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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PlayStation 2
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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PlayStation 2
43 reviews   4.53 of 5

Product Description

Sound

The soundtrack is random and not customizable. It trys to make a mediocre sequel feel like they have done something good here. I can just see the EA executives in the boardroom last September..."Yeah lets get the game out before christmas and throw in a whole bunch of wanker and skateboarder kid songs, that'll make it good and exciting. I don't care if it's not finished, we need $$$$$$!" [cracking of a whip sound in the background]...Well it probably went something like that.

Gameplay

The things I liked about the game were the bullet time cam. This is a cool feature and is very helpful when the fuzz is on your backside. I liked that the car's handling was very familiar in both modes. It was alot like good old NFSHS. This was a nice familiarity. The Jump cam is also a fun feature and doesn't really throw you off when your driving. Also, It's fun accumulating points for obnoxious driving. I wish I could do that in real life instead of loosing points! This is another little innovative bonus they added to the game which was very refreshing to see.
But let's face it, we didn't get the sequel we were really hoping for. The underground NFS gamers should be proud of what we have accomplished with NFSHS. It is as good or better than what the clowns at EA could do for us with NFS HP2. Afterall to be the man, you got to beat the man. EA has been badly beaten brother! Woooooooooh! (Strut, Strut, Strut)
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Summary

Well… It’s about Time! Finally, EA has graced us with its first truly impressive Need for Speed title since the original Hot Pursuit. Looking back on the original Hot Pursuit’s impressive graphics and excessive replay value, I would argue that EA could have replicated the same Exact game, upgrading Only the graphics by bringing it to PS2 (or Xbox and game cube for that matter), and sales would Still have been through the roof. Nevertheless, EA redefined the very meaning of “Hot Pursuit” with stunning graphics, smooth gameplay, and that same unprecedented replay value that could possibly, just Possibly, leave you wondering “Gran Tourismo 3? What game was that?”

So what is to be said of a summary for this game? There’s no intricate story, no main characters, no main enemies… so what is there? It seems like the season of fall always seems to bring about the emergence of games centered around Guns. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being in a neck-high pile of video games like SOCOM and Hitman . But… how Refreshing it was to see that Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, a game in the shadows of anticipated titles like Star Fox, Turok, and the above mentioned hits, managed to blast through all the gun smoke and light up the review boards.

But although this is truly a racing game, we still get that good ole Need for…….. Guns in this game, since it is still the fall season isn’t it? Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 features cop chases that put to shame other games that attempted harness the art of intense getaways (except for GTA3 of course). Lamborghini cop cars, road barricades, spike strips, Helicopters that drop Huge Barrels of Chemical Explosives onto the road while firing Homing Missiles directly at your Priceless (or what once was priceless) Speed Machine. (Here’s where EA managed to quench our thirst for guns and explosions in a car racing game), are just a few of the many manic impediments you will encounter while trying to be the first passed the checkered line. And if you Really feel the Need for….. Guns while playing this game, be sure to check out “You’re the Cop” mode, where you’ll literally have a blast smashing into speeding racers while calling in requests to dispatch the Demonic Helicopter. If this Still isn’t enough to calm your urges, then Hey, Maybe this isn’t the game for you this time of year.

So how about the Need for…… Speed!! Now we’re on the Right Track! There are 49 Purebred Exotic Cars (that’s right, Forty-Nine. I believe there was a little over a dozen in the original Hot Pursuit) to tear up 30 varying tracks (that’s right Once Again, Thirty. I believe there were four or five in the original). But what’s the fun in a game that has no reward for out driving all your opponents and coming in 1st place? So all those cars and tracks that I mentioned earlier? Well you just gotta be the leader of the pack to experience all of them now won’t you? Got the Need for Speed? Prove It.

And if you’re not in the mood to beat the heat, and you just wanna blast down the road in the car of your dreams, then there’s always World Racing mode, where there’s nothing between you and the finish line other than the cars you’re racing. Drive your way through long endurance races or sudden death knockout laps to find out if you’re good enough to unlock….. The Cars and Tracks!

