Need for Speed: ProStreet is a different kind of racing game for the Need for Speed titles, not different at all however from any typical pro race game.  That’s right! I’m doing a review on a racing game, not because I can, but for variety and to be the first (and probably only) to do so.  This is for any gamers reading that might be interested in picking up a race genre title.  Also don’t mind any low scores I give because I will be reviewing this for the average gamer.

 

Basic plot of this game has a very weak story, but they threw one in there for the heck of it.  Basically there are race kings, and the best racer hates you.  That’s about it…but this ain’t no RPG, if you’re looking for a good story in race games, you’re not gonna find the type of drama you find in NFS:Carbon.  Oh right, I forgot, YOU actually have a NAME.  You are the un-famous Ryan Cooper and you get to hear the announcer repeat your name when you do well in races, or bad, etc. 

This game is about professional racing and completely steps away from the typical ‘underground’ or ‘street’ racing (illegal, no-no! They have plenty of dialogue in the game where they make street racing sound criminal). The cars more or less remain the same but they match for professional racing.  Tuners will still enjoy the game because there are in fact a lot of tuner cars in racing.  All of the tracks looks like legit racing tracks, but this is also a very low for the game because it’s quite boring; there is only a slight variation of environments depending on where you race.

 

If you’re looking to pick up a race game to get into for the first time or you just plain blow at racing titles, don’t be afraid to pick this game up!  Reason I say this is because of the super incredible amazing magnificent awesome handicap!  At least that’s what I call it, NFS calls it driver’s “assist”.  Any of you that stay away from race games because you can’t stay on the track will love this feature.  You can change the setting at any time in the game, even mid race, as to how much the car helps YOU.  That is, the car will actually BRAKE for you (so you don’t break the car…ugh matt joke), and the Active Stability Management system will help you from spinning out.

The system is so helpful that you can literally play the game just like the rest of NFS titles, full throttle! Never touch the break, and you don’t have to use the walls!  This feature is definitely aimed for the newby racer, and/or in my opinion, they threw this in the game to introduce NFS fans to more realistic racing.  This game jumps back from the typical unrealistic speed dynamics, and steps into the real world where you have to brake…a lot.  I’m thinking they were afraid of the negative effects it was to have on NFS fans who are use to not braking or using the walls to slow down.  Anyway, you can feel safe racing in this game as it makes it easy, and you can even take down some of the assists when you improve (if you would like to do that).  Now, if there happens to be a racing fanatic who plays games like Gran Turismo or Toca Race Simulators, I highly recommend turning ALL assists OFF.  I guarantee you that you will not make one lap with the assists on as you will want to brake for yourself.

Again, you don’t have to be good at racing games to play this one so don’t fret!  If you are thinking about racing games at all, give this one at least a rent if you feel the need to do some professional like racing.  Also, veterans to race genres will love the combination of NFS + Professional racing.  Vets can go nuts on things they will know like how to tune the car and enter different racing tournaments as well as tuning the vehicle for the specific events such as circuit, drifting, drag, wheelie challenge, top speed run.

Great things about this game are the graphics and sound quality (PS2).  Graphics make the cars rendered very nice and the environments pretty real.  Sound is a great compliment to the game as well.  Any racing gamer plays racing games to feel out of control, crave their “need for speed” right?  Well, sound quality actually plays a major part in doing so, as hearing a real recorded engine climb in RPM and realistic sounding tire skidding (no horrible computer noises like in GranTurismo) will make you more closely feel like you are actually racing and get the pressure going for some intense moments!

 

Graphics: 8/10

As I said, SUPERB graphics!  I rate this a couple notches low however due to the dull environments which can get old pretty fast.  Sure, they made most of the tracks different, but there is only a handful of different environments in which you race.

 

Sound: 9/10

Absolute greatness in sound quality.  Real race sound recordings make for a great racing game.  Music isn’t that awful and has a couple genres on the jukebox.  No bad voice actors either!  Just might not sell to those who get annoyed with announcers easily.

 

Gameplay: 6/10

For me, I had great fun playing this game, but I’m a race-aholic. And this is more up my ally with professional side of racing.  However, professional racing can get rather boring after milking all the hours of enjoyable gameplay as you can out of your fifty bucks.  If you’re looking for a race game that is FUN, pick up a copy of NFS:Carbon because I can’t think in the history of racing, what is more fun than drifting down a winding canyon 2-laner with no guard rails while listening to loud Japanese war drums. I can honestly say if you aren’t into racing games at all, you would definitely not wish to play this game.  If you occasionally play racing games, you may enjoy it for a while.  Only if you are a race game collector will you fully enjoy this game until the end.

 

Overall: 6/10

Not that impressive, at least not in too many things to rate it any higher.  I found it worth a play through and worth the money, but it would be hard pressed to appeal to many gamers out there.

-Meth