Need for Speed: Carbon - Review
Added November 14th, 2006 by Kisan Parikh
Introduction:
Around this time last year, gamers were introduced to the first next-gen installment of EA’s Need for Speed franchise. Most Wanted included a police chase element which added much needed pizzazz to a genre that was quickly becoming repetitive. Need for Speed Carbon utilizes a few new features and implements a new type of career mode to help keep things fresh. However, is Carbon just a slightly modified version of Most Wanted? Read on to find out.
Gameplay:
The bulk of Need for Speed Carbon’s single player experience involves the Career Mode. The story unravels right in the middle of an all out war for territory control in the city. You are presented with the task of claiming rival neighborhoods piece by piece by winning races on each block. Once you become a threat to the dominant crew of that territory, the races shift to Carbon Canyon, where the fate of the territory is decided. The basic structure of the game is backed by plenty of cut scenes, featuring the mix of live action and in-game backdrops seen in Most Wanted. Most of the acting is fairly cheesy, making the mysterious backgrounds of the characters seem forced, but the story provides a nice premise for the game.
Besides a new presentation style for the game, EA has also added a new class of car. In addition to Exotic and Tuner, good old American muscle is featured in its full V8 glory. These cars, such as the Mustang GT and Camaro SS, are top notch when it comes to acceleration but feel like 18 wheelers when you go into a turn. All three of the car classes have distinct advantages and disadvantages, adding a bit of depth to car selection. Carbon also classifies cars as Tiers I through III, with Tier I cars being the lower end vehicles. Need for Speed Carbon will definitely satisfy car buffs with everything including: BMW’s M3, Chevy’s Camaro Concept, Camaro SS, Dodge’s Charger R/T, the Lotus Elise, Lamborghini Gallardo, and much more. Carbon has 46 cars in all, with the possibility of more coming via Downloadable Content.Around this time last year, gamers were introduced to the first next-gen installment of EA’s Need for Speed franchise. Most Wanted included a police chase element which added much needed pizzazz to a genre that was quickly becoming repetitive. Need for Speed Carbon utilizes a few new features and implements a new type of career mode to help keep things fresh. However, is Carbon just a slightly modified version of Most Wanted? Read on to find out.
Gameplay:
The bulk of Need for Speed Carbon’s single player experience involves the Career Mode. The story unravels right in the middle of an all out war for territory control in the city. You are presented with the task of claiming rival neighborhoods piece by piece by winning races on each block. Once you become a threat to the dominant crew of that territory, the races shift to Carbon Canyon, where the fate of the territory is decided. The basic structure of the game is backed by plenty of cut scenes, featuring the mix of live action and in-game backdrops seen in Most Wanted. Most of the acting is fairly cheesy, making the mysterious backgrounds of the characters seem forced, but the story provides a nice premise for the game.
Each of these cars will be fully customizable using EA’s new Autosculpt feature. Using simple sliders, you can change wheels, hoods, bumpers, and just about anything else. Of course, you will also be allowed to purchase performance upgrades to apply at your Safe House. These upgrades, both visual and performance, are unlocked as you win races.
The actual racing isn’t too much different than it has been in the past. One new addition is the crew that will accompany you throughout Career Mode. The three types of crew members are blockers, drafters, and scouts. Blockers ram opponents out of your way, drafters give you a boost of speed as you execute a slingshot maneuver (Ricky Bobby’s shake ‘n bake), and scouts show you the way through shortcuts. The crew element isn’t wonderfully executed and often forgotten during races. They are rarely needed due to the generally low difficulty of Career Mode. Other than that, Carbon only features minor tweaks.
The race modes of Need for Speed Carbon are fairly similar to that of prior NFS titles. You will see the return of circuit, sprint, checkpoint, and speedtrap; however, drag has been omitted in favor of drift. Drift races, filled with tight turns, are entertaining enough, but it’s a good thing that they do not occur too often. Each of these race types can be done on the Canyon, which adds the element of a deadly fall, something that seems borrowed from the end of the movie Need for Speed: Tokyo Drift. The variety of race modes is solid, and gamers can always engage in a pursuit when things become boring.
Pursuits in Carbon occur after races, or whenever you speed by a cop in Free Roam mode. They are less emphasized than in Most Wanted, but they are still tons of fun. Allowing you to unlock items, pursuits follow the same basic pattern of Most Wanted. You try to elude the cops, using Pursuit Breakers or quick turns to slow them down. In single player the X button still activates Speed Breaker, which allows you to slow down time and execute a very tight turn.
All in all, playing Carbon is fun, although not incredibly exciting or groundbreaking. The new aspects of the title such as canyon racing and taking over the city are good in their own right, but the only major in-game change is rather unsatisfying.
Graphics:
Need for Speed Carbon has a much different look than Most Wanted. This time, the game is set in darker, city streets that are similar to those of Underground 1 & 2. Street lights and buildings are given a great looking blur effect as you race, really emphasizing the breakneck speeds that you are reaching. While you can’t compare the visuals to top Xbox 360 titles, Carbon features a good amount of detail, with car models being a highlight. The title runs fairly smoothly, with minor hitches every once in a while. Cut-scenes are made especially interesting, and sometimes cheesy, by the mix of real and graphical footage. Basically, Carbon looks good visually, although it is not nearly the best looking racing title on 360.
