Need for Speed ProStreet

"Need For Speed is back....again"

Times were, that EA produced a somewhat refined racer that was slightly rough round the edges. The introduction of Underground promised to add fresh game modes and a whole new level of play, it delivered on many of its promises. Now though this franchise has grown old and the constant attempts to modernise and bring the racing "with the times", does'nt work and we are left with the Need for Speed we are now too famialiar with.

One of the main problems with ProStreet isn't in fact the racing physics which manage to be a touch realistic while, sometimes mildly annoying, but EA's lackadaisical attempt at a difficulty curve. The game starts off with you racing stock 240sx's and mildly tuned Golf Gti's, and continues in this manner for much of the game, when nearing the end you come up against Evo X's that are tuned to an extent where they can outrun Veyrons off the starting line, and then EA pummels you with large quantites of races as a sort of cheap and fast way to lengthen the game using churned out tracks you have played previously all to many times.
This gets annoying.

Other areas where this game is let down is the new modes that have again been introduced. Circuit races are now called Grip races, but are essentially the same thing, a twist on the drag race is the Wheelie competition. where the plyer competes to get the longest wheelie, which can take a while to get as tunig the car to add more power comes into play.

However EA have once again come up with the goods in the car department, giving petrol heads quality rather than quantity, I myself being one was again dissapointed to see the car well running dry after only hitting around 65. Tuning them has never been more detailed in a Need for Speed game, allowing you to use a questionably relevant wind tunnell to fine tune your cars aero dynamics, and offering a wealth of engine and handling upgrades for you car.

Graphically this game does'nt look bad on a 360 but it's no flagship for the 360's graphics engine. The game has quite a bit of length and the acheivements and online only help to add depth. Ignoring the annoying difficulty curve and some poor new modes that have been put in again to try to inject more life in the franchise, warrants an overall pleasant racer that should be picked up to any fan of the series, or racing fan in general.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/08

Game Release: Need for Speed ProStreet (EU, 11/23/07)