The cars are nothing short of breathtaking in this game. Virtually Every lightning-fast sport car that you’ve ever fathomed affording is available to you at your fingertips. And if that wasn’t enough, most of the cars have several colors to choose from! Now I understand that a racing game with cars that have a choice of colors is not hard to come by these days, but how about a racing game that makes its Own version of those very same cars that we dream about owning? Every car in this game also has a Need for Speed version, which has more horsepower, better top speed and acceleration, and has detail-jobs that send your jaw to the ground. How many racing games out there have That?? Each car comes equipped with a unique description, Narrated by that famous Need for Speed guy (Gran Toursimo eat your heart out), and an adjustable 360 degree view of your choice car. All that and you haven’t even Driven the car yet!! Getting excited? I am…

So many Courses, so many shortcuts, so little time. Each of the thirty races is chock full of shortcuts, and long cuts for that matter, that make you say to yourself “I thought I picked National Forest??” and, Sure Enough, you did. Dust storms while driving through a desert, Brush fires in the forests, volcanic eruptions near peaceful cities, and So Many different Paths! How do we ever manage to find our way to the finish line anyway? Who cars! Put the pedal to the metal and meet the cops and your opponents, somehow, at the finish line. Now of course we can get by just meandering through the enormous courses of Need for Speed, but that won’t get you to the top of the list. If you wanna out drive the other cars, you gotta out smart em too. Find the Shortest path-do it every lap, and you just might start to taste the fruits of unlocking cars and tracks. Happy trails!

So here it is gamers, Cars that are simply Eye Candy, Races and Pursuits that are simply Heart Pounding, and both Courses and Tracks that are simply Endless. I present to you… Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2.

Sound

Well if you’re in Hot Pursuit mode, you’d Love to hear nothing at All. But sooner or later the heat’s gonna be on to you, and and the silence turns into blaring sirens and screeching tires. So lets break your ideal Hot Pursuit race into its components shall we?

1) Revving engines- Each car has its own unique engine sounds that substitute for sweet music as you approach the car’s maximum speed.

2) Screeching tires- If you’re flying down a road filled with pedestrian traffic and tight turns, your tires will be taking an audible beating. It’s a good thing they never seem to loose their rubber huh?

3) Cop Radios- Here’s where the only real element of voice acting appears in Need for Speed. They don’t sound Too fake in this game, even though I find it surprising that any random cop in these races seem to be able to spot a Lamborghini Muecielago going over 150 MPH don’t you? Well never mind that, it’s still cool to hear over their radio that they’re pursuing Your car. As far as I’m concerned the voice acting doesn’t take anything away from the game.

4) Sound Effects- Superb. You can almost Feel yourself crashing head on into a pedestrian car when you hear the noise it makes. You can hear subtle sounds like busting headlights and windshields or prominent sounds like the loud thud you hear after bumping an opponent car into a large tree. This is probably the second most impressive attribute of Need for Speed’s sound.

5) Music- My choice for the #1 most impressive aspect of Need for Speed’s sound. If it wasn’t impressive enough that Bush contributes a song for this game, but numerous other bands do as well, and the game features a jukebox option where you can choose which songs you want to hear in each mode of the game. You ever race those endurance races of Gran Tourismo and have to listen to some crappy song for 2 hours? This will Not happen in Need for Speed if you simply take the time to plot out your music. Do it, it’s more than worth it for your gaming experience. I have found myself humming at least 3 of the songs in this game at separate occasions. If you’re anything like me, you’d consider that a sign of good music.

Sound gets my perfect 5.



Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2: Smooth gameplay, crisp graphics, and realistic sound.

Do You have the Need?

