I bought this game last night and played about 5 hours of it,wow I was blown away.I've never had a (racing) gaming experience like that,just able to drive around and race people around many of the neiberhoods and freeways or enter any of the Underground races anytime.

PROS(there are no cons im not being generous just honest)

1.Graphics are sick (in a good way)

2.race whenever you want wherever you want

3.crazy amount of upgrades you can do whatever you

want to your vehicle,literally It will have Grand Turismo

fans drooling

4.cars handle well and the game is huge I told ya

earlier I played over 5 hrs. of the game well

I've only opened up or beaten 4 percent of the

game.It keeps track of all you stats.ALL OF THEM!

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Bought this for my son, he loves it.

Uses it all the time.

No complaints from either of us.

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When my sister decided to rent this game from Blockbuster last week, I thought that this game wasn't going to be anything special (since I am not a big fan of EA anyway). I wasn't really excited when she came home and popped the game into the Xbox (which disturbed me from my Halo 2 playing experience by the way), so I left that particular room and let her enjoy her rental for the night. After leaving it shelved for a couple of days and a losing streak in Halo 2's "Big Team Battle", I decided to give NFS:U2 a chance.

When I popped the disk into the Xbox, I decided to first enter the career mode that this game offered. What I first got was a taste of the speed that was to come (if I decided to press on) as I raced from the airport to a car lot. What I got when I got there was pretty much where the speed ended. When you first enter the car lot, you are stuck with a handful of low-end stock cars. Luckily, you get the first car for free (and several others for free as well when you get a sponsor).

When I chose my car and left to enter the streets of Bayview, I decided to cruise around the city for a bit (to get comfortable to where everything was, etc.). When I cruised around the city, besides the fact that my car stunk and there is a corporate logo on all the time I am in cruise mode (which I will get to later), driving wasn't that bad. The graphics were solid, there were a decent assortment of real-life stores and billboards (Burger King, Cingular, and Best Buy were the most noticeable, since they probably coughed up the most money to be in the game), and there was a good deal of pavement to drive on.

One minor irk I noticed in the beginning was that some of the areas that are raceable were barred off from me, therefore leaving me with a smaller space to cruise around in. Another irk that I noticed was that you have to find all of the Performance, Graphics, Specialty, and Detail shops by yourself to unlock all of the goodies that you can put in and on your car. And even then, a good deal of things are still locked away until you progress thorugh the game (who was the genius that thought this one up?).

In itself, the racing in the game is solid. As expected by me, NFS:U2 is an arcade racer which relies more on top speed and the overall performance of the car than the anticipation of a turn and working on your car setup to maximize race performance in certain situations (even though you can tweak you car on a test course). For an arcade racer, NFS:U2 holds it's own and executes its gameplay well.

As for the number of races that you can do, there is a good deal of depth in this game. The racing modes are: Circuit (A closed race which involves several laps... and the laps are pretty long), Sprint (follow a course to an end point), Drift (garner the most points while performing drifts), Drag (a race on a usually flat and straight piece of pavement), Street X (Race on a track with tight turns and short straightaways), Outrun (Race another AI driver to see who can get 1000 feet ahead of the other driver with some "bank" at stake, and U.R.L, which is the Underground Racing League (race on real tracks with different patterns). As you can see, a nice selection is at your fingertips.

The only problems with the in-game are that it seems to rain EVERY. SINGLE. RACE. The rain effects are nice (Kudos to the graphics department), but when it rains in every Circuit, U.R.L., and Sprint race, it gets aggrevating after a while. Thanks to this, I tend to think that Bayview is no more than a fictitious Seattle.

Another problem with the racing is that the racing seems a bit too "arcadey" at times. It is "arcadey" in the sense that there is an obvious catchup in the game (for both you and the computer opponents), in some cases it's easier to ride the wall instead of realistically turning, and there is no damage model in the game whatsoever. When you get into a head-on crash at over 100 MPH with oncoming traffic, I expect to have at least some damage. But when I do this, I have a realistic crash with real sounds, but there is no damage whatsoever to my or the other guy's car. Even for an arcade racer, this is unacceptable.

After the race, you are escorted back to the cruise mode where you are looking for the next race or the nearest specialty store to improve or stylize your "ride". And thus is where the next problem of NFS:U2 is. Some genius "black-suit" EA exec decided that you have to drive to a certain location (which is usually in some out-of-the-way place) in order to race in that event. This idea is poorly executed, as driving from one place to another is an arduous chore and can be highly confusing after a while, even with the GPS (which can sometimes ask you to do an almost full 180 at times to get there in the quickest way). And in some cases, one wrong turn will lead you to go a lot farther than you bargained for (this is highly evident in Jackson Heights).

