NFSU2 (general/playthrough sort of)

Zonda · March 04, 2018, 05:06:27 AM

Holy fuck I love this game. Coming from payback it’s a huge step down graphically but the physics are so much more intuitive and fast instead of floaty.

The grind to get a good car isn’t even that bad relative to most games. I started off with the 180SX and it was pretty slow before I unlocked the upgrades, but after 5-6 URL races the game really starts to get fun. Drag races can be frustrating early on, mostly due to blowing the engine in top gear before the run can end but normally after a few runs you can get a strategy down to manage your speed before a burst of Nos at the end.

Unlocking the Supra and upgrading it was a huge step up but tbh I’m just holding out for the GTR (legit more hyped to get this than I was to pick up my R34 IRL). The SUV races are actually pretty fun despite being slow and the Jackson Heights course is so good to drive. Aesthetically the game has aged like fine wine. It’s dark but still with a fantastic colour palette for tuner cars and the Skybox looks amazing for a game well over a decade old now.

The Street X races are really frustrating but satisfying to win, and tbh my only complaint is Outrun races taking a kajillion years unless you use a Freeway or get lucky with traffic early on. They’ve done a great job of making such a huge map not feel empty.

The introductory ride in Rachel’s 350z is a nice touch too, I might make a replica when I unlock it. There’s such a depth to the customisation I can’t picture ever getting close to exploring it all.

And that soundtrack. Like damn son. Queens of the Stone Age? Celebration song? My fucken childhood jams right there.

2/10 great fun but the content is too free

Zonda · March 04, 2018, 05:16:29 AM

Also the mid 2000s smack talk is fucken legit. “The URL raced on closed tracks. Don’t expect a free win just because you got lucky and Grandma decided to pull her wagon out in front of the guy in front”

Jono · March 04, 2018, 05:30:05 AM

The best thing about Underground 2 is that you can choose to keep the same car throughout the entire game if you want.

And yeah, the Drag races are bullshit until you unlock the Tier 3 Transmission upgrade which makes your car a 6-speed.

The graphics for the game are still gorgeous and the atmosphere of the game fits that stereotypical street racing vibe perfectly.

I might bring out my Xbox just to take a couple of my cars out for a spin.

Zonda · March 04, 2018, 05:41:26 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 04, 2018, 05:30:05 AM

The best thing about Underground 2 is that you can choose to keep the same car throughout the entire game if you want.

And yeah, the Drag races are bullshit until you unlock the Tier 3 Transmission upgrade which makes your car a 6-speed.

The graphics for the game are still gorgeous and the atmosphere of the game fits that stereotypical street racing vibe perfectly.

I might bring out my Xbox just to take a couple of my cars out for a spin.

we should try and get some races going through XBC

Zonda · March 04, 2018, 05:46:51 AM

Ye defs taking advantage of the cars with a factory 6 speed (so legit just the Supra at the moment lmao) until that transmission upgrade comes through

Jono · March 04, 2018, 05:56:29 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 04, 2018, 05:46:51 AM

Ye defs taking advantage of the cars with a factory 6 speed (so legit just the Supra at the moment lmao) until that transmission upgrade comes through

The Supra is the best car you unlock pre-Coal Harbor. The Acura RSX and Toyota Celica are also pretty good. You don't start unlocking the good shit until you get access to Coal Harbor.

But man, once you get that Level 2 Nitrous and hear that sound it makes every time you press that button... hnnnnngggg

Jono · March 04, 2018, 11:40:13 PM

I brought out my Xbox and yooooo

Spoiler

Zonda · March 05, 2018, 12:11:32 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 04, 2018, 11:40:13 PM

I brought out my Xbox and yooooo
Spoiler

sweet cars man!

Jono · March 05, 2018, 12:20:15 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 05, 2018, 12:11:32 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 04, 2018, 11:40:13 PM
I brought out my Xbox and yooooo
Spoiler

sweet cars man!

