Just an FYI to avoid this most frustrating NFS title of all time. In fact is in the running for the most frustrating game of all time for me. It heralds the return of the "rubber band AI" but this time without any way of disabling it. For instance each race has an optional, record time limit which, if you beat it, yields extra stuff. This is similar to getting a gold medal instead of a silver or bronze in the license tests of the Gran Turismo series. However the AI is somehow able to beat you by 3-4 seconds on a 2.5-minute course even if you're leading by 3-4 seconds on the last checkpoint even though you shattered the record time by a whopping 20 seconds! And the traffic you weave through? When the AI cars are in "catch up" mode they can just plow right through traffic and make cars fly off them without losing a single MPH. This game is aimed at people who don't know how to race. If you do too well you're rewarded with a series of seemingly impossible challenges. However the cop races (get away, damage to state, and cop takedown) are still a bit of fun, but not for a $60 game. Wait until it comes out in Greatest Hits. I think I'll just wait until GT5 comes out.
NFS last great release was Hot Pursuit 2. Just crap after that. I remember when the very first one came out on the PC. Good times... I've since moved-on to the true successor, which is Midnight Club 2 and on. Great racing, and good soundtracks! If I'm in the mood to drive rough, I'll put in Burnout 3 or Rallisport Challenge.
