NFS: Underground 2 - DS

[Mardigan8]

Anyone else playing this??

Am off on holiday next week for a fortnight and fancied a new title for my DS to keep me entertained for the 10 hour flight, etc. Heard some good things about and having played Ridge Racer DS to death thought this might be worth a look.

Only played it briefly since keeping it for going away next week but so far I have been impressed. Controls are solid using the D-Pad with no stupid touch screen steering nonsense. In RR Touch screen steering just did not work so I am glad it is not used in this. All race types work well with the controls especially the drag racing... no turns just lane shifting to avoid traffic, block opponents, etc. The drag racing is great fun and will be much more interesting once I get the upgrades and NOS kits unlocked

Visually it is much more solid than RR with a nice framerate. All cars are modelled really well with officially licensd vehicles.

The level of customisation available on each car is amazing... rims, spoilers, hoods, custom decals, its all there. I am already dreaming about how good my factory standard Nissan Z is gonna look once I get it "tricked out" (Official street racing term, hehehe).

So far a great little addition to the DS roster and measures well against the more powerful PSP productions. The use of the touch screen for NOS activation is great and am sure wil work really well once I get a car fitted with it

Not the kind of game the DS is known for but one that works really well and has a lot to offer.

[Bobontheway]

I'm going to be picking this up tomorrow.
I've read some reviews and they say it's pretty good although I'm sure that after playing the PS2 version that i'll enjoy giving this a spin whilst commuting.
I've been looking to get a good racing game for my DS and didn't really fancy getting Ridge Racer. Mario Kart is just too far off for me to wait and NFSU seems to fit the bill nicely.
I'll post more tomorrow when i've actually got the game. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

[Mardigan8]

I was unsure about it aswell at first but was very pleasantly surprised with how it works. They big selling point for me was the fully licensed car roster. I didnt know for sure before purchasing so when I saw that Golf Gti spinning the showroom i let a little "WOOT"

It is really solid and is a good bitter than Ridge Racer. Multiplayer drag racing using your tricked out cars against each other will be great... just need to find someone else to play it with now, hehe.

[Bobontheway]

Well i was going to buy it today but I forgot to take my DS into work and instead went into Causeway Bay and ended up buying a Beginners Cantonese book and CD set,
I'll probably buy it at the weekend, it's my bday on saturday so I may even get it as a present from a mate.

[Mardigan8]

You let me know how that cookery book looks with a set up 18" rims and tricked out NOS kit, hehehe.

Cant wait to get my garage filled with killer rides!!

[VR46]

Spent couple of hours playing this today and it's very good, quite difficult early on in places (which is good thing) amount of upgrades is immense (ie. 12 rear spoilers etc). Was worried it was going to be too dark and hard to see where your going but it's not the case at all
Now off to unlock some more stuff - no easy repeats, like GT4 etc, you can only win your prize credits only once per race.
Much better handling and more realistic the RRDS anyday. Well worth getting if your looking for a handheld racer.

[Supergoal]

I second that.
Quite surprised by how good this game is

[Baseley09]

Looks alrite, how are the graphics in reality....PSOne level?

How about the sound?.......whatever, ill prolly give it a spin sometime.

[Supergoal]

I'll let someone else mention the graphics and sound. What I will say is that if you a DS it's a game to get for sure.

[VR46]

Looks alrite, how are the graphics in reality....PSOne level?

How about the sound?.......whatever, ill prolly give it a spin sometime.

I'd say better than PS1, but so it should be on a screen so much smaller, take a look at some of the IGN vids

http://media.ds.ign.com/media/682/682864/vids_1.html?ui=gamefinder_videos

Sound is good, much better/deeper through headphones, guess all DS games are the same.

Many other people got/getting this ? if so I'll start a thread for best drag times etc

[mid]

How is the handling? I really liked the open city idea (not surprising, given my love for the Midtown Madness series), but the PC version had this horribly skiddy handling model that drove me nuts.

[VR46]

Handling is nowhere near as "skiddy" as RRDS, handling is one of the car's stats eg Golf (starting car) has handling rated at 4 out of 9 iirc, better cars = better handling. It's not too twitchy but is responsive enough to take a bend at 120mph

I'm reached a bit of a stalemate with my game, completed about 26% and upgraded Golf as much is possible but cannot win the next race in Drag, Circuit, Own Zone need to complete all the bonus games me thinks to see what that unlocks, could do with a faq to see what's unlocked where. Gamefaqs here I come.

Also I started a fastest laps thread for this and RRDS here;

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=43385

[Mardigan8]

I picked this up for playing while on holiday (killer 9 hour flight to Mexico) and love it. Looks and handles superb and is great running on the little DS.

I have unlocked up to the EA edition Mazda RX8 in the garage and completed Drag 100%, Circuit Level 1 100%, circuit level 2 33% and Own the zone 80%. Works out at around 60% of the total game, which is not bad.

Reached a bit of a brick wall now with my interest thinning but I have put loads of hours into it and will def go back to improve drag runs.

It really steps up a level when you unlock the NOS kits and start operating it through the touch screen. The Drag events are total class and are def the highlight of the game.

All upgrades need only to be bought once. They are then available for any car you have, which is great. The Golf is good for starting evenst but you will need to really get into the sweeter rides and get them upgraded to progress further.

Much better than RRDS and a perfect racer for the DS. Good visuals and tight handling make it a great purchase. Highly recommended.

Any questions on Car configs, race tactics, etc give me shout. I know there is a fair bit left for me but I have seen most of what is there and am very impressed.

[VR46]

I unlocked the RX7 last night, still bit stuck, not fast enough to win the next drag race (completed 58% of drag) and unless I do faultless run (nigh on impossible) on Circuit or Own Zone I'm stumped. But will try again, great game. Don't like the engine tuning mini-game though.

One question; with Own the Zone what happens if you win 2 zones and your opponent wins 2 zones, guess you'll lose.

[Mardigan8]

In Own the Zone a 2-2 split goes against you - pretty annoying, especially when you on your 4th attempt and the guy beside you on the plane just elbowed you

For progression, concentrate on upgrading Engine and Drivetrain, as these will help greatly in the Drag events. At around the 60/70% mark in Drag a NOS kit is esential so get some points in Circuit events and get the NOS installed. I used the RX7 for ages before the RX8's were unlocked.

Quite annoying that the majoprity of the game is done before you get the best rides. That Nissan Z with full EA kit is rockies, WANT, WANT, WANT!!

Engine tuning mini game is a nightmare. Have you been given it as a bonus task during career yet?? When you do and you complete it you unlock a Bomus upgrade for your cars. I have unlocked most of the Stage 1 bonuses but beyond that it just gets crazy, EG. Stage 2 Engine Bonus upgrade requries 5000 in Engine Tuning... that is nonsense!! **** knows what Stage 3 requries but there aint any chance I will persevere with it long enough to find out

Great game, but does have some frustrating points along the way that must be conquered to progress.