Need For Speed Undercover (PS3) - Review 

“Instinctively combines the Need for Speed series into one”

In having made a few errors in judgment with Need for Speed Pro Street, EA Game and Black Box introduces Need for Speed Undercover (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS) in a bid to redeem its status quo. Whilst infusing the best elements from older models of Need for Speed such as ‘Most Wanted and Carbon’, ‘Undercover’ (release date 21st November 2008) promises to bring the Need for Speed series back to its roots. With non-stop high-speed action and hard-hitting police chases, we find ourselves revisiting familiar territory of underground activity and high-spec cars for which the NFS brand is famous.

Graphics and Presentation

The opening plays much like a Universal Pictures movie and with the help of some of Hollywood’s more recent names including Joshua Alba (Jessica Alba’s younger brother), Christina Millian and Maggie Q, the whole cinematic experience of glossy cut-scenes sits well during game-play, as you delve deeper undercover, offering players a more graphical and polished experience for both NFS fans and those new to the game.

From start to finish the graphics are somewhat refreshing as the richness in colour and attention to detail allows for you to fully appreciate just how far this series has come. Both the car modification and the upgrade packages are subtler compared to earlier games in the series, but that’s not to be mistaken for lack there of, as there’s plenty of opportunity for you to personally modify your car and make it your own. Also included is the option to tune your ride, which is pretty much what you’d expect from the NFS racing platform.

Sound

As with most Need for Speed games the music has generally always played a part in the series, making the games just that little bit more rewarding. While pressing down on the accelerator the eclectic soundtrack offers players a high adrenaline rush at full-speed, which too many racing adrenaline junkies is like no other; well except for the Burnout series that is.

Gameplay

With the opening scene at an end you’re instantly thrown into the driver’s seat and forced to escape the police, who’s hot on your tail and itching to close you down by any means necessary. From here your work as an undercover agent begins, your life as you knew it no longer exists. Leaving you to your own devices you have only one objective, to blend and listen. The object of the game is to successfully infiltrate a criminal organisation and take them down, plain and simple.

There is nevertheless plenty of peddle-to-the-metal action with Need for Speed again choosing to use auto acceleration and nitro boosts, with plenty of extras to give it that all round NFS feel. Like many street-racing games such as Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights and Midnight Club Los Angeles, Need for Speed Undercover naturally fits the mould.

The downside to the game however is the lack of variation in events, as once you’ve done one sprint you’ve pretty much done them all, with the only difference being that opponents become more aggressive as your wheel up level increases. This however is easily overcome by winning events and upgrading your cars.

Another common issue with the game is that for many, the game often freezes slightly, which over time can become quite annoying and unfortunately interrupts the smoothness of game-play as a whole. The reality of things is that ‘Undercover’ isn’t all that realistic in terms of handling on the road compared to games like Race Driver: Grid, although you can at times spin out of control if you hit a corner wrongly. On the other hand I would say this isn’t really an issue per say or even makes your driving experience any less real than any other racing platform, if anything, I feel it makes it all the more that enjoyable as the auto acceleration does it all for you.

Closing Comments

Since the first two releases of the NFS series, Need for Speed has received plenty of criticism over the years, to which most is genuinely justified, but if like me you’re a dedicated Need for Speed fan, you’ll continue to buy the games no matter what’s said. My advice would be whether you buy Need for Speed: Undercover or not at least try the game for yourself and make your own judgement, as although it’s insightful and fun to read reviews, they can however at times cloud your judgement. 

3-5

Stephanie Grant