If there's one thing that you can guarantee from Electronic Arts it's a sequel or yearly update from a franchise that they know Mr. Johnny Average will go out and buy. You only have to look at the annual or even bi-annual updates to series such as Football, and to spot the trend, and who can blame them when they all consistently sell in droves? And incidentally, why should they make any effort to drastically improve each game when they know that it'll still sell like hot cakes even if it's rubbish? Need For Speed Underground: Most Wanted is the most recent 'chavved'-up exhibitor in EA's street series and, some would say clever, another clever business tactic.

There are two major differences between Underground: Most Wanted and NFSU2's gameplay. First, take a moment to adjust your vision because now the takes place not only in the nighttime but also in the middle of the day. Secondly, and perhaps the most defining feature of the game, is the inclusion of an increasingly ruthless police force whose sole desire is to stop you in your tracks and bust your ass (please, 'arse' - Ed).

Larger video: 1mb   HD

Each of the new additions feature in the game's main Career mode in which, you, a nameless youth, enter Rockport City with the desire to become the hottest street around. Of course this task isn't as easy as slipping a fiver into the top pocket of the Blacklist (the name of the underground group) leader's Armani suit. In order to prove your worth you've got to compete in all kinds of races and challenges. These range from simple A-B checkpoint racing, speed competitions and tests of your nerve as you attempt to evade the cops. The story unfolds via a sequence of embarrassingly scripted and acted cut scenes in which you might think you've acquired psychic abilities in being able to predict what the onscreen characters are about to say. This false realisation soon subsides when you know that the lines spoken are those which you've heard a hundred times before in countless movies where car chases play a central role. Furthermore, the cut scenes are played out by real life actors who have been rendered onto a computer generated background. The result is, rather aptly, a car crash pallet of colours that just looks a bit of a mess.

The cop chases themselves are solidly implemented encounters which really do make you feel like you're centre of attention in some kind of World's Wildest Police Videos programme. As is your mindset, the boys in blue aren't going to let you get away without a fight; the longer you continue to flee from them the harder they try to stop you. Whether this is by adding more squad cars to the chase, laying spike strips or setting up road blocks, it's always a tense experience. The fact that all radio communication between police officers is audible throughout the time adds to the desperation you feel as you attempt to escape. And when you do escape you can't help but feel pleased with yourself, this is both the case in the career mode and the Challenge mode which offers much the same with but without the direction of an unfolding story.

Graphically Need For Speed Underground: Most Wanted is sound overall. The thirty or so licensed cars have all been beautifully re-created and it shows as they stand out more than anything else around you. Impressive also is the continued standard of their look in the post-customisation stage, an option available to you in order to personalize your ride with rims, trims, vinyls and paintjobs. The city environments themselves are varied enough to be convincing, if a little grainy and certainly not as pin-sharp in appearance as the vehicles. Occasionally, the visuals are marred by a slight drop in frame rate at particularly busy times - let's call it 'rush hour' for poor comic reasons. Lastly and most disappointingly there exists little or no car damage. Attempting to render your car non-roadworthy results in nothing more than a few cracked windows no matter how hard you try. If looks are your thing then you're better off sticking with 3. The way Need for Speed Underground: Most Wanted sounds is also impressive. In addition to the convincing police banter are perfect re-creations of each car's engine sound that mean you can, in some senses, experience the power of each motor as you bolt around the city streets. Lastly, whether you love 'em or loath 'em the Trax make their obligatory presence felt with a mix of rap and rock tunes.

Need for Speed Underground: Most Wanted's supports an mode that is functional rather than groundbreaking. Up to four players can compete in events that range from basic head-to-head to drag racing and checkpoint contests. Successes and losses are tallied the whole time so that everyone can see who is king of the road, giving lesser players an incentive to perfect their skills.

As far as racers go you could do a lot worse than Most Wanted. The only thing stopping it achieving a better score are the aforementioned niggles coupled with some below par AI. Their computer-controlled abilities switch from laughably amateur to 'one mistake and its race over' Terminator-style brutality in a matter of moments which seems more than a little unfair. Saying that, regardless of any of the game's faults it's probably going to be a bestseller for EA. Whether you can go without a NFS for another year or if you're adamant that you won't budge until EA produce a definitive example of the series is up to you. Otherwise enjoy this latest title that certainly gets more right than it does than it does wrong.

77%

By Andrew Macarthy

Comments

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  1. cristoper Unregistered 3 years ago

    conchetumare chupa el pico

  2. Jason 3 years ago Staff

    test

  3. killrsheep Unregistered 3 years ago

    so whats best? Need for speed underground rivals or this one... i just saved enuf money for the game so i want to know...