Gameplay

Car racing games are all about gameplay, aren’t they? Since I probably won’t ever be able to afford one of these incredible cars, the Least I can do is buy a game that makes me Feel like I own the car. Is it possible to own a $50 Ferrari? Or better yet 49 different cars for $50?? Well not Exactly, but the feeling has been simulated to perfection in Need for Speed. These cars drive and handle whatever way you want them to. Whether you’re looking to haphazardly zip through a small rural town going over 200 MPH, or you simply have too many cops on your tail to worry about how to approach a tight turn, all you have to do is choose the “Classic” handling type. On the other hand, if you’re looking to find out how any one of these 49 cars slides through an S turn going exactly 145 MPH, then you’re the type that’s lookin for “Extreme” handling. If you’re still stuck on that superb simulation that Gran Toursimo offered, then this is the choice for you. If you wanna do to with these cars everything that your Not supposed to do in real life, then by all means, pick “Classic” handling.

Such a small aspect of the game; two different types of control for your car. But in actuality, the significance goes much deeper than that. There is a schism in gaming fans where one side likes the “Full-Effect” driving games, and the other the “Action/Intensity” driving experience. Several games have appeased both sides of this issue; Gran Tourismo for those “Full-Effect” fans, and games like “Driver” and “Grand Theft Auto 3” for those “Action/Intensity” fans for example. It’s not too often, though, that One game can easily appease both sides of this issue. Need for Speed did it. So maybe we’ll see more of this in the future, but for now I’d like to highlight this relatively revolutionary attribute.

Now talk is cheap; how does the game play? Exactly how you want it to, and there’s no better compliment for a game. Each car, with its unique characteristics, never fails to deliver a smooth drive. There are little to no technical excuses if you lose a race in this game. Your two thumbs, and Solely your two thumbs, are what’s gonna get you to the finish line. Time after time I start to play Gran Tourismo and turn it off 5 minutes later because my car, no matter how much I slow down, doesn’t seem to wanna make those tight turns. So hey, that’s realistic, and I’m all for realistic games, but I also wanna have fun too, so even if I probably wouldn’t be able to make half the turns in real like that I do in Need for Speed, it’s Definitely a fun experience. And once again, you can always choose “Extreme” handling, where the true art of car handling is mastered. So there it is, simply put, the gameplay of this game exceptional, whether you choose simulation driving, or arcade driving.

I give this game a perfect 5 for gameplay.
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Summary

The latest iteration of the Need for Speed series is near perfect. It combines aspects of 2 of my favorite racers to date (Gran Turismo 3 and Burnout), adds a few goodies, and throws it all into one package. Gran Turismo 3 was a bit boring at times, espessially with the longer races, and Burnout didn't really have a whole lot to do. In Need for Speed, there's plenty to do, and it never gets boring (at least not yet). There are but 2 noticable flaws in the game that I have managed to pick out thus far. First of all, you can't save replays. Not even segments of replays. This really disappointed me. The second flaw is that jump cams don't always engage at the proper times, but that's hardly worth mentioning.

Don't be fooled, Need for Speed is no Gran Turismo. The physics are semi-realistic at best; just about the only things the two games share in common are real cars and good graphics. If you were a die hard GT fan, then you'll probably be turned off by the game's arcade style. But if arcade is fine with you, you'll love the game. There is plenty to do, lots of stuff to unlock, a refreshing challenge (if a bit frustrating), but most of all, it's pure, adrenaline fueled, car racing fun.

Sound

The sound in the game is great. The soundtrack provides some nice modern rock tracks and is similar to most extreme sports games. The sound effects are high quality, especially the high powered engines, and the whole thing sounds great on a good stereo.

Gameplay

The game is highly customizable. You can adjust many sound volumes independently of each other, so if you wanted to you could turn down the music, have tire sounds at medium, and let the engine noise roar away. As for the rest of the options, if there's a feature you don't like, you can probably turn it off.

When you first start playing, you're given about 7 semi-impressive cars to choose from to race on a handful of tracks. If you want to move on to racing in Farraris, Porches, Lamborghinis, and even McLarens, you're expected to master the likes of the Elise and Speedster/VX220. The cars themselves look amazing, and you can even push square to get a minimal write-up (and read-up!) and free rotate them to get a look at different angles. There is a grand total of 49 cars, but half of them are "NFS" or pursuit editions of others. Not only does the game feature beautiful supercars, but it's one of the few games that allows you to go beat them up! While it's not exactly realistic (I think running into a tree at 150mph would do a bit more than scratch the paint.), it is done very well, all things considered. But if you just can't stand the thought of a trashed F50, you can always turn off the damage.

