Need For Speed Underground

 

Yet another game from the early 2000s that have beaten again. Back in when it was released, I played it once, I liked it, but have not returned to it. It was made by EA and they are frequent with sequels: next year there was a sequel, then NFS Most Wanted then NFS Carbon. 

The sequels however never quite lived to the high mark of the original NFSU. They were slow and too cluttered with unnecessary details and micromanagement. In a game about racing there were just too many slow drives the town to the next location, like GTA but without any shooting, pedestrians or even any other cars, without things that made GTA fun in the first place.

 In contrast simple original had just the adrenaline drive of never-ending racing. Cars had just enough upgrades to either make a visual impact or enhance speed instead. Starting from basic small everyday sedans, you can find on many roads, you would gradually progress to a budget sportscars like Acura RSX, culminating into Nissan Skyline GTR, that this game made iconic. Then you further enhance them with engine, transmission, NOS and other upgrades until they race like a Ferrari. Simple yet compelling formula that keeps you playing.

Then you can also color it and put vinyls with a pattern of your liking. Vinyl selection could be improved, but I found one that became iconic to me personally. As for body parts there were often enough choice to find something to my liking.

It's a casual game when it comes to racing: crashes do not destroy your car and so on. Races are fun, you race through variety of creatively decorated urban settings, occasionally smashing road signs and cones that say road is closed. They cannot stop you as you safely jump over the unfinished bridge to continue the race.

Overall, it's a fun experience from the happy 2000s era, before financial crisis, feminism, neo-Christianity and boomers made life miserable. I can recommend this game.