MEMBER PROFILE FOR McGuireV10
Average Overall Score Given: 7.00000 / 10
Total Forum Posts: 0
Reviews
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Overall: The overall quality is medium, as you'd expect from a PS2 port, but I liked it enough to buy it after renting it. Hot Pursuit mode is far better than the original NFS:HP in that the cops no longer posses "magic powers" -- they have to actually stop you by force. We were very disappointed to find that you have to "buy" just about everything -- even individual variations on the tracks (mirror, reverse, etc). Also the helicopter dropping bombs is a bit silly. VERY disappointed that the replay doesn't let you change camera angles -- if I remember correctly, the very first NFS was the game that added this capability to driving games in the first place! Overall, the game is hugely entertaining though.Gameplay: It gives you a decent sensation of speed. Handling characteristics vary from car to car, but I can't call them even a little bit realistic. It's your typical video-gamey squirrely sliding car game. The extremely long tracks really add to the replay value though. There are very few spots where upcoming turns are hard to see -- a common problem in many driving games.
Graphics: Mediocre, as it's a PS2 port. The cars are low poly, the framerate isn't jerky but it isn't terribly impressive. No exciting effects to mention. The cars look decent, but inaccurate in the small details (the Benz is about two feet too long, heh heh).
Audio: In a nutshell, the sound sucks. This has probably the WORST engine sounds I've ever heard in an XBOX title. However, after awhile you get used to it and sort of tune it out. Also, it appears to have the same old audio bugs that first appeared in the NFS:PU game on the PC -- mainly that the sound level won't reset right after tunnels or other environmental changes. The game does allow you to play your own ripped albums, which is nice.
Suggestions: More polys on the models, this isn't a Sony. Add camera controls to replay. Fix the sound, and while you're at it, go listen to some actual engines.
Overall Score: 7.0 / 10