    Tuning rocks

  4. Adam Unregistered 3 years ago

    I think the xbox 360 sucks so much I want to though it out the window +

  5. Dre Unregistered 3 years ago

    any cheats i need 2 have them

  6. loko fes Unregistered 3 years ago

    bueno este juego la lleva kiero puro jugar
    pero no se puede deverian
    tener para bajarlo

    bueno eso no mas chau

    este juego es la raja

  7. ddddddddddddd Unregistered 3 years ago

    dddddddddddd

  8. j Unregistered 3 years ago

    hjghjdjgh

  9. na Unregistered 3 years ago

    na

  10. mike456723 Unregistered 3 years ago

    is there a no damage cheat for nfs mostwanted or is there a special thing u need to get no damage????

  11. mike456723 Unregistered 3 years ago

    is there a no damage cheat for nfs mostwanted or is there a special thing u need to get no damage????

  12. mike456723 Unregistered 3 years ago

    is there a no damage cheat for nfs mostwanted or is there a special thing u need to get no damage????

  13. adam Unregistered 3 years ago

    your website is crapp

  14. nate Unregistered 3 years ago

    tell adam he suck monkey ass

  15. luma Unregistered 3 years ago

    este site é otimo

  16. luma Unregistered 3 years ago

    este site é otimo

  17. luma Unregistered 3 years ago

    este site é otimo

  18. leozer Unregistered 3 years ago

    First of all... You people can wrigt some plainy stupid and crap comments... but thats just normal... secondly... this game diserves alot more credit then it was just given... yes you could say that EA didn't spend three years in development but they didn't need to. thats what the undergrounds where for... EA are one smart company... i recomend that you play it and make up your own mind because the simple way to put it is... this games is the most fun i have had since underground 2 and have to say i find everything to be an emprovement... buy this game and you can't go wrong... so meh

  19. not-pleased-reader Unregistered 3 years ago

    you don't know how to do a review so don't try. and the game is called Need for Speed Most Wanted, there's no "ricer"ground in the title ANYWHERE, and this reviewer can't even reserch on the title, so why would ANYONE want to judge a game on a false title?

    this game is simplly the best racing games on the parket because:
    +graphics, it's next generation graphics, on PC, the gfx is better than on xbox360.
    +car damage isn't on because if it is on, you won't have a chance againest the police which will render the game pointless. people don't understand, this is a game for fun, not meant to be realistic.
    +cops chases are the best bit of the whole game.

    the only bad thing about the game is that you can moddify the exotic cars, they are not meant to be modified, to put body-kits on.

    so, play the game again, read other reviews, buy a new computer and then try again at reviewing the game.

  20. not-pleased-reader Unregistered 3 years ago

    you don't know how to do a review so don't try. and the game is called Need for Speed Most Wanted, there's no "ricer"ground in the title ANYWHERE, and this reviewer can't even reserch on the title, so why would ANYONE want to judge a game on a false title?

    this game is simplly the best racing games on the parket because:
    +graphics, it's next generation graphics, on PC, the gfx is better than on xbox360.
    +car damage isn't on because if it is on, you won't have a chance againest the police which will render the game pointless. people don't understand, this is a game for fun, not meant to be realistic.
    +cops chases are the best bit of the whole game.

    the only bad thing about the game is that you can moddify the exotic cars, they are not meant to be modified, to put body-kits on.

    so, play the game again, read other reviews, buy a new computer and then try again at reviewing the game.

  21. not-pleased-reader Unregistered 3 years ago

    you don't know how to do a review so don't try. and the game is called Need for Speed Most Wanted, there's no "ricer"ground in the title ANYWHERE, and this reviewer can't even reserch on the title, so why would ANYONE want to judge a game on a false title?

    this game is simplly the best racing games on the parket because:
    +graphics, it's next generation graphics, on PC, the gfx is better than on xbox360.
    +car damage isn't on because if it is on, you won't have a chance againest the police which will render the game pointless. people don't understand, this is a game for fun, not meant to be realistic.
    +cops chases are the best bit of the whole game.

    the only bad thing about the game is that you can moddify the exotic cars, they are not meant to be modified, to put body-kits on.

    so, play the game again, read other reviews, buy a new computer and then try again at reviewing the game.

  22. not-pleased-reader Unregistered 3 years ago

    you don't know how to do a review so don't try. and the game is called Need for Speed Most Wanted, there's no "ricer"ground in the title ANYWHERE, and this reviewer can't even reserch on the title, so why would ANYONE want to judge a game on a false title?

    this game is simplly the best racing games on the parket because:
    +graphics, it's next generation graphics, on PC, the gfx is better than on xbox360.
    +car damage isn't on because if it is on, you won't have a chance againest the police which will render the game pointless. people don't understand, this is a game for fun, not meant to be realistic.
    +cops chases are the best bit of the whole game.

    the only bad thing about the game is that you can moddify the exotic cars, they are not meant to be modified, to put body-kits on.

    so, play the game again, read other reviews, buy a new computer and then try again at reviewing the game.

