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How Metascores Are Calculated
50
B-Boy
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Customize and take on the pinnacle Japanese & American tuner cars in a pursuit of total ownership of the street racing scene. A uniquely designed racing game based on the legacy of the hugely successful Underground series. All New Tracks & Environments – Compete against your rivals in 10 all new & visually distinct tracks. Each one has been specially designed to maximize the experience on the handheld platform. Japanese Customs vs. American Muscle Cars – Customize and compete against a host of high performance tuner cars from Japan and America. Take on these rivals and find out who's best. Head-to-Head Rivalry – Take on friends and foes in a range of new modes specifically designed for use via Wi-Fi. It’s multiplayer gaming in which you earn respect and own the competition. New Ways to Go Underground – Brand new game modes that capitalize on the cutting-edge hardware features of the PSP handheld videogame system and deliver a highly competitive game play experience. [Electronic Arts]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
Detroit Free Press
The racing here is just flat-out fun, with growling engines, jumps and shortcuts that allow you to smash through fences. But there are thoughtful additions, including Party Play.
 87
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
NFSUR's down 'n' dirty street racing complements "Ridge Racer's" arcadey day-glo driving perfectly. [GamesMaster]
86
BonusStage
It doesn’t play quite as well as the two other racing big guns, but it’s easily just as entertaining and probably has the strongest lasting appeal.
86
Ferrago
With the PSP's powerful graphics processor, the images in the game look stunning throughout and playing with this gadget really does feel like taking your PS2 with you on the move.
83
Next Level Gaming
After all of gaming sessions with NFSU Rivals, I always found myself going back to "Ridge Racers." Rivals’ controls could use a little bit of work along with how the cars look.
82
Worth Playing
The gameplay, cars, and tracks are new and offer a fresh take on an awesome series.
80
Game Informer
As complete a package as one could hope for. [May 2005, p.132]
80
Game Over Online
While Rivals isn’t a perfect racing game, it does manage to fulfill that adrenaline rush that speed junkies crave on a regular basis. With plenty of game modes and tons of upgrades, players will have lots of replayability in their hands.
80
GameZone
Sure it doesn’t control as well as "Ridge Racer" but this is a portable version of the Underground game minus the empty exploration or a story.
80
1UP
The PSP's analog nub also works well here with just the right balance of sensitivity and full range of motion, from tiny course-correcting nudges to hand over fist power-sliding.
80
GamePro
The big feature missing, which also made Underground innovative, is the ability to draft other cars. Without it, Rivals is just another racing game. Additionally, the Drift mode, which was addictively fun on the consoles, is now water downed to a flat, frustrating way of trying to skid your car in an unfashionable manner.
80
Yahoo! Games
Features the same aesthetic and attitude as its renowned predecessors but lacks some of their soul. On the plus side, the game is a heck of a lot better suited to mobile gaming.
80
GamerFeed
It runs into setbacks with its graphics and controls that make it a distant second-place choice behind the superior competition.
80
GameBiz
Fans of the Need for Speed Underground series will feel right at home with Rivals.
79
IGN
NFSU Rivals gets back to the basics, but I miss the intuitive performance tuning of "NFUS2," the analog stick is disappointingly implemented, and the AI isn't elastic enough... I'll be sticking with "Ridge Racer."
79
PSX Extreme
Overall, the graphics in Rivals do justice to the Underground faceplate. All of the signature visual touches are present, including the dark settings, the lighting effects, the blurring, the flaring, and so on. Likewise, the sense of speed is exhilarating.
79
GameSpot
It gets rid of the overblown, big-city atmosphere of the recent console release and puts the focus on getting into races--the best part of the series--very quickly.
78
Electronic Gaming Monthly
For a game called Rivals, I expected a little more personality...you know, maybe some actual characters or confrontations. [May 2005, p.94]
78
Game Chronicles
The unreliable framerate, quirky controls and “rigged” A.I. certainly detract from what this game could have been, but I have to admit I did have a lot of fun.
75
Play Magazine
Four-player head-to-head is a gas too. [May 2005, p.70]
75
PALGN
Rivals comes in second place to Ridge Racer, but it does offer something different; plus, this game will definitely please those who like to modify their vehicles.
75
Game Power Australia
The graphics in UR betray that this baby was rushed.
70
Sydney Morning Herald
While not PSP's best driving game, Rivals is an entertaining street racer that offers quick thrills.
70
AceGamez
I just can't help feeling that there are better racers out there however, which offer better controls, better graphics and simply better gameplay.
70
Computer and Video Games
The simple tracks and handling might not be all that far removed from NFSU 2, but it's still a game that seems better suited to PSP. If you're after more than the pure thrill of breakneck speed, get this over "Ridge Racer." [PSW]
70
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
It's a good game, but its depth just won't appeal to everyone. [May 2005, p.108]
70
GameSpy
It's just a shame that the multiplayer options weren't fleshed out further, as playing this with seven other guys online would have probably resulted in a much more attractive package.
70
Weekly Famitsu
7 / 7 / 7 / 7 - 28 [Vol. 846]
70
Gamestyle
A major control issue is the analogue stick, which is almost on a par with the diabolical handling of "Daytona USA 2001." Driving with the stick puts you at an immediate disadvantage, because you have no qualifiable range of movement - the stick needs to be pushed fully to extract any response, and even then it's never subtle enough.
67
Game Revolution
[It's] hurt by the lack of any substantial underground flavor and is wounded by weak customization and no online play.
67
Gaming Age
I hope that if EA follows this up, they continue the same engine effort, yet fix that blasted A.I. and add some depth.
65
PSM Magazine
The controls are pretty twitchy, regardless if you use the D-pad or the analog stick. [May 2005, p.80]
60
Operation Sports
The racing itself is more or less pedestrian, and when the rest of the game shows this much depth, to see it lacking in the main portion of game play can't help but disappoint some players. [*Note: original score posted by Operation Sports as 3/5 = 60. Current score on their redesigned site is inaccurate.]
60
EuroGamer
Maybe the shoddy controls won't even bother you. Alternatively, if you're willing to use the d-pad, Rivals is a decent game that has an interesting mix of car customisation, skill-based driving and reasonable speed.
50
Pelaaja (Finland)
The PSP’s version of the Underground series is quite bland. The racing is fun in small doses and hunting for new parts for the cars is still quite entertaining. However the racing doesn’t give you the adrenaline rush it should. The Need for speed is not satisfied. [Sept 2005, p 60]
40
G4 TV
It just fails to reach the bar set by the best racers on the system, not to mention it doesn't come close to enjoying the level of polish or fun present in the console iterations of Underground.
Jeffrey L. gave it a10: David G. gave it a10: Rafael C. gave it a7: Sam T. gave it an8: joko p. gave it a9: Bob J. gave it a10: Sam T. gave it a9: |
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