Need for Speed: Undercover

 PC
Need for Speed: Undercover Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 409 Ratings

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  • Summary: Need for Speed Undercover has players racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate. The game heralds the return of high-intensity police chases and introduces the all-new 'Heroic Driving Engine' -- a uniqueNeed for Speed Undercover has players racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate. The game heralds the return of high-intensity police chases and introduces the all-new 'Heroic Driving Engine' -- a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles. A mix of computer graphics and live-action movies immerses gamers in the rich world of the Tri-City Bay Area. The city’s open-world environment features over 80 miles of roads, including an enormous highway system that sets the stage for highway battles. These high-speed, high-stake chase sequences push players to the limit as they fight off cops and opponents while whipping through traffic at 180 miles per hour. An intelligent new A.I. mechanic delivers a realistic and high-energy action driving experience. Going back to the franchise’s roots, Need for Speed Undercover features more aggressive and intelligent cops whose sole purpose is to take down the player quickly and by any means necessary. Need for Speed Undercover also features the series' signature car customization, real-world damage and realistic driving physics. The game includes some of the hottest licensed cars such as the Audi R8, BMW M6 and Lexus IS-F. [Electronic Arts]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Gamers.at
    84
    Undercover is significantly more fun than ProStreet and offers far more long-time playing motivation as well. [Issue#17]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. GameZone
    75
    It hurts to say it but, “the need for speed” is lacking in this latest rendition.
  3. GameStar
    72
    Instead of being some kind of "Best of" Need for Speed: Underground is nothing more than an uninspired generic racing game with high hardware requirements. It's a good game, but still very disappointing, because the good parts of the game are just like in NfS: Most Wanted and the new bits don't work very well.
  4. PC Zone UK
    68
    Gets boring quickly. [Feb 2009, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. PC Gamer UK
    62
    Neither the need or the speed. [Jan 2009, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. PTGamers
    60
    The game modes are not particularly intense, and the vehicles, although very detailed, fail to offer the feeling from the best of the series.
  7. IGN
    50
    Need for Speed Undercover is a poor game with a ton of problems, both technically and in terms of design.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 102
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 102
  3. Negative: 54 out of 102
  1. SarifJKane
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    Honestly, the game is rocks. The game really has the atmosphere, unique mostly say which is vanished nowadays. One thing absolutely obviousHonestly, the game is rocks. The game really has the atmosphere, unique mostly say which is vanished nowadays. One thing absolutely obvious that like this sentence its developers don't have enough time to finish the game its feels like an alpha build not even beta but I love this game and wish NFS come back to reality.… Expand
  2. norhh
    Jul 26, 2020
    9
    Graphics: great for 2008
    Story: Cliched but decent. Maybe helpful for people who wants a story to play
    Racing mechanics: Didn't have much of    Graphics: great for 2008
    Story: Cliched but decent. Maybe helpful for people who wants a story to play
    Racing mechanics: Didn't have much of a problem
    Bugs: In some rare cases the fps goes down. My graphic card is pretty good so it might be a bug.    … Expand
  4. CarlosS15
    Feb 9, 2023
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In his time he was very poorly received, and it is understood.

    But almost 15 years have passed since its launch and many are beginning to appreciate it, in my case I just tried it yesterday and here is my opinion.

    About graphics and gameplay it is understood, the game was made in a hurry, if EA would give them time until 2009, another rooster would crow, the only bad thing for me is that exaggerated brightness that damages the eyes, but it is solved by lowering the visual effects.

    And in gameplay, at first you will feel the handling very strange but when you get used to it you will feel fun, especially in difficult difficulties.

    About the story, it's a bit boring, yes, but I did like the idea of being a police officer undercover and the missions of stealing cars or arresting racers, I like that in those years EA offered new ideas, not like in the Today they copy and paste Fast and Furious year after year.

    I give it a 7 because I don't consider it so bad to consider it one of the worst NFS, nor so good to compare it with Carbon, Most Wanted or the Underground.    … Expand
  5. dandalis
    Oct 30, 2016
    4
    Horribly rushed game with abysmal PC port. So freakin rushed that even they have WRX STi files in the game folder but not in the game. HowHorribly rushed game with abysmal PC port. So freakin rushed that even they have WRX STi files in the game folder but not in the game. How cool is that. Also auto sculpting on PC is broken, every time i try it my game freezes and crashes. Theres too much sun glare in the game which can cause eye pain for more sensitive people and annoy the hell ouf the rest. Video settings wont save unless you fiddle with compatibilty settings. Atleast the game runs fine once you get all that crap sorted out.

    But even after that game still is just sucha mess with horrible driving mechanics, insane rubber banding, OP as hell cops. Car sound quality take a big hit compared to Pro Street and previous games where all the cars sound muffled once you get up to speed. Atleast cars themselves are well modeled and cosmetic damage simulation works decently enough. Story is pretty cringey, but for game of this type it kinda suits. Open world itself is simply boring looking with lack of attention to detail and roads you race arent any better.

    Maybe an extra year of development could have helped this game become ateast decent, but EA's greed had no time to spare.    … Expand
  6. Tuure
    Dec 30, 2008
    2
    The game doesn't bring anything new to the series. Just like every EA-game so far... Unrealistic handling, boring storyline, boring The game doesn't bring anything new to the series. Just like every EA-game so far... Unrealistic handling, boring storyline, boring races with nothing new to them etc. This game was just like playing Carbon, except the graphics were amazing and the best so far. There's few new things, such as taking out some "gang-members" by crashing into them which was just stupid. The game ended by taking out some other street-racers and that's it, also the game was way too easy. I have bought few NFS's, but I'm not gonna waste my money on any of them anymore.… Expand
  7. Tulatin
    Nov 25, 2008
    0
    A big, boring game that seizes your hand and throws you where your'e supposed to go in the city. It's far too easy and the driving A big, boring game that seizes your hand and throws you where your'e supposed to go in the city. It's far too easy and the driving physics are terrible. Beyond that, the vehicles sound like the bastard child of a singer and a ricer rocket. Perhaps the only redeeming quality of it is the return to an arcade field, but who are we kidding? Don't waste your time, don't waste your money, don't even waste the packets, and if you do, for the love of god, don't waste a DVD9. Maybe EA can bundle it together with ProStreet and sell the NFS: Shit Pack to recoup some losses. Or maybe they just need to develop Big Rigs 2 next.… Expand
  8. Aaaaaaaaal
    Oct 14, 2022
    0
    Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

See all 102 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
23
#23 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

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