Speed Underground 2 - Kelly takes on the role of Nikki, a rebellious and full throttled street racer who can really handle herself, looking as good out of the car as she does in it. Kelly said of the game "It's amazing to see yourself transformed into a videogame character, EA did a great job making my character Nikki look like I do. I'm very excited to be a part of Need for Speed Underground 2 and I can't believe how realistic videogames have become, the sense of speed and graphics are so good it's almost scary."

Need for Speed Underground 2 also features a deep new performance customisation and tuning system and more than 30 licensed cars. The game delivers twice the visual customisation upgrades as the original game, providing a staggering 70 billion possible car combinations for total automotive self-expression. This year the Xbox version has an online mode built in – which was previously specific to PC and PS2 versions only. This mode works in a similar way to most other online modes. You can enter the different race types or even cruise around the open city with other online players.

Soundwise there is a plethora of speed fuelled tunes to get your teeth into. With US rapper Snoop Dogg & Jim Morrison providing the theme tune in the form of a wicked remix of Riders on the Storm. In addition to the remix song from Snoop Dogg featuring The Doors, Need for Speed Underground 2 boasts an exclusive track from Capone, as well as new music from Chingy, Mudvayne, Terror Squad, Xzibit and Queens of the Stone Age. Rounding out the line-up are new tunes from Felix da Housecat, Helmet, Killing Joke, Sly Boogy, Snapcase, The Bronx and Unwritten Law that'll set the stage, and the streets on fire. Driving sounds within the races are pretty cool but nothing to shout about.

Graphically Need for Speed Underground 2 is very good. The Need for Speed engine has always been quite handsome and with more cityscape available you do feel that the variations of background are where you benefit the most. With a title like Need for Speed you want to know that you get the full experience of intense speed while racing. You do – at some points the surrounding city and heavily lit race track is turning into one huge blur of light as you scream around the corners.

Overall is Need for Speed Underground 2 up to scratch? The answer is yes – the game isn't breaking any barriers, Underground 2 is more of a development on 1 than a totally new driving experience, which is the case with all Need for Speed titles. The Need for Speed engine has always been known for being a tad skatey and still is, there are more realistic titles out there but if its cool creative and captivating street racing you are looking for and you have a passion for crazy car customisation then you could do much worse than get yourself Need for Speed Underground 2.


8 out of 10

Click Here to View Need for Speed Underground 2 Screenshots