Though it’s indisputable thatNeed for Speedhas been a leader of the racing genre since its inception, most fans would agree thatNeed for Speed Undergroundand its sequel were true standout stars for the series and are in dire need of a remaster. Among the dozens ofNeed for Speedtitles, only a few have succeeded in becoming fan favorites, including the likes ofNeed for Speed Hot Pursuitand its sequel orNeed for Speed Most Wanted.But with its upcomingNeed for Speed Unboundseemingly hearkening back to the series' older games, it seems EA is returning to the series' roots.
This means there has never been a better time for a remake collection of bothUndergroundgames. The original games' success is believed by fans to have been caused by “right time, right place” circumstances, and in hindsight they both are perfect representations of the cultural background they were influenced by. But beyond this, building on the success of the series, including its predecessorHot Pursuit 2, theUndergroundgames brought fresh ideas that reinvigoratedNeed for Speed. It would therefore be a missed opportunity to not tap into the remake scene afterUnboundby starting with these fan favorites.
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Nostalgia for Need for Speed Underground
Compared to otherNeed for Speedgames, theUndergroundgames have a distinctive aesthetic and tone that sets them apart from the series. Between burgeoning movie series likeThe Fast and Furiousto the mainstream embrace of musical genres like rap and hip-hop, bothUndergroundgames can be seen as emblematic of the cultural backdrop they were released to. With a strong emphasis on street racing, vehicle customization akin to the likes of MTV’sPimp My Ride,and a soundtrack brimming with prominent rap, hip-hop, EDM, and more,Undergroundand its sequel are snapshots of the turn of the century.
Much of this is what fans argue makes these games so memorable and beloved acrossNeed for Speedplayers. Though many celebrate the likes ofMost Wantedas the series' greatest game, most if not all fans can agree that theUndergroundgames were breaths of fresh air, capitalizing on the cultural trends and delivering new gameplay experiences beyond traditional racing, such as game modes focused on drifting or drag races. As a result, these games are among the most well-known for the series and would be the perfect choice for a remake collection that tapped into fans' nostalgia.
Why a Need for Speed Underground Remake Makes Sense
Though there have been various remasters and reboots in the series' history,Need for Speedhasn’t seemed interested in keeping pace with the rest of the gaming industry and releasing remakes of its most successful games. So whileFinal FantasyandResident Evilride the momentum of the remake trend, it seems as good a time as any forNeed for Speedto finally do the same. Conveniently, as such a long-standing series,Need for Speedhas a wealth of games to choose as the recipient of an overhaul for modern gaming systems.
Given that the likes ofHot PursuitandMost Wantedhave already seen multiple interpretations acrossNeed for Speed’shistory, theUndergroundgames serve as ideal candidatesfor a remake in terms of popularity and value. Not only are the games among the series' oldest and most demanded by fans for a remake, but EA could kill two birds with one stone by combining both games into one release either as separate games to play or merging the two together to form an updated, all-encompassingNeed for Speed Undergroundgame with new vehicles, music artists and songs, all with expanded gameplay modes and stories.
Need for Speed Undergroundreleased in 2003 for GameCube, PC, PS2, and Xbox.
