Need
for Speed Carbon is this fall’s entry in EA’s long-running racing franchise, and
it takes the race back to the city streets. More of an evolution than a
reinvention of the series, Carbon carries on the feel of the Underground games
released a few years ago, emphasizing city-street racing and tuning. Carbon also
adds some new concepts to the formula, some that work and some that don’t.
However, all things considered, NFS Carbon is a solid entry that brings some
great ideas and concepts to the series and would be a worthy addition to your
fledging PS3 library if you’re a fan of the series or racing games in general.
Need
for Speed’s storyline is told completely through stylized involving real human
actors done in front of a green screen. The highly stylized look is reminiscent
of films like Sin-City, and generally fit in with the feel of the game’s
graphical presentation. The gist of the storyline involves your character
returning to the city after a long absence in order to settle some scores and
regain your respect after some shady events culminated in your departure,
leaving a lot of people suspicious of you.
You
play the game in order to regain your personal respect one territory at a time.
You regain sections of the map by completing races of several varieties. Each
section of the map is composed of three or so races, and once you beat those
races you’ll gain special unlockables, like special car customizations.
Once
you beat enough sections, you’ll gain the opportunity to do a boss battle where
you race against the leader of the gang that controls the territory. If you beat
him or her, you’ll gain control of the territory. There are a total of four territories to
take over.
In
Carbon, you’ll also have access to some extra help. Your wingmen will help you a
lot in your races, as they’ll be able to block opponents for you, help you draft
and slingshot past your competition or scout out shortcuts that you can take.
While the blockers are generally the most useful, the other two categories
aren’t so helpful. Drafting is essentially a bust, since you never will find a
section long enough for you to gain enough speed to actually make it go in your
favor, and scouts are pretty much only a real help if they’re in front of you.
Another
new element in the game is the drifting mode. Drifting basically has you going
through a set course gaining points for sustaining speed and performing combos
while drifting. This mode could’ve been done better, since very little realistic
skill is required to do well in this section (you don’t actually even have to
hit the brakes to drift in certain parts).
One
element that is exclusive to the PS3 version is the use of the SIXAXIS
controllers. The game makes good use of the controller’s motion-sensing
abilities, albeit in a more ancillary way than most games. By tilting it in the
direction of the turn as you’re going into it, it will give you a bit more
leverage in the curve and an added boost in handling. It feels very natural and
unforced and adds a new element to the game’s physics.
Need
for Speed Carbon looks pretty good on the PS3, but seems to be lacking the same
polished look as its Xbox 360 counterpart. While the textures are a bit sharper
in this version and the framerate stays pretty consistent, the special effects,
like the motion blur when you pick up some serious speed, look pretty ugly. Some
of the lighting effects also seem a little half-baked.
Soundwise, the game fairs pretty well, with some great effects and a really good
soundtrack composed of some great songs that set the tone for the game and never
get in the way.
Need
for Speed Carbon is a solid entry to the series, with some great gameplay
elements and makes good use of the SIXAXIS controllers tilt functionality. Check
it out if you’re a fan of the series.
|
Review Scoring Details for Need for Speed Carbon |
Gameplay: 8.0
Need for Speed
Carbon offers up some cool new features and brings the gameplay back to the
city. The SIXAXIS controller is used well, adding a new element to the driving
physics. Some parts of the gameplay are hit and miss.
Graphics: 7.5
NFS Carbon
features some pretty nice textures and car models and moves at a pretty solid
framerate, but lacks in overall polish. The special effects are poorly
implemented.
Sound: 8.5
Carbon is a great
sounding game, with a good soundtrack and some solid effects.
Difficulty:
Medium/Hard
Multiplayer: 7.5
The online racing
features are fairly par for the course.
Concept: 8.0
The story is told
through the use of stylized-FMV cutscenes, and fits in well with the neon-laced
aesthetic.
Overall: 8.0
Carbon is a solid
entry to the series with cool features and a great sense of style and unique
controls thanks to the PS3’s SIXAXIS motion sensor abilities.
