and avoid the pitfalls. Practice the tracks in the quick race mode or the time trial mode before you enter the career mode.
- Customize your car. Your car's performance and appearance can make a difference in the races. Upgrade your car's engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, tires, nitrous oxide, turbocharger, supercharger, weight reduction, and ECU to improve its speed, acceleration, handling, and braking. Tune your car's settings such as gear ratios, tire pressure, ride height, camber angle, and nitrous duration to suit your driving style and preferences. Change your car's paint color, vinyls, decals, spoilers, hoods, roof scoops, side skirts, bumpers, headlights, taillights, exhaust tips, neon lights, window tints, spinners, and hydraulics to make it look cool and unique.
Q: What are some of the best cars in the game?
A: The best cars in the game depend on your personal taste and preference. However, some of the cars that are generally considered to be the best are:
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII: This car has a high top speed and acceleration, as well as good handling and braking. It is ideal for circuit and sprint races.
- Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec: This car has a balanced performance in all aspects. It is suitable for any racing mode.
- Toyota Supra: This car has a powerful engine and a high top speed. It is great for drag races.
- Mazda RX-7: This car has a lightweight body and a smooth handling. It is perfect for drift races.
Q: Where can I buy or download the game?
A: You can buy or download the game from various sources. You can find the game on online platforms such as Steam or Origin. You can also find the game on physical media such as CDs or DVDs. You can also find the game on second-hand markets such as eBay or Amazon.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about Need for Speed Underground. If you have any questions or comments about the game or the article, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for your time and attention. 44f88ac181
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