Greetings.
I *ABSOLUTELY LOVED* NFS1. It is a GREAT game and I've probably spent a
hundred hours "behind the wheel", so when I spotted Need For Speed 2 (PC
Version) this weekend at Sam's Club Discount Warehouse, I e***dly
shelled out the $42.95. I've now spent several hours playing the game.
Following is my opinion:
Nice intro video of a Cala and a Jaguar XJ220 racing thru the UK
countryside. The video leads to an attractive shell. Plenty of eye candy
but it requires a few extra clicks and keypresses to navigate compared to
NFS1. So far, so good.
After a few clicks, I've selected a track, the Proving Grounds, chosen a
car (the venerable F50) and cranked up the graphics detail. I click
"RACE". Now what? In a word -- "disappointment!" The framerate is
terrible, probably not more than 12 frames/sec. on my Micron P133 with
64MB RAM, Diamond Stealth 64 Video 2001 4MB PCI video. NFS2 is clearly,
substantially slower than NFS1. So much for Direct X (Microsoft's Windoze
game development library designed to replace DOS) -- I can't run a full
size window with high-level graphics and maintain a reasonable frame rate.
So I hit Escape, go to Options and change to medium-detail graphics and
turn off the horizon to get the same framerates as NFS1 on my 486-120 with
full screen/detail/horizon, etc!!! Now the game looks lousy, but at least
it's playable.
So I jump back into the game. The camera pans around the Ford GT90 I've
selected and moves into the***pit. Cool. But wait! Since I've chosen a
medium-size window (in order to get a decent framerate), I no longer get a
***pit view! Sheesh. I run a few laps around the boring oval known as the
Proving Grounds and decide to move on to a more interesting track. Back to
the shell.
I cycled thru the various tracks and cars, playing each for approx. half
an hour and I must say that I am underwhelmed with the tracks. The
background music is at first interesting, but after a few moments
annoying, and the level of detail on most of the tracks is concentrated in
just one or two areas -- usually a cluster of buildings in a city
separated by long stretches of very ugly tunnels or tree-lined highway.
One additional point about the tracks -- they're all ovals, all a little
boring. If you (like me) enjoyed the long top-speed straightaway race
along NFS1's "Coastal" or "City" tracks, you're really going to miss them
in NFS2.
I've not had a chance to play multiplayer, I've not yet attempted to
customize the vehicles (change brake bias, downforce, etc.), and perhaps
it's just a matter of time before I get used to running in a reduced
graphics mode, but so far I'm disappointed. It's not that its a bad game,
its just not much better than NFS1, and some of the things I liked about
NFS1 (e.g. the long, segmented tracks, the fast framerate) are lost.
Perhaps the best parts of the game lie in the multiplayer, and if that's
the case I hope to be surprised.
PROS:
Attractive interface. Music is great. Improved camera angles (you can see
backwards on the track...). Networked gameplay! Multimedia showcase is
slick! The angular effects of the physics engine has been refined. Nice
"Map" window showing relative position.
CONS:
*SLOW* framerate. "Arcade" feel, even in advanced simulation mode. Cars
are still indestructible. Tracks are circular and they're too short (no
segmented tracks). The tracks need more variety and more quantity.
BOTTOM LINE:
For all of its improvements, I was mildly disappointed by this release.
Electronic Arts has traded a prettier game shell and easier programming
via DirectX for an in-game framerate that sucks. If you have a 200mhz
Pentium, you'll probably love NFS2. With anything less you'll likely admit
that "I told you so!"
Cheers,