I remade Rachel's 350Z and that blue Skyline from the beginning of the game as best I could

Zonda · March 09, 2018, 08:09:56 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 05, 2018, 12:20:15 AM

yeah I like the Z. I just unlocked the FD RX-7, how close am I to the skyline? 😤

Jono · March 09, 2018, 01:54:19 PM

Quote from: Zonda on March 09, 2018, 08:09:56 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 05, 2018, 12:20:15 AM

yeah I like the Z. I just unlocked the FD RX-7, how close am I to the skyline? 😤

Depending on which order you do the URL races, it's the second to last car you unlock in the game

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 01:32:33 AM

So I’ve done every single race in stage 4. All I need is a 6 star rating to move to stage 5 but I haven’t unlocked the SHIT I NEED WTF

Legit no matter what I do the highest visual rating I can get is 5.36.

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 01:33:29 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 09, 2018, 01:54:19 PM

Quote from: Zonda on March 09, 2018, 08:09:56 AM
Quote from: Jono on March 05, 2018, 12:20:15 AM

yeah I like the Z. I just unlocked the FD RX-7, how close am I to the skyline? 😤
Depending on which order you do the URL races, it's the second to last car you unlock in the game

ooo what’s the last?

Jono · March 10, 2018, 02:45:42 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 10, 2018, 01:32:33 AM

So I’ve done every single race in stage 4. All I need is a 6 star rating to move to stage 5 but I haven’t unlocked the SHIT I NEED WTF

Legit no matter what I do the highest visual rating I can get is 5.36.

That's literally the ONLY complaint I have about the game is that you have to add a bunch of shit onto your car for the Visual Ratings or else you don't progress in the singleplayer.

Be on the lookout for hidden shops because sometimes you will unlock new stuff when you find them. There will be colored lights that will stick out that will make out the entrances for the shops. Dark blue for performance shops, Yellow for specialties/accessory shops, green for body shops, and red for graphics shops.

If you have vinyls on your car, stack the same one on different layers to boost your rating.

Race the NPCs that cruise around the city and eventually they will reward you with unique vinyls, body parts, etc.

I know how it feels going from the 3-star rating to the 6-star rating. It's the toughest part of the game.

Jono · March 10, 2018, 02:47:58 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 10, 2018, 01:33:29 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 09, 2018, 01:54:19 PM
Quote from: Zonda on March 09, 2018, 08:09:56 AM
Quote from: Jono on March 05, 2018, 12:20:15 AM

yeah I like the Z. I just unlocked the FD RX-7, how close am I to the skyline? 😤
Depending on which order you do the URL races, it's the second to last car you unlock in the game
ooo what’s the last?

If I'm remembering right, the last 3 you unlock are the Lancer, Skyline, and WRX STI in that order.

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 03:04:16 AM

Ye I managed it on my own. Got some wheels from an out run and found a store to get me over the line. Finished stage 4 so hopefully next URL is it.

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 03:04:52 AM

Give me fucking Warrant officer over that grind any day 😪

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 03:08:15 AM

I’ve completed it now, but there’s this one drag race that pissed me the fuck off.

The racers aren’t hard but there’s a blind crest at the end where a car ALWAYS spawns in your fucking lane, I shit you not. On my 20th attempt an NPC knocked me out of my lane at the right time, giving me the win. Still mad tho.

Jono · March 10, 2018, 03:10:16 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 10, 2018, 03:08:15 AM

I’ve completed it now, but there’s this one drag race that pissed me the fuck off.

The racers aren’t hard but there’s a blind crest at the end where a car ALWAYS spawns in your fucking lane, I shit you not. On my 20th attempt an NPC knocked me out of my lane at the right time, giving me the win. Still mad tho.

Is it the drag track that looks like a U? The airport freeway one?

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 04:34:15 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 10, 2018, 03:10:16 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 10, 2018, 03:08:15 AM
I’ve completed it now, but there’s this one drag race that pissed me the fuck off.

The racers aren’t hard but there’s a blind crest at the end where a car ALWAYS spawns in your fucking lane, I shit you not. On my 20th attempt an NPC knocked me out of my lane at the right time, giving me the win. Still mad tho.
Is it the drag track that looks like a U? The airport freeway one?

nah but that was a pain too, the way it goes down to 2 lanes in heavy traffic. This one goes across a bridge and then into a tunnel. At the end you go over a slight rise.

