• 19Jun 09

  My take on NFS: Undercover

  Well after a long hiatus of taking a break from racing gaming and Need For Speed Undercover I finally got ther urge to start it up again.
  I wasn't far into it when it arrived and loaded on my new PC last Fall.
  But it had a busy confusing start and wasn't quite sure what to do first.
  I was driving around looking for icons to start some events but never came across any?
  What's this? I can't drive to the races on the GPS map? Damn! I have to press the TAB key to start event's when I get near them? Hmmm... I don't like that part! Then I put it away as I wasn't into it at the time and a bit disapointed already
  . Well many months after I decided ok I am going to give it a try and stick to it and after some driving around and being chased a lot it did remind me a whole lot of Need For Speed Most Wanted.
  Yeah,It had a few things from Underground and Carbon tossed in but it really felt like Most Wanted 2.
  Not that was a bad thing. Just felt like a previous NFS title I had already done.
  I was expecting it to be a bit darker going by the title and box cover showing the Sundown behind the city and cops lights flashing chasing the Porsche with it's headlights on.
  No this wasn't the case and was in pure daylight.Ok I Got my hopes up a little and Black Box fooled me a bit. Go figure. But the box art was a big misrepresentation if you ask me! BIGTIME!
  
  I mean it's ok,The Daylight wasn't all that bad,The Police weren't as Impossible to beat as in Most Wanted. which was a God send! But man every other car on the road looked to be a cop car. It didn't frustrate the hell out of me and I didn't throw anything at the monitor this time! Cans of Mountain Dew,Hot Wheels cars or the pet gerbil. I can't really say anything terribly bad about Need For Speed Undercover besides a few glitches like finishing some Races that I Dominated and it didn't remember or save that I won the event.
  I disabled the last career BMW chase car and even though I took out whats her name (lady cop) out the game didn't finish so I had to Control-Alt-Delete and start the damn race over! Ok it was a silly little bug but a bug all the same and annoying.
  
  Some races even with my brand new Gaming rig and latest drivers I still had vehicles popping into view as I drove around on the highways in the game. (Draw Distance) Funny it only does this in Undercover and not other games like GRID and Ultimate Carnage or Test Drive Unlimited.
  Oh well another bug that did not affect my avoiding the traffic to badly. Well there is those cars that drive through walls occasionaly
  
  But it was still a lot of fun to do and enjoyed it a lot. The cars were great ! Lots of American Muscle and Exoctic cars to choose from besides the usual Import tuners and Euro cars, Miss some cars from other previous NFS games like the Mercedes CLK GTR, Chevy Cobalt and 2010 Dodge Challenger. The Roads Cities and Highways were great! It's really not a bad game at all. It's just not my personal favorite. That is still a draw between Hot Pursuit 2 and Underground 2 and if they Make a Underground 3 with Musclecars and some Exotics with Replays well then BANG that will be my favorite!
  
  Anyway no EA bashing this time around.They did good bringing back free roam but it wasn't all free! You have to get a car with no heat on it to cruise around the cities cause the cops are sometimes just a pain in the buttcan! There everywhere when you don't want them and sometimes when you do want them you can't find them! lol!
  
  I miss the Challenges you would get from rival hot rodders in Underground 2 who would pull up near you and want a race in like an outrun. This is missing in this game and would have been welcomed! Yes they have Outrun but you can't drive around and be challenged,You have to press the TAB key when one comes up or start from the GPS map. Kind of took a little fun out of the game.
  
  I am on the CHALLENGES MODE now with bassically stock vehicles with Nitrous but some handle like the SS Minnow or maybe the SS Titanic cause they were sure underpowered against the AI Drivers.
  Man that 60's Dodge Charger is on rollerskates on icemarbles over an oil slick! Won't turn,Won't slow down and just won't!
  Damn Black Box could ya make it handle any worse? sheesh! I don't think so! lol! To bad!
  
