Underground sequel with a complete open world to explore between races. More cars, more customization, larger city. The Underground formula at its peak. Superior to the first in almost every way. A racing must on Xbox.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player3+
Description
Sequel to Underground with the open city of Bayview to explore freely, new vehicle categories including SUVs, and even deeper customization. Published by EA Games, released in 2004 in the United States and Europe. Features an open world with neighborhoods to unlock, over 40 licensed cars including 4x4s, closed-event URL races, a rock-electronic soundtrack, and over 200 tuning options.
Need for Speed - Underground 2 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The game ends in a photo session: the finished car is placed against a studio backdrop, lit from several angles, and the chosen shot goes onto the cover of a reconstructed magazine complete with layout and headlines. All the tuning is therefore justified retrospectively by that final image rather than by performance.
The mix aims at physical bass rather than clarity: the low end is pushed until the subwoofer vibrates, and entering a tunnel abruptly cuts the treble to let the engine's reverberation build against the walls. That play on the acoustics of a place matters more than the track selection itself.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾5,7 GB📅19/11/2004
Published by Electronic Arts
Need for Speed - Underground 2 (Xbox) price, value & rarity
Is Need for Speed - Underground 2 still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to the EA phenomenon, Need for Speed Underground 2 opens a free roaming city you cruise at night looking for races, while pushing the visual and mechanical customisation of the cars even further. The freedom of exploration, the depth of the tuning and the enriched neon mood win over street racing fans. The driving stays very arcade and the product placement is everywhere. An excellent racing game for fans of tuning and mid 2000s nocturnal urban runs.
