Metacritic Games

Need for Speed Underground (Xbox)

Enter the world of urban street racing and high performance tuner cars with the latest title in the hit Need for Speed series: Need for Speed Underground. Take on today's most popular tuner cars from Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru, Toyota and many more, building the ultimate street machine by earning cash to pay for custom body kits and a host of licensed car performance mods. But just creating a custom street racing machine will not get you to the top; it takes a certain amount of attitude and razor sharp driving skills to compete in the tough world of urban racing. A number of diverse events set in gritty, nighttime environments make up the heart of street competition. Players become complete street racers by perfecting skills in each event by nailing the perfect shift in drag racing and by putting their street cred on the line, racing through the city streets at all hours of the night. Prove you belong in the elite street racing circles, work your way up the underground rankings and take on the best of the best in each discipline. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Racing, Driving
Players: 2
E (Everyone)
Developer: Electronic Arts Black Box
Released November 17, 2003

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

83 / 100

Critic Reviews

95 1UP
It's up there on the podium with "Ridge Racer Type 4" and "Daytona USA 2," contending for the title of very best ever.
93 Game Informer
Barreling down a busy street at 120 mph made my heart race and palms sweat. [Dec 2003, p.172]
91 Warcry
One of the most entertaining racing experiences ever, as was expected. Racing underground has been done before, but this game does it right. If you liked other NFS games, you will definitely love this installment.
91 Play Magazine
Pulling it all together is razor-sharp presentation, incredible city construction and track design, and a use of sound and mixed tunes that is unrivaled in the genre; praise to EA for bypassing the numbing of ill-placed techno. [Dec 2003, p.62]
90 Xbox Nation Magazine
The game's incredible sense of speed, seat-of-your-soild-trousers physics, and overall production polish is second to none on Xbox. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.81]
90 GMR Magazine
Combining the reckless, breakneck speed and high-impact collisions of Burnout with the neon-tipped street culture of Fast and the Furious (and, more specifically, Midnight Club II), Underground is the new definition of white-knuckle.
90 GamePro
One main feature that clearly separates Underground from other street racers is its visual presentation. The nighttime glow in the metropolis does take some time to get used to, but the evening air quickly adds to the stunning scenery and detailed avenues as you travel at high RPMs.
90 Yahoo! Games
That break-the-mold game that longtime players of the franchise have been waiting for. And if you're already a street-rag reader, you have permission and reason to drool - just keep it off the AirFlow controller, please.
88 XGP Gaming
Racing mixed with the streets and underground is something no one should pass on. Fast cars, fast women, and a customization mode any underground racer would be proud of spells nothing but fun.
88 IGN
But the real kicker here, and the focus of the whole experience, is customizing your ride. If you're not into that element, don't go out and try to buy this as a stand-alone racer. You really have to be dedicated to the car creation, and you have to have the patience for it.
87 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Performance, of course, is more important than appearance, and Underground boasts better handling than any other arcade racer. It's also faster. [Jan 2004, p.118]
86 Official Xbox Magazine
That customization model is simply the most robust we've ever seen... The game's only real failing is in its comparative lack of [track] variety. [Dec 2003, p.108]
85 GameSpy
The Xbox is blessed with being the most technically advanced version, but the PS2 takes the edge with its online gameplay and visual trickery.
84 TeamXbox
Hardcore racing game types and those generations enamored with the sport compact market will definitely need to add this one to their collection.
83 GameNow
It's so well put together, too, that despite the immense speed, you're able to control the cars unbelievably well. [Jan 2004, p.61]
82 Xequted
Cars that scream masculinity and machismo; mental drivers haring around city roads that form impromptu tracks when the lights go off and nobody is around – welcome to the world of illegal street racing.
81 Next Level Gaming
Yes, the customizing of the cars is extremely sweet, and it does have 4 player split screen gaming which is good. But there is no soundtrack customization, no 480p support, and no online play. Everything else NFS: Underground does outside of customizing your car "Project Gotham Racing 2" does better, including Xbox Live support.
80 Gamestyle
A competent racer with stacks of available customisation and stacks of replay value, even without any online features. The multiplayer is solid, there’s a lot to do in single player, and you'll feel totally fashionable playing it.
80 GamerFeed
Packed with customization options from heaven and an incredibly well handling ride to boot, the game is a must for those looking for big time thrills and the ability of creating their dream machines.
79 GameSpot
Very good. With just a bit more variety to its tracks and a slightly better career mode, it definitely could have been much better, but it has great graphics, solid sound, and the sort of easy learning curve that makes it a driving game that anyone can excel at.
75 Game Revolution
An uneven mixture of gorgeous graphics, upgradeable street racing vehicles, variety of race modes, unique customization, lack of opposition, repetitive tracks, and no law enforcement presence... Involving and fun, although not quite as engrossing as "NFS:HP2."
70 Cheat Code Central
Why then make a game of the underground world of illegal street racing and not have any cops chasing you at all?
70 TotalGames.net
It may not be a startlingly original game but Need for Speed: Underground is an enjoyable one, and for racing fans, it's a must.
70 Edge Magazine
Beautifully detailed with impressive lighting, accurately modelled protagonists and a terrific sense of speed. A refreshing and captivating direction for the series. [Christmas 2003, p.115]
50 games(TM)
Boy racers will love Underground's edgy urban chic, otherwise you should stick with the less fashionable but ultimately more enjoyable "Burnout 2." [Christmas 2003, p.125]

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