The 30 tracks you can race on are set across several distinct environments, and are either point-to-point or lap based. There is a good amount of alternate routes to be found, plenty of obstacles to shake cops with, lots of big air opportunities, and traffic with user defined density. In short, there's plenty to keep your attention. The courses are also very long. An average lap time for many circuits is around 3 or 4 minutes, and there can be as much as 8 laps in a race. Even so, you'll always be on your toes. One reason for this is that with the catch-up option engaged, you'll rarely ever be more than 2 seconds ahead of the guy behind you.

The game has 2 distinct play modes, each with their own race styles. In one corner we have Hot Pursuit mode, and in the other we have World Racing. The Hot Pursuit mode lets you race against 3 opponents with cops who will throw everything from Crown Vics to helicopters after you. The World Racing mode lets you race against 7 opponents with no cops. The heart of the game lies in the Championship and Ultimate Racer sections. This is like the simulation mode in GT3 in that you have to win specific races and tournaments to progress in the game. They are laid out in a unique competition tree format where winning a race will grant you access to 2 or 3 more races, as well as possibly another car or track. You can also unlock cars by accomplishing certian tasks in the standard arcade mode, or by getting a specific amount of "NFS points." NFS points are gained by doing various stunts in races, ranging from moving up a place to getting air to dodging roadblocks. If dodging police roadblocks at 120+ mph is too much of a guilty pleasure for you, then you can always pay back your debt to society as you take the roll of the cops. The "You're the cop" mode is very fun, complete with nitros, roadblocks, and helicopters.
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Sound

Good cool sound and good music but not nearly enough of it. If I have to hear those songs again ever...hey but thats why they have a switch to turn them off. Cop radio chatter is cool, but again repeats often.

Gameplay

This game handles great, cars are great, speed is incredible! The one thing I didnt like so much is on the challenges you are racing the BMW-Jaguar-or the australian car far too much. I would have a liked a little progression after each race to other cars, but when you get to the goodies look out! Also seems like they articially put in replay value by making the races more laps later on rather that having different races you will race for 4 laps instead of 2, that can make for a long race when a lap takes 3-4 minutes! Hey those are my beefs though, its a great game and thats all there is too it.
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Summary

The title of this game describes me quite well...NEED FOR SPEED. Yup, it's finally back, as NFS makes its PS2 debut with Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. The game has two main modes: Hot Pursuit and World Race. In Hot Pursuit mode, you race other drivers while also outrunning the cops, or you can be the cops and run down the street-racing supercars. There are 49 different cars to choose from, but note that some of those are simply "Need For Speed" edition cars (ex. Regular Viper GTS and NFS Viper GTS) that are repainted, hopped-up versions of the regular cars.
The cars range from the aforementioned Viper, to the Corvette ZO6, the Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 360 Modena Spyder, smaller cars like the Opel Speedster, German BMWs and Mercedes, the mighty McLarens, and my personal favorite, the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R. Basically, if a company makes a supercar, their car is in here. You can also choose 4 different cop cars, namely the Crown Vic, BMW M5, a Cobra R cop car, and the Murcielago cop car. Needless to say, though you have some fast cars to help you run down speeders, you won't get away quite so easily either if you choose to play on the other side of the law. There are many tracks to choose from, though some tracks are simply variations of others. Winning races and "NFS Points" helps you unlock tracks and cars, as well as more events.

My opinion? NFS is back, in a big way, and better than ever in almost every respect.

Sound

I like the fact that EA has gone to licensed music in most of their games...if you have to sit on the menu for awhile and mess with options, the licensed music makes the experience less painful. I can't comment on the music in NFS, though, because I haven't listened to it very much. Advice: If you're into cars, turn off the race music, and listen to those wonderful engines sing. The engine effects are spot on...it's obvious EA took the time to record the real things. The Cobra R has its deep rumble, the Viper's V10 its somewhat strange burble, the BMWs their throaty rasp, and the Ferraris wail like F1 cars, as they should. The engine effects get 5 stars in my book. Squealing tires and other effects are well done as well.