  23. not-pleased-reader Unregistered 3 years ago

    you don't know how to do a review so don't try. and the game is called Need for Speed Most Wanted, there's no "ricer"ground in the title ANYWHERE, and this reviewer can't even reserch on the title, so why would ANYONE want to judge a game on a false title?

    this game is simplly the best racing games on the parket because:
    +graphics, it's next generation graphics, on PC, the gfx is better than on xbox360.
    +car damage isn't on because if it is on, you won't have a chance againest the police which will render the game pointless. people don't understand, this is a game for fun, not meant to be realistic.
    +cops chases are the best bit of the whole game.

    the only bad thing about the game is that you can moddify the exotic cars, they are not meant to be modified, to put body-kits on.

    so, play the game again, read other reviews, buy a new computer and then try again at reviewing the game.

  24. locky Unregistered 3 years ago

    need for speed chates

  25. anojan Unregistered 3 years ago

    hallo i'am anojan

  26. amanda foschia Unregistered 3 years ago

    send me a free game of need for speed most wanted
    318 seminary ave.

  27. pedro Unregistered 3 years ago

    portugal is the best

  28. chrissy boy Unregistered 3 years ago

    hive completed blck list 1 and iv just got need for speed most wanted 5 days ago

  29. mert Unregistered 3 years ago

    bu oyun ne zaman çik çak?
    bu oyunne zaman çikacak?
    buoyune zaman çikacak?

  30. iloveu Unregistered 3 years ago

    iloveu all
    by moslem

  31. bartje Unregistered 3 years ago

    watte?

  32. braden Unregistered 3 years ago

    is there a cheat for unlocking everything!!!

  33. little john Unregistered 3 years ago

    this game is hot do u all know what i mean

  34. little john Unregistered 3 years ago

    any body know a pretty 11 year old girl for johny over here

  35. nika Unregistered 3 years ago

    it's good

  36. Azzam Unregistered 3 years ago

    It is really MOST WANTED

  37. braden Unregistered 3 years ago

    make this go on the game now

  38. spycho_049767 Unregistered 3 years ago

    ya this is good
    i say the super duper coolest game i have ever seen

  39. cormac Unregistered 3 years ago

    i think the game is bad and it is a great game i have played

  40. liviu Unregistered 3 years ago

    ie celmai bun joc care iam jucat

  41. shipon Unregistered 3 years ago

    i love games big up to my girl abida and big up stepney green school

  42. Emily Unregistered 3 years ago

    I don't get something.. i am on blacklist #2.. and I want a new car.. and when i buy one in "my cars" I can never race with it in Career mode... WHY Is THat

  43. Emily Unregistered 3 years ago

    I don't get something.. i am on blacklist #2.. and I want a new car.. and when i buy one in "my cars" I can never race with it in Career mode... WHY Is THat

  44. serkan Unregistered 3 years ago

    iik wil deze spel hebbe

  45. alberto Unregistered 3 years ago

    is a good game

  46. Agenth Unregistered 3 years ago

    Isn't there a download link?

  47. bggtf Unregistered 3 years ago

    c,ghudryh765rdxdfdt4374n jfyhwerfgr68e6ygtw8irfheirfgi7rgfwfblityrfrolgflr,hgblrhgtrfwuaoaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  48. G-virus Unregistered 3 years ago

    Hey whatever the say you're the best

  49. John Dell Unregistered 3 years ago

    There should be a free download for NFS Most wanted

  50. ibra Unregistered 3 years ago

    lolololololololol

  51. leith Unregistered 3 years ago

    wow

  52. kenji Unregistered 3 years ago

    my comment:
    first, i like need for speed most wanted graphics cause its better than other version of need for speed
    second, there is more exciting cause police will hunt you, like if we drag on the street with high speed

  53. tiago Unregistered 3 years ago

    nunca esperes por mais{{{{{{{{{{{{{{

  54. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    I'm on blacklist #6.
    Got a Porsche 911 Carrera S. (Fully Tuned)
    Got a Mercedes-Benz CLK 500. (Fully Tuned)
    1,863,630 Bounty.
    52% Completed.
    19/69 Challenge races complete.
    A lot of money.

  55. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    They are tuned to the highest available upgrade.

  56. serdfghjkl Unregistered 3 years ago

    is there acheat for unlocking everything

  57. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    yer theres a cheat to unlock all performance in custom race mode

  58. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    im on blacklist #3 now :D

  59. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    Big up the DB9 'n' the Viper! :)

  60. Miroslav Momin Unregistered 3 years ago

    i like this web site

  61. name? Unregistered 3 years ago

    i am a lamborgini fan i have both and they rule!
    kknow what i mean?