  The AI were sure aggresive. Maybe a bit to much but I guess that makes a game more interesting for some. Also makes tempers rise!
  Talk about Road Rage!
  Even the normal AI Traffic seemed to attack you at time's in the Challenges.
  
  The customization wasn't all that great,Lots of old repeat stuff. It's defininatly no Underground 2 by any means in that department, Just maybe a few carried over vinals from previous NFS games. The usual crap spoilers and body kits and no lip spoilers available unless there alreadty on the car like the 2010 Camaro's and cannot autosculpt them.?.Autosculpt was still there,Most of the Vinals from previous games but not the ones I liked in Underground were there. Nothing really new or good to mention.
  
  Biggest didapointment was No Replay feature included! Oh I hate it when a game company does not include a good replay feature cause I just enjoy watching real time movie replays and that I can pause and take a screenshot if I want or make a movie to upload to friends.
  Just photo mode... UGH....
  
  But like I said it was fun to race and I still am playing it.
  Just downloaded some new challenges from the Need For Speed website and purchase the Boss Car pack.
  Not sure how long this will keep me interested in it but I do want to acheive all the Dominated races in time in Quick Race and other modes.
  
  At least I might finish this game where as Pro Street only went about half way through before saying screw this I'm bored already of it. The drag racing just didn't do it for me.It was more of just a P.I.T.A.!
  
  So I am looking forward to Need For Speed SHIFT and NFS:World Online.
  
  No I don't think they'll be a Underground 3 or a Brook Burke reprise. But maybe that will come later after those are done!! EA should consider making a Underground 3 to please the masses that enjoyed it and through to the Hot Pursuit 2 island at the same time when you drive across a long bridge! Now that would be fun and keep the cops over there!
  
  I just want some more Night Street Racing and Customization and less Cop chases!
  • Posted Jun 19, 2009 12:39 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 7Sep 08

  PC Racing Games 2008

  Another year and Another Summer going and Fall in the very short distance ahead! Kids are back to School and before ya know it Halloween will be coming then Thanksgiving and people looking for the next big game to keep them busy for the long Cold Winter ahead.Well if you live in the North or Northeast that is!
  
  My old PC was struggling to say the least on the latest games out so decided to breeak down and build a quality new Gamer machine with some of the latest products out.But not the Highest end and most expensive. It still cost me $2,500+
  But at least i can upgrade and play the latest games smoothly without stutter and screen freezes!
  
  But is it me or is there not much of anything new and excitng so far this year or coming in the near future for PC games?
  I am a Rally Racing fan first and foremost from the States believe it or not and tried Sega's Rally Revo for PC. OMG, It's just to arcadey for my liking.
  No wonder they closed that department!
  I guess they never played Colin McRae Rally or Richard Burns rally or even Rally Trophy by Bugbear!
  Uninstalled it and will sell it on ebay or something!
  
  Our old pals at the evil empire at EA Games/EA Sports has just put up there new website for Need For Speed Undercover for there up and coming game, The websites homepage is a bit buggy like some of there games but I am sure they will "PATCH" It UP! lol Need For Speed Pro Street had a real catchy title which was also rumored about a year before right around the time of when NFS:Carbon was released when NFSS arrived I couldn't wait to drive it! Muscle cars, Exotics, Tuners,Euros Drag racing.. Yeah Sounded great! But as I went through Career it just fizzled out for me half way through! And still haven't finished it all these Months since.
  I missed the open World and the announcer annoyed the heck out of me.
  So hopefully since EA split up there NFS Teams they will have a game next year we will either truely love of hate.
  