Gameplay

NFS has always had more of an arcade-y feel to it, and HP2 is no different. The cars handle quite well, and, in fact, a little too well. Don't come here looking for Gran Turismo realism, as you flat won't get it. If, however, you're looking for some good ol' fashioned car-racin' fun while outrunning Johnny Law, you're in for a treat.

There are some cool effects, and the graphics run smoothly. The graphics lose some detail and crispness in 2 player mode, but that is necessary for the game to run smoothly. In 1-player mode, however, the graphics are excellent. They may not be on par with GT3, but they also throw a lot more at you. The tracks themselves are interesting, and are not as linear as in the past. They're wider, and offer more shortcuts, which adds to the replay value.

I like the unlocking system that is used to get new cars and tracks: if you want everything unlocked, you're gonna have to spend some time with this game.

All in all, this is a well-made racing game with excellent replay value that is also quite fun to play. Now, for the always-expected complaint dept.

1. EA, what happened to the spectacular crashes that were such a great part of the old games? I just loved barrelling into a bus at 200+ and then flipping for the next 1/4 mile. That was half the fun.

2. I know that it's nice to have long tracks, but some of them are a bit too long, especially if you lose and have to re-race the event. You may feel like either quitting or running a different race, especially if you somehow lose at the very end (such as what always happens to me).

3. The changing camera angles on jumps is unique and somewhat entertaining, but the system could have been made much better. I really want to see myself fly...for huge jumps, EA, you should have gone the Grand Theft Auto route and changed Camera angles while in slow-mo during the jump. THAT would have been impressive.

Other than that, that's about it as far as complaints go.
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Sound

The car's sound in this game are awesome. Every car has a different an unique engine sound that literally makes you want fall in love with each car, regardless on its looks. When cars pass, or when you crash, all the sound and perfectly timed and it is as real as it gets.
Now the music on the other hand is not what I was hoping for. I honesty was hoping for music more like, if not a recantation of the original NFS Hot Pursuit music. For those racers who's history doesn't go back that far; the original Hot Pursuit music to me was hottest techno music that I had heard in a racing game at that current time. It is not the diet techno you get fed in the current NFS game. But don’t let how I feel scare, or offend you, because isn't all that bad. If you have a liking for rock and a weird combination of pop music, than the games soundtrack will not disappoint you.

Gameplay

The game play for the most part is smooth and fluid like. You get blown away with realism that was put into the handling a performance each of the cars. As you get use to the control of the cars, you car put the handle level on extreme and enjoy super realistic control.
Even with it's huge emphasis on realism they let a few factors slide that add excitement and a beatable but most of the time annoying challenge, to the game.
For starters:
In Hot Pursuit Mode the police have:
*Infinite Boost power
-This allows you to catch the speeders but also makes it harder for you to get away.
*The Ability to Request Police Assistance
-With three Police Assistance Requests available, you can order a roadblock (spike strip) or a helicopter attack þ). The computer on the other hand is not limited þ(.
*A Good Selection Of Police Cruisers.
-They give you the performance you need to keep up with racers, but also makes it impossible to genuinely outclass the police.
*A Event Table For Hot Pursuit Mode and World Racing Mode.
-Most people would consider this to be an great thing, and to a point it is. But if you are a well seasoned gamer like myself, it wont take very long before everything is accomplished.
*The Cars and Tracks You Unlock Are Not Worth The Trouble.
-They just aren’t, they only make two player mode worth wild. If you don't have somebody to race against the game quickly becomes boring.

If you can see theses flaws in the game, than you will love playing it.
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Sound

If I had to part with one version, it would be the PS2 game that would go.

Something to ponder…I am 28 and I prefer the XBOX version. My friend is 29 and he also prefers the XBOX version (we played both versions extensively yesterday)…my son is 8 and he likes playing the PS2 version. Make of that what you will.

