Need For Speed: Carbon PC comments

MW was a big step up from UG and UG2. The graphics were awsome, phisics were awsome, storyline was awsome, the whole game was awsome! This is when they got overconfident and blew it! The drift system sucks, the cops suck, and the graphics didn't really wow anyone and I found the game had anoyingly shiny graphics on my PC. It is basicly a munted attempt at a better Most Wanted. and dont get me started on Undercover!

NFS Carbon is cool because the things that you must do are chalenging

"Need 4 Speed Carbon" is basically an 'almost' hybrid mix of Most Wanted and Underground. If you bought this game for it to have ALL the features of Most Wanted AND Underground, you wasted your money. Just go back and play those games again.
When you start, you have to decide what "mode", I guess you'd call it, You would like to start in; Tuner, Exotic, or Muscle. Each one has it's own pros and cans (Tuners=Handling, Exotics=Top Speed, Muscles=Acceleration). Whatever they excel at, they're not gonna be very good at the other two; generally. I don't really get this concept, because once you start getting into the game, you can get any kind of car you want. The only thing it does is change the unlock order of certain cars, parts, and people, but nothing else.
As far as the canyon duels go, it's a very unique idea that I like, and 'IF' you're actually decent at racing games, you shouldn't have a problem with them. I think there are 7 total duels, a few drifts, and a few races (but you can't fall off in the 4 car races). I've read post after post of people whining because you can fall off the ledge in duel and drift and it's an instant loss for them. These are the same people that don't know racing games have a brake button and just race through every level rubbing against the walls and smashing through anything in their way.
The only downside to the game is its difficulty, it's just way, way too easy (no difficulty setting harder). However, they did implement a reward cards feature (i.e. ram 100 police cars in a single pursuit, whew), but just a few of these rewards can be used in career mode; as that would allow for a greater replay value. I don't know about you guys, but I've personally never jumped on ANY Need 4 Speed game and wanted to race just one race for the heck of it, and am thankful it was a Quick Race function, which is where most of your rewards go.
NFS also revamped their drifting system. Which, although has its own little quirks, is much better than the previous ones. Umm, 1,000,000 points going 20 mph in 1st gear in the other one's was a joke. The Much Needed difference in this one is if you don't go fast you're more than likely not going to reach your goal. A major drawback to it is that if/when you hit a wall, you get to keep the points you accumulated until then; which just adds more to the "too easy" factor. Another thing is that there will be times where you hit a wall but the game doesn't recognize it, and just allows the drift to continue as if you didn't.
All in all, if you're looking for a new Need 4 Speed, nothing less, nothing more, this will suit you fine. If you're expecting a breakthrough BEST NEED 4 SPEED EVER, then that's kind of stretching it. It's a good game for what it's supposed to be. :)

Bio

P.S. As of 01/04/07, they haven't released a patch yet to prevent the random 'crashes' (pun intended :p ) to desktop. So save and save often; don't relie on Autosave.

The canyon crap is cumbersome is stupid. Having to go back 3 races every time is overkill.