Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

It?s a good thing that the PS2 version and, to a lesser extent, the Xbox edition of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 brought the luster back to the reputation of this hallowed racing franchise.

The trouble with Hot Pursuit 2 for the GameCube begins at the starting line. The frame rate stutters badly at times, and the titular sense of speed is sorely lacking. Throw in the sludgy, temperamental handling, the too-bouncy collisions, and the strangely careening spins, and you?ll quickly decide that these races test your patience more than your reflexes.

Of course, all the usual trappings are here, including a glamorous lineup of cars from Lamborghini, Porsche, Lotus, Mercedes, and more. The setup is identical to the Xbox version?s but different from the PS2?s in small but key ways, including the points system, race lineup, and track layout. You choose between branching championships of either straight racing or scrambling to evade cops, which is an excellent approach. Except for the massive speed issues, the graphics are respectable but lean more toward the cartoony side with a look that?s much less crisp than the PS2?s or Xbox?s. The sounds fare a bit better with cool rock tunes and helpful cop chatter, but the engine sound effects are repetitive and grating.

At the finish, this unfortunate version of HP2 is just plain slow and its handling just doesn?t feel right. If possible, stick with the stellar PS2 edition or the strong Xbox game. But if the GameCube?s your only system, HP2 will scratch your racing itch, though it?ll leave you truly needing?no, longing?for speed.

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