If there is one thing that I wished was available on the XBOX that is on the PS2 version, it’s the replays! The PS2 has a great replay after you run a race. You also have multiple camera angles to choose from during the replay. I can’t understand why this couldn’t have been implemented on the XBOX. On the XBOX, you only see the replay from the same camera angle you had during the race…I mean, what’s the point in that!?

The 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound can’t be beat on the XBOX either!

Here’s a brief summary comparing the two versions:

PS2 = Mindless fun.
XBOX = Calculated, prettier fun.

Gameplay

I’ve been reading much about the comparisons of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 on the internet and in gaming magazines (XBOX vs. PS2). For the record, I own both the XBOX and PS2 and I also own both versions of NFPHP2. One of the most consistent things I keep hearing is how much better the PlayStation 2 version is than the XBOX version. Here is an interesting quote:

“the Xbox and GameCube versions of Hot Pursuit II have slightly detuned graphics, mushier controls, and inexplicably, a variety of minute but tangible omissions from the PlayStation 2 game.” –GAMESPOT.COM

I can’t help but wonder how the author of this review came to this conclusion. The controls may seem “mushier” due to the fact that on the XBOX, NFPHP2 handles more like a SIM than the PS2 version. The PS2 version is as ARCADEY as you can get in game in my opinion…I think they are mistaking “tight” and “responsive” handling with ARCADE handling! “Detuned graphics”!? This one has me baffled! Again, I don’t know what kind of TV they are using or how they might have their reviewing monitors set up, but the XBOX version is clearly the better looking version. The PS2 version, when compared to the XBOX version, looks very PS1-like…heck, I even think the car models are better looking on the XBOX!

I heard that the PS2 version had a “faster” frame rate. Granted, when I played the PS2 version for a few hours yesterday, there was a great sense of speed…but there was also a sense of cheapness in the graphics. Everything that flew by just had that PS1 look/feel to it. I also heard that on the XBOX, the frame rate was slower…again, these folks are confusing slow frame rate with simulation! When you drive a slower car, the frame rate will seem to be slower. Yesterday I ran some fast cars and the frame rate was every bit as good as in the PS2 version, but with prettier scenery going by! HOWEVER, in order to get that great sense of speed on the XBOX you have to use the 1st person road view, if you use any of the “outside” 3rd person views, the sense of speed is not there, this may be the grip most people have with the frame rate on the XBOX. Here’s something that some XBOX owners may not know…the RIGHT trigger actually acts as a boost button! The game manual and the game itself has no mention of this! (at least non that I could find)
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Sound

The sound is also bomb. The CB 'chatter box' is so cool. It is helpful in letting you know if a roadblock is set, and what cops you have 'taken out' of the race.
Also, unlike many games with licensed soundtracks, this one is the truth. Tight songs from Course of Nature, Pulse Ultra, and even Bush help gameplay so much. They fit in with the game perfectly.

Bottom Line: go buy it, don't just rent it, or then you will buy it afterwards, spending unnecessary money. It's really a no-brainer

Gameplay

Outstanding. 10 of 10, or for better precision its really about a 999 of 1000. No joke. The game has 2 main modes: Hot Pursuit (with cops), and World Circuit (racing without cops). there are 30 events for each, making a total of 60 events. As you progress, the quality of your car will improve, but the difficult increases ever-so-slightly, as well.
THE COPS
These pigs are the bomb. Although annoying at times, I am sweaty and breathing heavy at the end of every race. Winning a race in this game is as satisfying as succeeding at anything in any other game, period. Also, it is fairly easy to 'kill' cops, which is a blast. I thought that opportunites to 'take out' cops would be few and far between, but it happens (if you MAKE it happen) on nearly every lap.

WORLD CIRCUIT
While I am not a big car-game fan, I was looking forward to Hot Pursuit much more than World Circuit. However, considering the pulse-pounding, nerve-wracking HP missions, the World Circuit is a very welcomed 'breather'. It is the S__t, as well.

