Pimp that ride
I played a preview version, which seemed pretty much finished (although I hear EA may be still tampering with the AI race lines) and jumped straight into a race with a tuner without fine tuning my vehicle. When it comes to driving games I’m not the best, in fact I gave up playing online with PGR3 because everyone else was so damn good, but in Need for Speed Carbon I was able to drive at high speeds through busy streets, weaving in and out of traffic with little effort at all, not once did I crash, spin the car off the road, nor lose control of the vehicle around a tricky corner. Perhaps this was a fluke, so I raced half a dozen races but was able to win each race with no problem at all, and even when a race lasted two or three laps I was able to jump straight ahead of the pack and leave them dead before I’d even reached lap two. Now personally I don’t mind this because my co-ordination isn’t great at the best of times, but I couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t entirely realistic and wondered whether racing fans would totally approve.
Click for larger imageNevertheless, Need for Speed Carbon is supposed to be an arcade racer and its strengths lie in the speed and thrill of the race. The circuit races that I initially played were fairly early on in the game and were quite thrill-less events, but after experimenting with the different game modes on offer it was clear to see that I was looking in the wrong place for my kicks. While circuit racing was one of the low points of a journey into street racing, there were plenty of highlights to make me change my initial view.
Click for larger imageCustomising your vehicle is definitely one of those highlights and Need for Speed Carbon allows you to do everything from tuning your gear ratios for quicker acceleration to tinkling with the grip on your front and rear brakes. The new Autosculp feature enables you to add body kits, spray your car, add spoilers, roof scoops, new wheels and a whole host of other items so that your car. If you’re looking for a certain part for your vehicle you can switch to the map and take a look at the races on offer as each of them provide a breakdown of what you’ll win should you be successful. If you’d prefer to just get on with the racing you don’t need to tamper with your vehicle at all
In Need for Speed Carbon, territories are won and lost by competing in races across the city. Included in the modes available are circuit races, speed traps, the superb race wars, drifting and canyon duels. You can jump to any of these races by opening up the game map and simply clicking on the relevant icon or you can make your way around the streets and choose any race that takes your fancy. As you win races, you’ll gain territory, earn cash, gather new car parts, recruit wheelmen and ultimately progress through the story-line.