Visually, this game is a mixed bag; some parts look really good, while some parts look like Underground 2 and even though it’s not as pretty as Most Wanted, it’s a lot more graphically demanding on the system (no motion blur on a 9800 pro; can I get a WTF!!). On a personal note, I preferred the picturesque locale of Rockport as compared to the urban, concrete jungle that is Palmont City. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying the game’s bad looking or anything, I only hope EA head back to the country for their next iteration (What? We all know there’s going to be one). As expected, the PC and Xbox 360 version look the best with an occasional hiccup in frame rate, but I hear the PS2 version is not as hideous as one may imagine. Unfortunately, the PC version crashes a lot, so I hope they release a patch for that soon.
There isn’t much to be said about the audio department as it is exactly what you’ve come to expect of NFS games. Voice acting is pretty over the top, the game’s OST is a mixture of rock and hip-hop that suddenly changes to a very Hollywood Blockbuster-ish instrumental score as and when you start getting chased by cops or are racing down the Canyon.
In conclusion, even though Carbon has injected the series with a couple of new features, it didn’t excite me (maybe not the best choice of word, but you get the drift) the way Most Wanted did. Make no mistake; it is an excellent game layered with style and polish that’s synonymous with most NFS games and is an enjoyable experience that’s capable of entertaining (and frustrating) veterans and newcomers alike.
Want X-treme racing??
URBANEYE