Better than ProStreet. Worse than most.
Alright, so this is the latest installment in the long running EA series, Need for Speed. Many of the previous games were not as good as they should have been, and Undercover makes no attempt to break this mould.
The game itself is quite entertaining, but it's nowhere near the standard that it should be. Here's why :
Storyline : 3/5
Alright, so the storyline wasn't expected to be good. Racing games normally don't need much of a story, so it's quite acceptable there. What isn't really acceptable is the fact that the story is very similar to every other recent NFS game. What loses the points here is that the cutscenes are ridiculously cheesy. All of the characters play towards the camera as if it's a person, so it certainly sucks you in that way. However, the problem is that most of the characters are stereotypical street racers, and they feel very stiff and forced. As stereotypical as the racers are, they do help draw you into the game.
AI (Civilian) : 4/5
Electronic Arts should be very proud of the AI used in the civilian cars. Rather than just weaving at you, they indicate, and you can predict where they are going to. The AI in this game could be slightly better, but it's far, far better than in previous games.
AI (Opponent) : 3/5
The AI opponents aren't quite as smart as the civilians. The old tactic of pinning them against a wall until they crashed out works just as well as ever. Still, they aren't stupid enough to just start crashing into everything for no reason.
Gameplay : 2/5
The gameplay is where Undercover really falls short. The game doesn't give a very clear indication of what you are meant to do and where you're meant to go. Quite often, you will not appear to be progressing anywhere. This is because you have not done the mission that the game forces you to do. Also, you must run through each area of the Tri-City Bay until it is nearly bone dry before you unlock new missions to complete.
Environment : 3/5
The game takes place in a fictional Tri-City Bay area, and promises lots of white knucle racing through busy streets. The streets of the game are almost empty, and very rarely will you see a single car driving around. Normally they come in groups, and then you have a drought of vehicles to avoid.
Controls : 4/5
The controls in this game are very sharp, and give an almost arcadey feel. Even the new players will be able to handle the game like a pro before too long. The controls are not hyper realistic, but they're not intended to be.
Soundtrack : 5/5
The soundtrack of the game is a truly excellent section. The game is full of artists who you're probably never heard of, but you're bound to enjoy. The soundtrack in this game could be the best reason to pick it up. There are 30 - something songs in the game, and they all seem to go in a very good shuffle. Very rarely will you hear a song, and then hear it almost immediately after.
Verdict
You might buy this game and love it. But you may not. Undercover is a good game, but it might have needed a little more polish before it was shipped. I would normally advise on buying or renting, but this game is so average, there's not really a point to it. 50% liked, and also 50% disliked.