OTHER TIGHT THINGS
1. if you pick your, say, Dodge Viper, in yellow, the game automatically makes sure no other car is yellow. They will be red, black, white, etc. So you never confuse any 2 opponents
2. BOMB MAP. The map shows you everything - cops, their roadblocks and spikestrips, and opponents, and you don't really even have to take your eyes off the car (only for a nanosecond)
3. Excellent variety. Each event in either mode is completely different. (different goals, # of opponents, lap #, race #, etc) You NEVER get bored of having to do the same thing over and over
4. OUTSTANDING LEARNING CURVE. This cannot be stressed enough. From Event 1 to Event 30, the difficulty flows perfectly. Events 25-30 are tough, but, by that time, you will definitely have the incentive to beat everything
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Summary

XBox Vs PS2. Whoa. I am surprised. Usually when a game comes out for multiple systems, the XBox clearly has better graphics, sound, options, control and gameplay. This is not the case here. Every attribute I just mentioned the PS2 has an edge over the XBOX. WOW.

Anyways, before I start to tell you just how much better the PS2 version is I better tell you a little bit about the game. This is the best racer you will ever play. You can pick from dozens of exotic cars and try and outrun the cops, or you can play as a cop and try and catch those speeding exoticas. The sense of speed has never been better in any racing game. You are rewarded as you progress such as winning a race breaking a time record, catching the bad guys (hella fun) etc. Once you start to play, you wont want to put the controller down. Highly addictive gameplay, tons of replay value make this a definite must own for anyone looking to enjoy a good game because this game is just that. AAA

Sound

Everything here sounds authentic. The engine roars sound almost identical to their counterparts, The police are really chasing you.

The music contains a little high energy music and a lot of rock. Thankfully you have the option of choosing the songs you want to hear. AAA Sound Effects. A Music.

Gameplay

I am not a big fan of racing games but one day a demo disc arrived in my mailbox and one of the games was NFS:HP2. I was blown away at how easy to pick up and play this game was. the controls were the best ever, (sorry Gran Turismo 3), the sense of speed totally engroses you, and the challenge never diminishes. The tracks are so big (were talking 3-8 minutes for just one lap) and there are so many shortcuts that even months from now you probably will find something new. when the cops are on your tail you gad better use some strategy. I love to push those PIGS off to the side and into oncoming traffic. Thats just frickin sweet. You can even stop the camera for a MATRIX-LIKE 360 pan around your can at anytime in the race, (A feature that XBox & Gamecube owners do not have the luxury of having) along with the Zone Zoom that freezes time and zooms about 1000 feey ahead so you can see whats coming your way, and trust me, you will need to use it and you will love to use it. As I said before, the gameplay is very rewarding as you unlock new cars and tracks as you complete objectives. Fantastic. AAA Gameplay.
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Sound

The sound is also excellent. Police chatter, tires screeching, engine revs -- all brilliant and realistic. Again, no complaints.

Gameplay

As I said, this game becomes rather easy very quickly. Most of the user reviews I've read that praise this game are written by people who have only been playing for a couple days. But give it a week and you'll find that you're placing in first almost every time. The events are all surprisingly easy to pass, except for maybe the final two in each mode.

There's also some gameplay elements that you can easily exploit. The shortcuts are cool, but there's nothing preventing you from using them on every single lap and blowing by your competition. The competition uses these shortcuts, but only once in a while. If you use them every time, you'll win almost every time.

Also, in Hot Pursuit mode I've discovered that if you're on the final lap, you can often press the select button and forfeit a "bust". This costs you a few seconds, but you now can complete the rest of the race with little to no police interference, allowing you to make up for lost time and cross the finish line with ease.

The road blocks, spike strips and helicopters are tough at first, but again it's easy enough to avoid them once you learn the tracks. Simply holding down the X button will allow you to blow through almost all road blocks.

This low difficulty factor was really disappointing me. I remember playing the original Hot Pursuit game and getting burned if I didn't drive with utmost care, especially in expert mode. Not the case here. Blackbox apparently designed this game for the very casual, very untrained racing game fan.
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