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Need for Speed Undercover
By: Avinash Bali   |   Nov 26, 2008
  • 2
Cop chases are still fun
Cool customization options
Ample game modes to choose from
A technical nightmare
God awful voice acting
Terrible story

The Need for Speed series has been going through a pretty rough patch in recent times. Ever since Most Wanted, EA has failed to live up to the standards set by themselves as a result of which, every Need for Speed game from then on has been utterly disappointing. Need for Speed Undercover, pegged to be a spiritual successor to Most Wanted, was to redeem this series but all it’s done is made sure you never want to play another Need for Speed game ever again. Undercover is such a terrible game you’ll either slit your wrists or sit in a corner and weep or you’ll slit your wrists while weeping in a corner wondering what EA was thinking when they wasted time, energy and money on this garbage.


As the name suggests Undercover has you playing an undercover agent tasked with infiltrating an illegal street racing syndicate guided by your “handler”, Maggie Q (Balls of Fury, Live Free Die Hard). Now I know Need for Speed games are well known for their cheesy acting but this one takes the cake, the bakery and the entire f****g block (where the bakery was located). In Undercover you’ll witness some of the worst acting you’ve seen in recent times across any media and not even Maggie Q’s hotness can salvage it. Each and every actor associated with this project should be lined up outside his/her house and shot so that we’re never subjected to their annoyingly painful hamming ever again.


Terrible acting aside this game is a technical nightmare and the first time you boot up the game you’ll literally be shell shocked not because it looks phenomenal but because you’ll wonder how Black Box actually managed to make a game that looks worse than Most Wanted - a three year old title. In recent times I have yet to come across such an ugly and a lifeless game that literally made me wanna tear my eyes out. Buildings are just plain blocky structures with no detail whatsoever, roads have absolutely no textures, car detail is appalling and I’ve seen better scenery in Burnout Revenge – the PS2 version mind you. To blind your eyes from the terrible visuals on screen EA has conveniently bumped up the bloom to insane levels but all the bloom in the world cannot hide the fact that this game is just plain hideous.

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atrociuos game... Wasted 2.5 fgrand for nothing.....
Please Stay Away... I got the ps3 version.... Really baaaad game...
Ganesh @ Dec 23, 2008
Avinash,
Good review on this totally messed up game - I got the ps2 version and it's absolutely horrendous!! tri-city is rockport, everything is the same. Lousy cars, no bugatti?? can't customize the nissan370z and the koenigsseg (sp). anyway, I've played all NFS games, and to be honest, I prefer prostreet!!
the controls and the cars, and gameplay are much better than undercover. The whole plot is just ridiculous - criminal events, like wrecking 3 businesses - what the heck is this about?? plain junk and totally weak. Only good part is the highway battle, that's it. The outrun (from underground 2) is worthless. BTW, I'm at 98% - way too easy to complete and get "money" - the final boss battle is soooo lame - Shame on EA. That's why I downloaded the game, didn't pay for it!!!
Shame on EA @ Dec 03, 2008
it cannot be compared to most wanted. but still, there are some aspects which makes this game cool. the yellow lightning (dusky weather) all through could have been avoided. it is so irritating. with the current graphics development, games like crysis and call of duty, i dont think it would have been a difficult task to add day and night races. that sucked. even the soundtrack sucked except for highway battle races. the GAME doesn't feel so interactive and even car mod's are limited. mannn.. NFS legacy is over
raibman @ Dec 03, 2008
the only thing good about this game is d highway battle nothing else is likable ..... this is even worse then pro shit....
mohit @ Dec 02, 2008
After the banks, and the automobile companies, and the recession, and the wars, America has just one crutch to hang on - entertainment. And if this review is to believed, its time to start the countdown for the US decline.
igamer @ Nov 28, 2008
After the banks, and the automobile companies, and the recession, and the wars, America has just one crutch to hang on - entertainment. And if this review is to believed, its time to start the countdown for the US decline.
igamer @ Nov 28, 2008
Hi Avinach, this is a need for speed game, it's for the kids. Everyone knows all the real racing fans are busy playing PGR4 but yet your review forgets all the fun that you can have playing undercover because you're still wanting it to be a pure racing game, which i dont think it actually set out to be. Every game don't have to appeal to a hardcore audience and how about playing and rating a game because it actually happens to be fun without it being technically brilliant. My 14 yr old son loves it , i find myself playing it and so do all his friends who seem to be at home everyday playing it over and over again. Definitely not a 2 star!
Prakash RS @ Nov 28, 2008
Hi Oct@ne,

I've been in this industry for a while now so I think I pretty much understand what makes a good game. I could have looked past the bad story and all the flaws I mentioned in my review if only the game played well. Sadly, it's frame rates permit you from doing so.

