Need for Speed: Underground featured something nobody ever thought a Need for Speed game would: a storyline. Also new was the ability for players to completely customize their cars with name-brand upgrades to the exterior or under the hood. Another new feature was that all races took place at night in an anonymous city that looked like a composite of several major American locales. New game modes included Drag, Circuit, and Drifting, a challenge that didn’t involve getting the best lap time.
The sequel to Need for Speed Underground has big shoes to fill, and it does so admirably, with vastly improved graphics, new game play modes, and an improved interface. The demo also pushes beyond the scope of the original, offering a "free roam" mode to explore the cityscape and challenge competitors at will, two types of "quick races" on two different tracks, and the ability to race other drivers online.
