Not Great, But Not Bad
User Rating: 7.2 | Ford vs. Chevy PS2
If you're expecting GT4 or NFS, pass on by this one, but for half the price, there is some entertainment value. The graphics definitely lag behind those of high dollar ones, but they are pretty sharp in areas. The game play lags at moments, and the vehicle you're driving sometimes becomes hard to control, but the races are straightforward enough to where you can jump right in. Racing does seem to borrow from NFS: Underground 2 and Burnout, where you are given points for both winning and doing different movements like jumping or drifting. These points are what are used when getting new parts fro your vehicle. Upgrading your vehicle definitely doesn't have the flash or even immediate impact as upgrading on similar games. Only a few upgrades show any increase in stars, almost making you want for more. The good thing, at least for me, is that you get to drive cars that are not present in the other games. Problem is when you finish one series of races, the points you have won in the previous series do not carryover to the next series, forcing you to start over again, and not allowing you to even trade in your previous car for extra points to upgrade your new ride. You can almost win all the races by choosing the cheapest ride on the list, and doing the all the upgrades. Being a car guy and mechanic, there are several upgrades that you know either don't exist or that you feel like you should at least feel some improvement, but do not. Also unlike NFS-U or GT-series, you don't see the wheel or suspension upgrades until you replay the race.
Music is okay, but definitely gets annoying after a few races. The beginning sequence seems to drag for a few minutes. If you have a Ford or Chevy person in your family, this is a good stocking stuffer for the holidays, but otherwise, buy it only to get a taste before stepping back up the big players.
