Japanese SHA_DO version of NFS Underground 2 with some adjustments for the Japanese market. The same excellent open-world racing gameplay and generous customisation as international Underground 2. For Japanese players wanting the Underground 2 experience in their language.
Your verdict
Category
Racing4 players3+
Split screen
Description
Japanese edition of Underground 2 by EA Square Japan released in 2005, distributed under the "SHA_DO" subtitle. Same open-world tuning mechanics as the international version, with extra Japanese cars (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Subaru WRX bonus) and full localization of menus and radio. The definitive Japanese version.
Need for Speed - Underground 2 - SHA_DO review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Urban nights, neon reflected on the bodywork and gleaming tuning: street racing takes on the air of a turbocharged nocturnal clip. Saturated colours and wet asphalt compose an electric aesthetic instantly recognisable. This visual identity, vibrant and stylish, defined a whole era of the genre.
A dive into nocturnal tuning, the game rolls out a licensed selection of rock, electro and hip-hop that matches the neon speed of the underground races. The nervy tracks spike the adrenaline of the drifts and the nitrous. This supercharged soundtrack, perfectly in tune with the urban aesthetic, marked a whole generation of drivers.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The sequel opens a whole city to roam freely, at night, where you dig out races, garages and challenges as the mood takes you. The deep customisation and the freedom to cruise multiply the immersion. Tearing through the neon-lit streets delivers an instant rush. Stylish, generous and furiously cool, an arcade racer that brilliantly extends the legend.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Roaming an open city by night to turn up races and shops and then pushing your car's customization to the extreme clearly extends the series' tuning loop. Climbing your reputation and unlocking parts revives the urge to explore. The backtracking weighs on the pace, but this nocturnal freedom and this deep customization stay durably gripping.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Cruising a nocturnal city to build your ride's reputation unfolds a racer brimming with tuning and free exploration. Customising to the extreme, winning the events and ferreting out the hidden shops fills long hours. That depth of customisation, married to the street vibe, founds a longevity racing fans cultivate.
Technical info
💾1,4 GB📅14/07/2005
Published by Electronic Arts
Need for Speed - Underground 2 - SHA_DO (PS2) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
A Japanese variant of Need for Speed Underground 2 stamped SHA_DO, a peculiar local version of the tuning sequel scarcely present outside Japan. This specific packaging and confidential run make it a niche object for collectors of the franchise's singular Japanese editions. Its desirability owes to this regional peculiarity rather than the game alone.
Is Need for Speed - Underground 2 - SHA_DO still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2 and known in the West as Need for Speed - Underground 2, Electronic Arts' project deepens the formula of the first entry by opening it into a freely explorable city, Bayview, where you reach the races by cruising at night. The customisation hits new heights, with bodywork, neons, hydraulics and sound systems that turn each car into a showcase. The sense of speed, the drifting and the tuning culture stay at the heart of the experience. The repetition of the objectives and an invasive product placement grate. A milestone of two thousands arcade racing.
