Need for Speed Underground

As you start off, your car begins to pick up speed. The landscape around you is clearly visible; shops stand quietly, streetlamps provide a steady light to distinguish the road in front of you. Your opponent races to your side and gives your vehicle an obvious bump. You regain control, return the favour, and slam the gas. Suddenly, your velocity starts to climb rapidly--the once-silent buildings now seem to scream as you careen down the street. Faster and faster now; you hit nitrous, and now the sensation is incredible. Your surroundings are no longer perceptible as everything blurs; the camera shakes; the city whizzes by in a bevy of flashes.

So goes a common scene straight out of EA's latest racing title, Need for Speed Underground. Above all else, and much more so than in any other game, the feeling of speed here is astonishing. Besides that, Underground features equally terrific visuals, loads of customization, and an impressive list of licensed automobiles, from Honda and Nissan to Ford and Toyota. The biggest change, however, is the overall theme. For the first time, EA has taken their long-running series to the realm of street racing, an unexpected but very welcome move.

Cube owners will be missing out on the online action the Ps2 version is getting.

Although the number of manufacturers isn't huge (numbering around 20), what makes each car unique is the ability to modify almost everything on your ride. Additions like bumpers, stereos, rims, hoods, and colours provide a slick exterior. To increase performance, feel free to add nitrous, different engines, and better brakes, among other things. What does all this talk mean? At the very least, it's apparent that two cars will never be exactly the same. Unfortunately for GC-owners, since the game retains online-playability exclusive to PS2, you won't exactly be able to vaunt your creations to players around the country. Still, Underground will feature multiplayer for the competitive spirit in us all.

According to the development team, one key factor to accomplish in Underground was expressing insane speeds. To help accomplish this, they brought in Habib Zargarpour, a visual-effects specialist and former Academy award-nominee for his work in various films. In conjunction with the rest of the staff, the team has achieved tremendous results in creating scenes where quick-reflexes aren't recommended--they're a must.

Of course, without good graphics and a steady framerate, speed means nothing. Thankfully, Underground is one of the most beautiful racing titles we've seen in recent memory. The car models looks phenomenal, especially when you take into account that their appearance can be tinkered with so much through the vast customization options at your disposal. Underground will also feature real-time car damage, so your ride will take heat if you slam into a wall or hit an opponent. The racing locations seem just as great, and though the framerate doesn't always keep up with the action, it should be ironed out soon enough.

Car customization will let players diversify their cars to their own likings.

If you're unhappy with the direction this venerable franchise has taken, don't be. EA is pulling all the stops to make sure Need for Speed Underground will appease both old fans and newcomers alike. As of now, everything seems to be coming together nicely. Game modes are still being finalized, but definitely expect career, drag race, and circuit race. The exclusion of online-play is saddening, but other than that, it looks like Underground is covering it all--and doing so quite nicely. The game is expected to hit shelves in November; expect an in-depth review when it does.