NFS: Carbon for PS3

Where to start? Where to start? First of all, I've always been a fan of the Need For Speed games. I actually started back with Hot Pursuit 2. So I've got high expectations about this.

The game starts out where the last one (Most Wanted) left off. You have just escaped the cops from the previous city and you are making your way down a canyon on your BMW M3 GTR (from Most Wanted) and you're being chased by Cross. This is somewhat of an intro to the style of canyon racing that is introduced to this game. You end up totaling your ride in an accident. You get introduced to the antagonist and his crew that own the streets. A little story plot develops where you are accused of stealing money and have no respect. Nicky, a fellow friend gets you a ride so you can take back what is yours. Good intro to the game. You've lost your ride and you must start from scratch now.

So just like in Most Wanted, there is a radar that tells you if the cops are hot in a certain area. The hotter the area, the more likly the cops are to show up when you are racing. And you have to evade the cops and hide out to get them off of you. It's not as obnoxious as in Most Wanted.

I'll get to the positives first. I like how EA did this "post-fast and the furiest:tokyo drift" style canyon racing. You race down a canyon against one competitor and one gets a head start. It's your job to stick to them as close as possible or get in front of them. You take turns on who gets the head start and who ever got the most points in the end wins. You lose if you fall off a cliff, your opponent has more points at the end of both races or if your opponent got a 10 second lead on you. There is another feature in the game that was kinda cool. You can custom sculpt your ride the way you want it (though it is very limited).

Now for the negatives. Where to begin? Where to begin? First of all, the music selection is horrible. There are like 9 songs in the whole game, what gives EA? You can do better. Second, the customization options are getting fewer and fewer with each new sequel. Third, the story sucks. It's a story of a guy who needs to earn back respect and find out who took the money that he got from a raited race. There is basically no story development and the conflict doens't get resolved. You just beat the guy that took your money and you get his ride and he leaves. Fourth, the game is really short. For the $60 I paid, I might as well have rented it. I beat the game in 3 days. Fifth, they don't use the motion sensoring in the controller at all. Sixth, they got rid of the drag racing, my favorite type of racing in the games. And last of all, the acting is just horrible. Where do they get these people from?

Overall, the game is a okay. It could've been a great game, but it was rushed out. I guess EA wants to make mediocre sequels every year so they can milk their franchises for all they're worth. The graphics are okay. But I'd tell anyone to stick to NFS: Underground 2, though dated, I think it is still the best one in the series so far.