Some other problems I noticed were that the game did not support custom soundtracks (kind of ironic that the game allows you to "trick out" your car yet you can't add on any tracks burned to your XBox).

The game also tries, almost desperately, to be "super hip" with all of the "hip young lingo" in the game. I do not want to hear my agent saying that my last race was "tight" and my "ride" needs to be "tricked out" in order to "score me some photo ops". If I wanted this, I'd watch MTV and gag myself with rerun after rerun of "Pimp my Ride". I know that they tried to get the "underground" feel of the game, but it seems the the script was written by several 13-year-old surburban white males with an unhealthy obsession with gangsta rap and "the streets". Probably not the case, but it seems that way.

Another problem is that there is product placement "up-the-wazoo" (this wasn't in the game, by the way). I'm not saying that all of the product placement is bad. I commend EA for securing the naming rights for a good deal of part manufacturers and automobiles. And I really don't mind the occasional billboard about Burger King and Best Buy here and there, but EA stepped over a fine line with having a Cingular logo plastered on the screen when I cruise around the city in my non-racing time. Okay, I know that it's business, Cingular ponied up the most money to put their rights on the game, and any developer will take another cash infusion to aid development costs, but a Cingular logo plastered on the screen and finding a hidden shop next to a Burger King don't have to do with underground racing.

In short, this game does it's job of being an arcade racer and does it well, but a few minor irks have dropped this game a star in my book, I would reccommend renting this game first to make sure that this is for you, if it is then buy it. If not, no harm to you.

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EA broke the barrier with last year's hit Need For Speed Underground, and rather then let players have some time to catch their breath, BAM!! EA hit us with the new release NFS:U2!!! I saw the trailers, and read the reviews, and experienced some initial hand wringing due to some of the poor reviews i read on-line, but I can say that Underground 2 is an excellent game, and a worthy addition to EA's stable of racing games. The graphics are crisp and clean, and the city of Bayview looks beautiful in the neon washed, wet asphalt look that NFS:U made about as famous and imitatable as "Bullet-Time." The car selections are pretty familiar imports that you can soup up to insane levels of performance but not sure where the hydralics come into play?? Seriously the car selection offers the player some nice choices such as the 2000 Honda Civic SI, one of my faves, the Mitsu Evo, the Toyota Supra and Corolla (Legendary drifter), The WRX, and some brand news ones such as the Infinti G35, H2 Hummer, and the 2005 Mustang GT!!! The city is huge, but easy to move around in with or without the aide of a wonderful GPS system that is very similar to the one used in Smuggler's Run and Midnight Club (think BIG GLOWING ARROW)that helps the directionally impaired find their next race, garage, or shop.

At first i found driving all over the city pretty distracting, and I wasn't sure if i liked the idea, but after awhile it becomes second nature, and I like tooling around Bayview in my Souped Up Civic. SUV's have been added to the stable of cars that can be raced but I am almost afraid to try that level of racing yet. EA was kind enough to add replays (FINALLY!!!) and a very nice Dyno center where the tuner in all of us can tinker, and tweak with your car to get the most out of it, and actually see the numbers on the dyno, nice touch. Many real world sponsors have gotten involved with this series and you can slap parts on your car in the game that you can get down at the local shops. I like the realism in that, plus it sounds cool to say that you have a Greddy Turbo, AEM Cold Air Intake, DC Sports Header and Venom Nitrous Oxide System on your Civic SI. Maybe its just me.

The races are still set up with Drags, Drifts, Circuits, Sprints, and some new ones have been added the awesome URL, Underground Racing League, and Auto Cross racing which seems more like Nascar with all the banging, and shoving. A feature borrowed from Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero has also been added where the player can challenge random cars to Outrun matches which adds to re-play value, and adds that Bad Boy factor.

The only negative i can see is that rather then use real motion, or animated sequences with your street racing tutor like from the first one U:2 uses a graphic novel approach to the cutscenes involving the "story". I'm not real crazy about that, BUT i will not let that one little tiny complaint detract from what i think is an exceptionally fun and satisfying racing game.

