The sequel to Need For Speed: Underground, and the second Need For Speed game (of four) released for the GameCube, Need For Speed: Underground 2 is a bit of a curveball in the series and is significantly different to the first game. It was developed by “EA Black Box” and first published by EA Games in 2004.

The Career Mode in Need For Speed: Underground 2 is different to the one seen in the previous game. After creating a profile, you then begin in a car, sat in a lonely parking space in an airport car park. From there, you must drive into the city of “Bayview“, to look for jobs and opportunities that will earn you money.

Locations of interest are shown as coloured icons on the map, which is always shown in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Many of these will be racing missions that you can accept or decline. And the more of these that you complete, the higher your reputation and cash status will be.

The game’s storyline is presented like a comic book. All the default cars featured in the game are a mix of mostly Japanese small cars, like Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota; European cars, like Peugeot and Volkswagen, and the occasional American car, like the Cadillac. The game has a shitload of unlockables – mostly car customization features, but occasionally new tyres, engine or body parts. And you get bonus points for avoiding accidents! Which is a nice feature. (Note: they used to call this a “Near Miss” in Need For Speed: Underground).

There are three difficulty levels, plus features like car “Catch Up” (on or off), and lap knockouts on or off. You can also increase or decrease the number of opponents you race against.

There’s a game recorder, which lets you play back any race you just ran, from any car or angle, and there are also quick races and custom races, if you don’t want to mess up your precious career with “test runs”. 🙂

Overall, this is a fun racing game that dares to do something slightly different with the formula, and it works well enough. And Need For Speed: Underground 2 also has another great soundtrack, which is always a bonus.

Licensed car brands include: Peugeot, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, Cadillac, Pontiac, Mitsubishi, and more.

More: Need For Speed: Underground 2 on Wikipedia

Need For Speed: Underground 2 Soundtrack:

Artist: “Song Title”

Capone: “I Need Speed”
Chingy: “I Do”
Christopher Lawrence: “Rush Hour”
Cirrus: “Back on a Mission”
Felix Da Housecat: “Rocket Ride (Soulwax Remix)”
Fluke: “Switch/Twitch”
FREELAND: “Mind Killer (Jagz Kooner Remix)”
Helmet: “Crashing Foreign Cars”
Killradio: “Scavenger”
Killing Joke: “The Death & Resurrection Show”
Ministry: “No W”
Mudvayne: “Determined”
Paul Van Dyk feat. Hem & Jen: “Nothing But You (Cirrus Remix)”
Queens of the Stone Age: “In My Head”
Rise Against: “Give It All”
Septembre: “I Am Weightless”
Skindred: “Nobody”
Sly Boogy: “That’z My Name”
Sin: “Hard EBM”
Snapcase: “Skeptic”
Snoop Dogg feat. The Doors: “Riders On The Storm (Fredwreck Remix)”
Sonic Animation: “E-Ville”
Spiderbait: “Black Betty”
Terror Squad: “Lean Back”
The Bronx: “Notice of Eviction”
Tom Salta: “Do It Again”
Tom Salta: “Scuzz Missile”
Unwritten Law: “The Celebration Song”
Xzibit: “LAX”