Also if you read the review I have said that the game can be fun at times and if EA had spent more time polishing this title, it would have been the true successor to Most Wanted.

If you like the game, it's entirely up to you but under no circumstances will I be redoing this review.

PS: I did play the PS3 port and it is terrible.
Avinash Bali @ Nov 28, 2008
Hey Mr. Avinash,

I dont agree with you one bit except that story line thingie. Could you please chalk down your system specs on which you have played the game? Please give your comments about game play - all the new things that you can do in the game rather than whats old. I would suggest you redo the review in the intrest of all tech2 readers! Thats one honest suggestion - take or leave it (russel peters style :p).

Coming to PS3 port, please play the game and tell me its bad!

Oct@n3
One Avid Gamer!
oct@ne @ Nov 28, 2008
a good game must haves--- Graphics, gameplay & story........and NFS UC scores gr8 in graphics but not so impressive in gameplay...and story....never mind.
Bottom line...if u're NFS fan u may wanna play...if not.......forget it!
Praneet @ Nov 28, 2008
The game is nice, just play for fun.. if u want story, go watch a movie.
ravi @ Nov 27, 2008
its time to shut down the franchise
touzeen @ Nov 27, 2008
no it is a fantastic game the graphics r very real an races are damm good...
dharmnedra @ Nov 27, 2008
The PS2 version (I am broke) absolutely sucks!! Now I hear every other version sucks... I am so relieved I am not at such a loss after all.:p
Naveen @ Nov 26, 2008
@Avinash

I agree with the frame rates and sountracks..But C'mon u gotta give blackbox credit for the gameplay..i mean can u do a 180 spin, J-turn, awesome burnout, accurate 360 and reverse 360 spin, then there is turn 360, Turn 720 spin....The powerslide and drifiting are better than ever...the turnings are superb....as a matter of fact u din't even mention anything about the gameplay in ur review..It's just takes a bit of time to shift from most wanted to this game..2/5 is a bit injustified..i'd say atleast a 3.5..(-) for FPS soudntrack.
NFS Fanatic @ Nov 26, 2008
The game is a total piece of shit,and remembered a guy who was showing off the game running on 360,a guy from black box.Tell that guy to go to hell.Spot on review mr Avinash.The game deserves not more than rotten eggs,i mean a zero guys!!
mprashanth911 @ Nov 26, 2008
@ NFS Fanatic

I've given this game a low score because it is a technical mess. In today's day and age this sort of shoddy frame rate is not accepted.

Also if you have Most Wanted and this game for PC, kindly compare the two. You will be shocked with the results.
Avinash Bali @ Nov 26, 2008
a 2 out 5....u must be kiddin me..........this game's so cool....the story is not tht good i agree but the gameplay is totally diffrent from MW and it rox.....pulling tricks of the car is like the best part...the reviewers only want to complete the game soon( i doubt if they even complete it b4 reviewing) and review it....even ign gave it a low rating...just ask the people who actually played it properly...they'll tell u......this game rox...best nfs gameplay so far(not the story)
NFS fanatic @ Nov 26, 2008
Hah!!!
I will still have to stick to most wanted...
Thankfully, it still doesn't bore me...
Yatin @ Nov 26, 2008
though no better graphics i still like the nfs2 se ... one of the good old games
shas @ Nov 26, 2008
Hei, I got it and it isn't that bad. The sprints and overtakes are something new and are exiting.
Raj @ Nov 26, 2008
The legacy of wonderful NFS games is over. Its an upset that we are getting cheap games from NFS.
Shreyas @ Nov 26, 2008
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