The actual racing isn’t too much different than it has been in the past. One new addition is the crew that will accompany you throughout Career Mode. The three types of crew members are blockers, drafters, and scouts. Blockers ram opponents out of your way, drafters give you a boost of speed as you execute a slingshot maneuver (Ricky Bobby’s shake ‘n bake), and scouts show you the way through shortcuts. The crew element isn’t wonderfully executed and often forgotten during races. They are rarely needed due to the generally low difficulty of Career Mode. Other than that, Carbon only features minor tweaks.
The race modes of Need for Speed Carbon are fairly similar to that of prior NFS titles. You will see the return of circuit, sprint, checkpoint, and speedtrap; however, drag has been omitted in favor of drift. Drift races, filled with tight turns, are entertaining enough, but it’s a good thing that they do not occur too often. Each of these race types can be done on the Canyon, which adds the element of a deadly fall, something that seems borrowed from the end of the movie Need for Speed: Tokyo Drift. The variety of race modes is solid, and gamers can always engage in a pursuit when things become boring.
Pursuits in Carbon occur after races, or whenever you speed by a cop in Free Roam mode. They are less emphasized than in Most Wanted, but they are still tons of fun. Allowing you to unlock items, pursuits follow the same basic pattern of Most Wanted. You try to elude the cops, using Pursuit Breakers or quick turns to slow them down. In single player the X button still activates Speed Breaker, which allows you to slow down time and execute a very tight turn.
All in all, playing Carbon is fun, although not incredibly exciting or groundbreaking. The new aspects of the title such as canyon racing and taking over the city are good in their own right, but the only major in-game change is rather unsatisfying.
Graphics:
Need for Speed Carbon has a much different look than Most Wanted. This time, the game is set in darker, city streets that are similar to those of Underground 1 & 2. Street lights and buildings are given a great looking blur effect as you race, really emphasizing the breakneck speeds that you are reaching. While you can’t compare the visuals to top Xbox 360 titles, Carbon features a good amount of detail, with car models being a highlight. The title runs fairly smoothly, with minor hitches every once in a while. Cut-scenes are made especially interesting, and sometimes cheesy, by the mix of real and graphical footage. Basically, Carbon looks good visually, although it is not nearly the best looking racing title on 360.
Audio:
Carbon features the action-packed sound that you would expect from a NFS title. Engines roar appropriately, with cars having distinct sounds. The crashes, revs, and screeches add a bit to the personality of each car as well as the excitement. However, the game sounds a bit too screechy, which got on my nerves after a while. Voice acting in cut-scenes is, again, a bit cheesy, but it is well done all the same. Overall, the sound in Carbon is over-the-top and well done for the most part, but it could use a bit less screech.
Controls:
Need for Speed Carbon features a fairly standard racing control layout, which works perfectly. The triggers control acceleration and braking, A controls the E-brake, B allows you to boost, and X controls Speedbreaker. The new crew system is easily managed using the Y button, keeping things nice and simple. Things seem to work with the control scheme, and each car handles differently, giving the game a more natural feel.
Replay:
The Career Mode in Carbon offers a maximum of 15 hours of gameplay; however there are a number of other features to keep you occupied. First, Challenge Series allows you to play either alone or Co-op as you attempt to beat gold events. The racing modes are just about the same as in Career Mode, with the addition of Race Wars, the massive 20 driver race. Online gameplay is definitely beefed up compared to years past. This time, you are able to play in Pursuit Tag and Pursuit Knockout, which are exclusive online modes. Pursuit Tag involves 1 racer avoiding all other gamers, who are cops. Pursuit Knockout is a standard race where the last place car in each lap becomes a cop. You earn points as a cop by ramming the players who are still racing. These two modes are tons of fun, and EA did a good job of including pursuits in Xbox Live Modes.
Carbon features the action-packed sound that you would expect from a NFS title. Engines roar appropriately, with cars having distinct sounds. The crashes, revs, and screeches add a bit to the personality of each car as well as the excitement. However, the game sounds a bit too screechy, which got on my nerves after a while. Voice acting in cut-scenes is, again, a bit cheesy, but it is well done all the same. Overall, the sound in Carbon is over-the-top and well done for the most part, but it could use a bit less screech.
Controls:
Need for Speed Carbon features a fairly standard racing control layout, which works perfectly. The triggers control acceleration and braking, A controls the E-brake, B allows you to boost, and X controls Speedbreaker. The new crew system is easily managed using the Y button, keeping things nice and simple. Things seem to work with the control scheme, and each car handles differently, giving the game a more natural feel.
Replay:
The Career Mode in Carbon offers a maximum of 15 hours of gameplay; however there are a number of other features to keep you occupied. First, Challenge Series allows you to play either alone or Co-op as you attempt to beat gold events. The racing modes are just about the same as in Career Mode, with the addition of Race Wars, the massive 20 driver race. Online gameplay is definitely beefed up compared to years past. This time, you are able to play in Pursuit Tag and Pursuit Knockout, which are exclusive online modes. Pursuit Tag involves 1 racer avoiding all other gamers, who are cops. Pursuit Knockout is a standard race where the last place car in each lap becomes a cop. You earn points as a cop by ramming the players who are still racing. These two modes are tons of fun, and EA did a good job of including pursuits in Xbox Live Modes.
Summary:
EA’s Need for Speed Carbon is a decent title that is a step forward for the series. There is nothing remarkable about it, but Carbon will provide some good fun with its Career Mode and great online options. NFS Fans should at least give this game a rental along with racing fans who need something new to play.
EA’s Need for Speed Carbon is a decent title that is a step forward for the series. There is nothing remarkable about it, but Carbon will provide some good fun with its Career Mode and great online options. NFS Fans should at least give this game a rental along with racing fans who need something new to play.