I am still playing the Career mode like a madman and don't think i have the stones to go on-line and see how real people are racing, but the game is excellent by my standards, and I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it in just a few races. So give it a try Drop it in and Drive. Come you know you want to!!!

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this games is a great game if you like to customize you car and every detail of it. I found no cons in the games.

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After trying NFS Carbon AND NFS Undercover....this old classic is BY FAR the best in the series, and still the most fun to play.

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This game is awesome amounts of fun, which I probably don't need to tell you 'cause if you're reading this then you already know that. IT IS HUGE. There is so much stuff in this game it's unreal.

I personally don't own it yet, but I've played both the PS2 version and the xbox version at friends houses, and while the xbox should be able to get better graphics based on its system, the PS2 version is superior. The colors are sharper, the graphics are more intense, and the sounds are more hardcore.

When I get this (hopefully for Christmas) I'm getting the PS2 version because it is better.

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It is a great game which I loved playing on the PC. Even though it is an older title, I bought it so I can play in on my new HD TV on Xbox 360. The only issue is since its an older title, is that the graphics are SD only and don't scale nicely. Other than that, it has excellent gameplay and the second best OST of the series (first one being NFS 3 Hot Pursuit). Enjoy :)

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I have had this game 4 about 2 weeks and I am almost done. I also have driver 3 alone with this game and Need For Speed Underground is much easier and I think kids of any age from 7+ will like it. The directions of the game are very easy 2 understand and it has a good story line. So if your a pure motorhead like I am or just like to look at tuner cars this game is 4 u. In other words this is a "must have game". THIS GAME ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I'll make this short and simple: this game is #1! Personally, I'm not a big fan of racing games but I am for this one. The thing that I like about it most is that not only is it racing, but there is a story mode to it too. The graphics are great and the soundtrack is unbelievable. This is a game definatly worth buying.

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I like birhtday cake so much, but i think pie and NFSU2 are

better.

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I have not recieved my game yet. I borrowed my friends game and beat it before mine even got here. Him and I ordered it at the same time and he got his and I still haven't recieved mine. It has been over a month since I ordered it. Thank you very much......

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This game so rocks! I've never loved a game so much as this. I can personalize the car to my taste in style/colour/etc! I was so happy with the first, but this one just rocks as much!

Also the fact that you have to drive around to find the races, (you'll understand when you play it) and the garages. The only bad part is waiting until you unlock the 'better' things to make your car hotter then it already is.

The graphics are very nice, and the music is good, maybe the first NFS:Underground soundtrack was a *bit* better. lol But it was good nonetheless.

Anyways, this is surely worth getting if you love racing!

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I have the first "NFS Underground" and I really enjoyed it but I was worried that Underground 2 would not be different enough to spend money on it. So I rented it. I was blown away by how cool it is, so I went and bought it.

Pros (over the first game)

1. You get Nos much earlier in the game (than U1).

2. The points you get for "avoiding accidents" or "power slides" etc. instantly refill your Nos meter.

3. The game flows better, because you drive (in a free ride mode) from race to race, and you pick where you go.

4. There are more race types.

5. If you are struggling with a certain type of race, you can go to the garage and gear your car for a certain type of race.

6. You get sponsors and you scroll through different companies and names and you choose which you want. (Some contracts require certain types of races, and pay more money)

7. When you are put on a magazine cover, you move your car around until you are satisfied and you take the picture.

8. You can own multiple cars (including SUVs, Sports cars, and the original "U1" cars)

9. There is a GPS you can turn on to guide you to different events (aside from a very detail city map)

10. More details which you can upgrade on your car. Even the new available paint colors pay incredible attention to detail.

Cons:

1. I have played the game for hours and I am only 15 % through the game

2. I am only 15% through the game and the races are starting to get much harder

(I'm a little worried the game may go on too long and become too difficult and I have never enjoyed games that make you repeat the same thing over and over.)

The game is awesome! If you liked Underground, you will like Underground 2 even more. I think it is definitely the best car racing game available. If you rent it, you are going to want to buy it.

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Remember the days when you first played Crazy Taxi? Remember how fun OUTRUN was in the Arcade? Like the Movie "Fast and the Furious" or its sequel "2 fast, 2 furious"? Well then you're gonna like the Xbox version of NSFU2-Underground.

Its got 30 cars. Its got unlockable parts, maps, bonus stuff, hidden races and such. Free roam and free will - you choose your cars, you choose how you want to race and what you spend your money on.

I havent had this much fun on a console since 24hour Lemans on the Dreamcast.

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