Need for Speed Retrospective #6

Over the last couple of entries in the series, the story mode has become the centerpiece of any Need for Speed game. Yet somehow it's this title's biggest miss. There's no real sense of progression and the required tracks are often extremely long, feeling somewhat samey and uneventful. Were they trying too hard to become 'realistic'?

Other than that, the handling feels great, the graphics are nice and the strong police AI requires meaningful tactical decisions from the player. I remain a little on the fence about this one.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit II is an exciting racing video game that offers numerous positive aspects. Among its strengths, the game stands out for its wide selection of cars and tracks, allowing players to customize their driving experiences. Additionally, the game provides the option to use their own soundtracks during gameplay, enhancing immersion and providing a unique sense of ownership. The mode involving police pursuits is particularly enjoyable, adding adrenaline and tension. In terms of graphics, the game boasts excellent visual depth and the absence of issues like clipping and aliasing.
However, there are also some limitations to consider. The initial difficulty level may be too easy for experienced players, and the sense of speed is only felt when exceeding 200 km/h, which may disappoint those seeking a feeling of speed right from the start. Additionally, occasional slowdowns may occur, even in less complex action situations, compromising the gaming experience.
Despite these limitations, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit II remains an engaging experience for racing game enthusiasts. The wide selection of cars and tracks, the ability to personalize the soundtrack, and the police pursuit mode add fun and challenge to the game. Despite the slowdowns and the initial difficulty level, the excellent visual depth contributes to a visually rewarding experience.

Something has happened to your world
Can you imagine you could
There's too much pressure on you now
Why would you ever throw away
What's been given to you
Wake up and nothing's even there
Now you're falling too far away
It is hard
Sit inside your wall of shame
Believing what's forgotten
You make it hard to find the world
Sit inside your wall of shame
And nothing even matters
What can you say but I'm to blame
When trouble lingers on you mind
You wait, but dig in deeper
There's no more room for honesty
Breathe in the vapors of your lies
Just when you're choking on them
These thoughts are spinning around your head
Now you're falling too far away
It is hard
Sit inside your wall of shame
Believing what's forgotten
You make it hard to find the world
Sit inside your wall of shame
And nothing even matters
What can you say but I'm to blame
Now you're falling too far away
It is hard
Sit inside your wall of shame
Believing what's forgotten
You make it hard to find the world
Sit inside your wall of shame
And nothing even matters
What can you say but I'm to blame

The biggest drawback to this game is its padded length. Some of the later events consist of 24 laps of racing. It doesn't help that there are two separate campaigns. After I finished the Hot Pursuit campaign, I considered the game finished. There was no way I was going to go through the same experience in the World Racing campaign, minus the police chases.

Other than that, the game itself holds up really well - especially the PS2 version. The handling model feels a little heavy at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to it.

The tracks are the absolute highlight. They are fun to drive around in and there are plenty of shortcuts to take. I wish the series would ditch the open world and go back to this track model.

As for the police chases, they are fun, but the cops have a massive advantage over the racers. They have infinite speed boosts, can set up roadblocks and call in helicopters to carpet bomb everyone on the road. As a racer, you have no way to defend yourself. I'm glad they've addressed this in the newer games.

Overall, I'd still recommend it to fans of the series, and fans of racing games in general. Just don't feel compelled to sit through the padded campaign.

Uh uh?
Wha wha?
Zoom boom boom boom,
Uh?
Wha wha?
Uh uh?
One on one,
Two on one,
Three on one,
Add one for fun!
Ya gotta flicky flicky flick flick flicky flick yo tongue,
Ya run it straight across her belly through her cooch and down her bum,
You could be the pony boy you could be the one,
You drive it like a semi to the setting summer sun,
Gettin' off just like the traffic at the local exit ramp,
Notice that the weather in the region getting damp,
Ya want to mail the letter,
Ya gotta lick the stamp,
Not once not twice,
But three times damn!
Pretty!
Wah!
See that!
Cha!
She go she go she go she goin' down on it,
We go we go we go we goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
He go he go he go he goin' down on it,
Who go who go who go who goin' down on it,
You go you go you go you goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
What side westside was your best side!
Wait a minute!
Lookout lookout!
Cha!
Uh uh,
Black on white,
White on black,
Used to love a black chick,
She loved me back,
Say wiggy wiggy wig wig,
Wiggy wiggy wack,
The big 'ol bouncin' boobies give your grandpa heartattack,
You run it through the front door but you leavin' through the back,
You jumpin' over fences and you almost rip your sack,
You suckin' down the juices like your favorite flavor tang,
The lover aborigine the baby boomerang,
The coochie be the kryptonite and you be supermang,
Wassup cussup now dizza dizza wang!
See that!
Cha!
Pretty!
Wah!
She go she go she go she goin' down on it,
He go he go he go he goin' down on it,
She go she go she go she goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
Who go who go who go who goin' down on it,
We go we go we go we goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
What side westside you go down on it!
Wait a minute!
Lookout lookout!
Cha!
Whoo!
Uh uh?
Zoom boom boom boom,
Uh uh?
Wuh wuh wuh wuh
This is the acid rock section of the song,
All you burned out acid hippies singin' along,
With your campfires goin' and your barbecues on,
With your cold beer campfires sing it along,
Hey!
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
Hey!
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
c'mon hey!
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
Hey!
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
(Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah),
Lookout!
Wait a minute!
Lookout lookout!
What's that?
Cha!
One on one,
Two on one,
Three on one,
Add one for fun!
Ya gotta flicky flicky flick flick flicky flick yo tongue,
Ya run it straight across her belly through her cooch and down her bum,
You could be the pony boy you could be the one,
You drive it like a semi to the setting summer sun,
Gettin' off just like the traffic at the local exit ramp,
Notice that the weather in the region getting damp,
Ya want to mail the letter,
Ya gotta lick the stamp,
Not once not twice,
But three times damn!
See that!
Wah!
Pretty!
Cha!
She go she go she go she goin' down on it,
He go he go he go he goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
Who go who go who go who goin' down on it,
You go you go you go you goin' down on it,
We go we go we go we goin' down on it,
They go they go they go they goin' down on it,
She go she go she go she goin' down on it!
Wait a minute!
Lookout lookout!
Cha!