  I do think they need to be more like Atari's Test Drive Unlimited,Still one of my all time favorites to drive even though there is no Night Time driving.
  It just was the closest thing to Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2 which i just recently played again,man thet game is still fun after all these years! Maybe it's the wooded and hilly roads Ocean Island theme.
  But not much still seen on NFS Undercover for screenshots.
  Looks like a Most Wanted 2 from the few screenies they have out.
  Most Wanted was Ok Just nothing special and hated the Rhino SUVS and the Star Trek beemed in materializing Cop cars from nowhere!.
  C'Mon give me a friggin break will ya! But like there Need For Speed Underwhelmed website that only works when it wants too, I hope it will keep us interested and not a Ho-Hum yeah I've seen & done this before feeling. Hey like anything new like there website,Sometimes you just have to work out the bugs in real time! EA will fix it in time, Heck Ya never know it could be my I.E 7 as well Hey It's Microsoft were talking here too! Not sure I want the I.E. 8 Beta yet.
  
  But back to PC racing games there just hasn't been a lot of new and exciting games out. I mean really Good Different and Exciting!!!
  Not a copy and pasted game from the previous versions.
  
  Codemaster's had GRiD this year but feels more like a Need for Speed game than there normal Simcade Racers that we have enjoyed from years past. Oh No they have introduced Drifting! Well there goes the neighborhood! lol
  
  I wasn't all that excited about Dirt for the U.S.
  I would have rather had a true WRC Colin McRae Rally racer than some of this Dune Buggy crap.
  btw: We'll Miss you Colin and son! R.I.P.and Rally On!
  We all lose! SimBin whom came out with yet another version of there GT Simulation racer called GTR:Evolution
  Uhhh...They all feel and look the same to me? But Ok whatever. It comes with a free Race 07 game as well in some instances. But it's a great game and the engine sound are just real!! The way all games should have there engine audio!
  But I'm a bit tired of just racing boring looking racetracks! Yeah it suppose to be a Sim and realistic. Just wish there was more eye candy. Then there's Bugbears Flatout Ultimate Carnage just released. It is just a slightly upgraded and graphically enhanced Flatout 2,Maybe it should be called Flatout V.2.2 There are also some added online events but not much else for people to purchase it who have Flatout 2 already.
  
  Not sure if this was a good move on there part? But have heard rumors that they are working on a brand new Racing game for the PC more like there Rally Trophy which would be a more than welcomed change!!! Then we have rFactor and rFactor Central that you can Download hundreds of series tracks and cars! But this is more of a Simulation and takes lots of time to download install play etc...I'm done with it. Some series are done very well and some well could use some more work! Maybe a lot of more work!
  
  Rockstar got me all excited for a whole few minutes only to find out Midnight Club Los Angeles is not coming for the PC.
  Damn! Midnight Club 2 was awesome if not a bit difficult towards the end. great fun game though!
  
  So not much new exciting me as of late.Will EA pull a rabbit out of there hat with NFS:Undercover? Hmmm...Seems more like a movie than a racing game. To much Fast and Furious 4 maybe?
  Gee I hope somebody does something soon ! Or I'll,be racing some older games a bit longer!
  • Posted Sep 7, 2008 1:10 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 4Sep 07

  More Need For Speed!

  Holy Wow! It's been a while since I posted in the Blog area! LOL!
  I had taken the Spring and Summer off from Racing gaming for the most part. But now were heading into Fall and I'm eager to get back into racing games.
  Well We know EA's Need For Speed Carbon came and went like a Tornado through a Trailer park and just fizzled out .It was so Short lived. Fun game, But died a quick death! There was just something missing in that City,It didn't seem like a city,No huge tall buildings but more of a little town No tall skyscrapers,Neon lights seems dumbed down and it just wasn't eye catchy for me. So I/we went on to other games like Atari's Test Drive Unlimited and Codemaster's DiRT. NFS Carbon still sold well. 1.6 Million + sold is nothing to sneeze at!
  Now we have the new and anxiously awaited (Aren't they all?) EA Games Need For Speed Pro Street like was rumored about on the Official Need For Speed .com web site forums right after NFS Carbon came out. So much for EA Games security and confindentiality. Although Need For Speed The Island had turned out to be false.
  
  The screen shots,Video Trailers and EA employee interviews on NFS Pro Street are always interesting and informative.Check out all the latest Movie clips of the Drag racing (It's Back!) and it gets your heart pumping! Smoke,Wheelies & Damage Oh My! But whats with all those ugly balloons that look like they came right out of the 1st Batman movie?
  