  62. gfdfsdgfbb Unregistered 3 years ago

    this website sucks

  63. hafiz Unregistered 3 years ago

    hello
    can i play free now need for speed most wanted no price ok

  64. Alap Unregistered 3 years ago

    I want download Full Version Games

  65. caracho Unregistered 3 years ago

    este lugar es una porqueria

  66. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    The Murcialago is too heavy and understeers alot, so save yer money and buy a Carerra GT!

    Btw im on blacklist one and i bought a punto lol, but guess how fast i went in it... It suprised me but...


    My best speed in a Punto is 224 MPH!
    'N' you better believe it! :D :P

  67. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    The Murcialago is too heavy and understeers alot, so save yer money and buy a Carerra GT!

    Btw im on blacklist one and i bought a punto lol, but guess how fast i went in it... It suprised me but...


    My best speed in a Punto is 224 MPH!
    'N' you better believe it! :D :P

  68. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    oo crap a dubul post :/

  69. dogman Unregistered 3 years ago

    how i cant get a cheat money

  70. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    dog- There is no cheat for money, :D

  71. MENTAL Unregistered 3 years ago

    lol i made my punto go 233 MPH! :O yayay! lol :-/

  72. someone Unregistered 3 years ago

    this game suck

  73. Adam Unregistered 3 years ago

    tell nate he suck monkey ass

  74. Andrew Macarthy Unregistered 3 years ago

    hey,
    every one i am very upset for that comments
    so please don`t do that
    bye

  75. ausitn Unregistered 3 years ago

    Mike456723 you go to the options menu and turn it off

  76. me Unregistered 3 years ago

    asasa suck mine

  77. pratik shah Unregistered 3 years ago

    how to download this game?

  78. Gunner Unregistered 3 years ago

    I want to download the new need for speed- most wanted. But I don't know where I can find it pleas help me

  79. vinous Unregistered 3 years ago

    u r the best

  80. soner Unregistered 3 years ago

    tsk

  81. AUTOgod Unregistered 3 years ago

    this website sucks, none of you can write a good review, and the graphics are better on 360, ive tried both so dont tell me that 'ive not played it so how can i know' and yes the pc version was set to max specs.

  82. Dalton Unregistered 3 years ago

    you misspelled center

  83. joe blanco Unregistered 3 years ago

    this is cool

  84. barry Unregistered 3 years ago

    i installed the game and played it one time the next day i turned it on it wont play it is saying error send or dont send

  85. barry Unregistered 3 years ago

    anyone know what wrong

  86. jan Unregistered 3 years ago

    waar kan ik dese
    need for speed most wanted dowloaden
    please geef me de site

  87. fdsfsdfdsdfsdfsfs Unregistered 3 years ago

    fsfdsfsdfdsfsfdsfsdfdsfdsfsdfsfsdfsdfsdfd

  88. Staring Racer Unregistered 3 years ago

    I am a Norwegian guy.
    I think this game rocks!
    To all that can norwegian:
    Jeg synes Norge er best.

  89. Staring Racer Unregistered 3 years ago

    I am #1 on the blacklist :-p

  90. me Unregistered 3 years ago

    HEY!!! I thought it was awsome

  91. dominique Unregistered 3 years ago

    to all of u who say this game sux better check ur brainbox
    i think this is the best game ive ever played
    the story's gud too
    all of u who havent finished it yet
    the story's like this
    u race razor n kick his ass
    a video cums up wer razor says this isnt over
    then mia snatches the key n hands it over to us
    n gess wat mia's a cop
    she arrests razor n da other guys on the blacklist
    we gotta get away on the bmw m3 gtr
    theres a place which is a bridge
    heat of the police x 6
    its too easy
    try it

  92. dsgf Unregistered 3 years ago

    dsf

  93. HisShadow Unregistered 3 years ago

    ha ive played for 3 days have a punto only half stats full and it goes over 280 (top speed ive hit is 288) hope you dont see me on live :p

  94. shaib Unregistered 3 years ago

    i whant to play

  95. dogman Unregistered 2 years ago

    heyy mental how didi you do that your car go 233 MPH

  96. dogman Unregistered 2 years ago

    heyy mental how didi you do that your car go 233 MPH

  97. dogman Unregistered 2 years ago

    heyy mental how didi you do that your car go 233 MPH

  98. dewal Unregistered 2 years ago

    hey gauys i was in black list 2 and my carer got damage :( how can i fix it plz tell me!!

  99. dewal Unregistered 2 years ago

    hey gauys i was in black list 2 and my carer got damage :( how can i fix it plz tell me!!

  100. mahmoud Unregistered 2 years ago

    this site stinks

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