ProStreet is so far the BEST DS-NEED FOR SPEED

NEED FOR SPEED (NFS) and Nintendo DS (DS) have so far been an odd couple. Electronic Arts has to bring it to its for-profit conversion mania ever missed a technically appealing and well playable DS offshoot of his hit series on the market. After hasty NFS Underground 2 (2005), the catastrophic NFS MOST WANTED (in 2005) and the extremely average NFS Carbon: OWN THE CITY (2006) offered the new concept of NFS ProStreet (2007) the chance an adequate mobile NEED FOR SPEED for Nintendo's console hinged to develop.

The biggest problem with racing games anyway seems to be the weak performance of the DS hardware. The reactions of RIDGE RACER, BURNOUT or Juiced 2 had always neat escape unscathed compared to the Playstation Portable versions. Especially in terms of graphics performance and game speed of DS is the worst possible hardware. For NFS fans, there were the two ASPHALT URBAN parts at least one playing alternative. And also the new Race Driver Grid is doing - technically speaking - good.

Similar to NFS Carbon NFS ProStreet is a good playable racing game. NFS Carbon, however, was too easy, graphically a huge step backwards (by use of outdated BURNOUT LEGENDS engine) and due to the monotonous game play it was very boring. In NFS ProStreet was used a new graphics engine, which reminds discreetly on the now three year old NFS Underground 2. As ProStreet takes place in the streets of a fictitious nocturnal metropolis no longer could be largely dispensed with opulent edge cultivations. This will ultimately benefit the game speed.

After a few practice rounds is already clear: NFS ProStreet is the best ever DS-part of the Need for Speed ​​series. The trappings is consistent, the graphics engine adapted to the capabilities of the DS and the ProStreet setting the large versions been successfully transferred.

However, there is a lack of technical gameplay balancing. Some races are easy to master, while others are covered in difficulty excessively, partly unfair and can not be overcome with some of erspielbaren vehicles. In particular, drag and drift racing lead - the control-matched thank - often acrobatic Fingerverenkungsübungen, especially since the buttons are placed for accelerating, for the gear shift and the Nitro Boost extremely unfavorable. In the options menu, there are only four pre-key assignment options, none of which is really optimal. When set to 1, for example, the acceleration (A Button) is located opposite the nitro boost (Y button). Do I need both, so it often happens that you accidentally pressed the brake (B-button).

A curiosity is the handicap drag races. Here starts the less powerful vehicle earlier and is barely catch. If one possesses but even the inferior race car, so you can draw in peace of mind on the opponent's lane and the later starting thwart opponents skillfully. A secure victory with a very questionable method!

The drift deposits are - as always - a matter of taste. However, in ProStreet are just annoying because the competition is very strong. Who for drifting has nothing left, which should make a detour around this game, because not always you can override this racing version.

DS owners may also re-activate an exclusive mini-game. For the usual vinyl design options and diverse Stylus Spielerein are omitted. In hydraulic "mode you have to match the soundtrack deeds A, B, X and Y press the preset rhythm. The well-known from various music video games gameplay, however, be a bit hectic and does not fit into ProStreet ambience. Rises Again the difficulty very quickly and pushes the game fun experience significantly!

Apart from the mentioned game variations scores this NFS part with a few fresh but also strangely familiar scenario.

Under the price package 'highway' can be found, for example, precisely those from Germany. One of the routes is even modeled after Berlin's A100 city motorway. So the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, the yellow-painted power plant on the southern ring or the ICC are clearly visible. However, one misses a connoisseur of the track real detail. The highway signs are yellow and the route is anything but original. So the trail before the AVUS grandstands and shortly thereafter the Tower of Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (Hohenzollerndamm) past. Even the radio tower the appear consecutively twice! Who also knows the section between Funkturm and Spandauer Damm, which is likely to even the building and the stairs of the S-Bahn station Witzleben notice (or Messe Nord / ICC), which act somewhat surreal in the overall structure of NEED FOR SPEED. The Berlin S-Bahn itself be seen - at least as a 3D object standing in the wrong color.

It's nice to see beyond such racing game cucumbers as the London Racer series a familiar cityscape. On the DS, this shows how the graphics engine to be comparatively detailed, yet quickly. A few graphics Blitzer or popups can however look from time to time. Also, a (very distant) smokescreen and a milky permanent filter appear to be due to the technical peculiarities of the DS. Nintendo64 fans of the first hour could be safely launched in some of the optics in memory.

Overall, you have to pay a compliment to the implementation of the team, kleinen` NEED PRO STREET. You have at least tried to capture the PRO STREET feeling of great variations much detail as possible. Although missing lighting effects, reflections paint, a few details on vehicles and at the surrounding buildings, but for DS ratios can speak of a successful adaptation.

The game in the Quick Reference Guide

+ Good graphics
+ Ordinary car models
+ Good control (Grid)
+ Successful tuning feature
+ Thoughtful enabling function
+ DS-exclusive game mode (hydraulic)
+ Short: the best ever NEED FOR SPEED for DS

-häufige (extended) load times
Control not configurable
-überladene control (Drag, Drift)
-Fahrphysik Some vehicles
-no visible damage model, but
-Damage Affect unrealistic
-Music Is a matter of taste
-nervende Sound Effects
-unausgewogener Difficulty
-unfaire challenges
-DS-Skills are hardly used

EVALUATION

Graphics: 78% Sound: 69% game: 74%

Difficulty: Easy - high

Alternatives: Juiced 2, Race Driver Grid, Asphalt Urban GT 2

CONCLUSION

NEED FOR SPEED - PROSTEET is the hitherto most successful series implementation of the DS. Especially in terms of graphics and sound quality of this part has increased. Unfortunately tarnish a few playful shortcomings the otherwise positive overall picture. The level of difficulty varies irregularly from too easily to too heavy, the damage model is extremely unrealistic, nervous frequent load times and not user-configurable control was not optimal. Something fine-tuning would have this variant well done for sure!