  I wonder if we will get customization like in Underground 2,That was simply the most awesome and just plain fun part of the game besides the racing! If they don't it will be such a disapointment! They will have to bring all that back in a future game!
  They say they improved autosculpt but I tend to like licenced real life auto part after market companies so I rarely used autosculpt,But did like how you could customize vinals and such and make them different sizes and move them around.
  Autosculpt was cool to make different year cars though! Like turning a 1970 Cuda into a 1971 Cuda! Great Idea!
  
  In Need For Speed Pro Street they break away from the norm and take a step back in time as in No free roam and No cops at all like the Undergrounds, Sorry guys, This means No can be the cop either.
  Personally I won't miss the annoying buggers,They were a little over bearing and abusive in Most Wanted and if the dike lady cop kicked me in the chestnuts one more time I was gonna...(Insert colorful metaphor here)! ;D
  
  But this is set to be a Racing only on Race courses and Tracks and be the King of all Drivers. There is open road point to point to race on like in Nevada and I had seen a screenshot of Germany on the Autobahn and on the Shuto Expressway in Japan ,Hmmm I wonder if it will be like the Autobahn in Need For Speed Porsche Unleashed? I loved that course! But these look like they could be a blast!
  
  Bummer is, It's All daylight again with no night races.Bah! Since it will not be an open world to cruise around in why can't we have both? Haven't they ever heard of the saying,Night Time Drag Time! and Drag Cars Under the Stars? Guess not...
  Other games have and there own High Stakes and Porsche Unleashed did! Imagine Drag Racing at night with tire smoke and blowing off some Nitrous with flames and backfires from the exhaust at the staging area with fireworks going off and people with camera flashbulbs in the stands popping on and off making it look more lifelike! Yeah Baby!
  Well who knows,Maybe we'll get the night version of Pro Street next year in 2008. Maybe that's there idea, One year Night time The following Year day time?
  
  The first car list was a bit skimpy and only a few desireable vehicles, Guess were waiting on the licencing and permissions to release some more beside what we see in the screenshots and from sharp eyed movie trailer watchers.
  If you look in the Gamespot #11 or 12 movie trailer you can see a hopped up 1970 Chevelle and a 1968 Camaro (No it is not spelled Camero) lol
  
  The Nissan GT/R Prototype tops the field so far and looks like it will be the new box cover art instead of the Mazda RX7, Good choice there! Bring on the Posters and displays in stores! I want one! Now what we don't know, Is this the Collectors Edition version or the normal version? Another wait and see!
  
  As for the Girls? Ahhh Yes! The Girls, They are really sweet this time around,Scantily clad Hot pants wearing big Hootered looking bombshells (WHAT! No Thongs or Bikini's?) instead of the starting line girl from NFS Carbon that would have looked more at home in Battlefield 1942 and her Brill creamed back short hair. Maybe they need to take a page out of the Nopi Chics that are on Speedtv. Now there are some Hot babes!
  
  Gone also are all those silly crew helpers who i though got in the way more than help and Razor,Darious and that Joker Cross are no more. Damn I just wanted to see Cross get his backside handed to him! Just once! By the Player! Touch my Bimmer and wreck me will ya,
  Take That Bounty Hunter! "Pow" "Biff" "Ka-Blam"! See what those silly balloons did to me! It's September 4th already and the end of October isn't very far away for when it ships. Really The Months are Flying by!
  I can only hope Need For Speed Pro Street will not crash to the desktop everytime I scroll through the parts menu or finish a big race on my PC or get a corrupted save game file like in Need For Speed Carbon.
  I will be building a brand new one very soon with the latest and greatest hardware so it better not!
  
  I'll add more when there is something news worthy to write about.
  
  Ok Guys and Gals,Be Cool & Keep on Racing!
  • Posted Sep 4, 2007 8:14 am PT
  • Category: Games
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