One Hour With: Need for Speed Undercover

Need For Speed Undercover is shaping up to be a very high quality title, set to take Electronic Arts' racing franchise to new heights, in terms of gameplay, story and graphics. Following the relatively low sales of the NFS: ProStreet title, which was meant to take the franchise off the streets and into the professional racing leagues, the development team over at EA Black Box decided to make NFS Undercover a worthy successor to one of the most popular games in the series, NFS Most Wanted.

The game will have one of the most demanded features in every NFS title, the Police, which will once again try to catch the illegal racers who compete against one another in the city. This new game will also try to bring a more intriguing story, which will give the player a bigger motivation to complete it. This time, the player will become an undercover, hence the name, police officer who is tasked with infiltrating an illegal racing community that also steals cars as means to make a quick profit. With all these in the feature list, the game does look like it will offer a great experience, so has it got what it takes? Here's our one hour spent with EA's Need For Speed Undercover.

15:00 The game starts up with the opening cinematics - beautiful water, and a short presentation of the Tri-City area, in which you will be racing. No time for sightseeing though, as you are immediately thrown in the driving seat of a beautiful Nissan 370Z, one of the premiere cars in the game, and tasked with escaping the police who are following you.

15:10 The chase is over, as you escaped, but the scene immediately changes, and you are presented to one of the police officers in the game, played by Maggie Q. She explains the current situation to your chief and demands that this illegal community be taken down with your help.

15:20 After a few discussions your task is clear - go out and win races in order to get your reputation up. The more you get recognized, the better the chances the community will let you in on its little secrets. The first car is given to you by the police, a Nissan 240 SX, not the best, but more than capable to win some races.

15:30 The AI (Artificial Intelligence) isn't the brightest to say the least, as, from the start of a race, the other pilots are more preoccupied with taking each other out than preventing you from taking the lead. Also, the cars aren't so well balanced, as I've won my first race with a 10 second difference from the second-place driver.

15:40 The damage system is quite interesting, since all of your accidents reflect on the car during the events. When the race or cop chase is over, your car returns to normal. A very nice implementation, as the NFS franchise has never been one to deliver a proper simulation, limiting itself to the arcade style of driving.

15:50 The police are pretty tough and smart. Your heat level rises very quickly and it won't be long before you meet the Level 5 special cop cars, which are racing-prepped Nissan GT-Rs. But luckily for you, pursuit breakers, which are certain destructible elements that stop the cars following you, are placed cleverly throughout the city. Learn the routes to them and the cops won't be a match for you, though you'd better watch out for the Police Helicopter, as it can always find you.

16:00 The first pink slip race is won; you now get the chance to choose your next car - a very tough choice, but the Lotus Elise does look good. Time to win some more races and progress through the story - your task isn't short and easy, so you really need to work.

All in all, a very good game that offers a classic NFS experience. Fast races, with cops on your back - that's what the franchise is all about, and that's what this game also features. Definitely a title any NFS or racing fan should pick up.