Zonda · March 10, 2018, 04:35:19 AM

GOT THE SKYLINE FUCK YEEEEEEE

Now to unlock the body kits and I’ll be set.

Have to say having experienced an inferior version IRL, the engine note is really disappointing.

Jono · March 10, 2018, 05:07:45 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 10, 2018, 04:35:19 AM

GOT THE SKYLINE FUCK YEEEEEEE

Now to unlock the body kits and I’ll be set.

Have to say having experienced an inferior version IRL, the engine note is really disappointing.

Now prepare for the URL and standard race grind until the final event

Jono · March 10, 2018, 05:11:59 AM

Also the URL races at the airport to this day still have the coolest skybox in any racing game ever

Zonda · March 11, 2018, 03:43:03 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 10, 2018, 05:11:59 AM

Also the URL races at the airport to this day still have the coolest skybox in any racing game ever

i love the skybox from the top of Jackson heights.

Jono · March 11, 2018, 05:16:12 AM

Quote from: Zonda on March 11, 2018, 03:43:03 AM

Quote from: Jono on March 10, 2018, 05:11:59 AM
Also the URL races at the airport to this day still have the coolest skybox in any racing game ever
i love the skybox from the top of Jackson heights.

Yeah, it's awesome looking at the city from up there.

Also one of my favorite things to do when free roaming is lowering down the music volume and park my car on the side of the road on Jackson Heights so you can hear the ambiance noise. You can hear police sirens sometimes too which always led me to believe that the game was originally going to have cops in it.

Zonda · March 11, 2018, 09:57:58 PM

Quote from: Jono on March 11, 2018, 05:16:12 AM

Yeah, it's awesome looking at the city from up there.

Also one of my favorite things to do when free roaming is lowering down the music volume and park my car on the side of the road on Jackson Heights so you can hear the ambiance noise. You can hear police sirens sometimes too which always led me to believe that the game was originally going to have cops in it.

i kinda wish it was a real location because it’s so much fun to explore the whole city. The highway gives you ample room to get up to top speed, the heights have twisty stuff while still having room to go fast, and exploring the rail yards reminds me a bit of this game called San Francisco Rush 2049. Shit’s lit af

Zonda · March 11, 2018, 10:00:28 PM

My god when a cluster of cars try to corner side by side, all hell breaks loose. The frame rate plummets and one car eventually gets spat out like the flying wraith glitch in Halo: Reach.

This game is so Jank in the best way.

Jono · March 11, 2018, 11:34:17 PM

Quote from: Zonda on March 11, 2018, 09:57:58 PM

Quote from: Jono on March 11, 2018, 05:16:12 AM
Yeah, it's awesome looking at the city from up there.

Also one of my favorite things to do when free roaming is lowering down the music volume and park my car on the side of the road on Jackson Heights so you can hear the ambiance noise. You can hear police sirens sometimes too which always led me to believe that the game was originally going to have cops in it.
i kinda wish it was a real location because it’s so much fun to explore the whole city. The highway gives you ample room to get up to top speed, the heights have twisty stuff while still having room to go fast, and exploring the rail yards reminds me a bit of this game called San Francisco Rush 2049. Shit’s lit af

Bayview is a mix of every major west coast city, mostly Los Angeles. The downtown area is based off San Francisco with the freeways heavily resembling Los Angeles. Beacon Hill is basically Beverly Hills. Jackson Heights is based off Hollywood Hills as the "Bayview" sign is posted on the side of a mountain like the Hollywood sign. I'm not exactly sure what Coal Harbor is based on but it has some influences from the Long Beach Port and surrounding areas.

challengerX · March 12, 2018, 02:27:02 PM

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Aether · March 12, 2018, 09:49:46 PM

Yeah it's my favorite racing game. I have it on PC and like to go back and play through it every so often. I also enjoy the soundtrack a lot, it's pretty nostalgic for me at this point.

The Miata is actually the best car in the game and it's a starter car. Buying any other car later in the game is basically a downgrade stats-wise.