GENRE
	Racing
	DEVELOPER
	EA Canada
	PUBLISHER
	EA Games
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
	BUY NOW AT

There certainly is a lot to be said about EA, but of all things, at least they're supporting the GameCube on its last legs. Granted, the version of Need for Speed: Carbon that just hit the GC is one of around a dozen or so, but stalwarts who haven't gone Wii should be thankful for anything more than Zelda this year. Live it up Cube-gleaners, Need for Speed: Nitrogen probably won't be showing up on any purple lunchboxes in 2007.

visuals

In the wake of the next-gen hullaballoo, booting up Carbon and being greeted by a generic street racing car with a terribly pixelated paintjob will only increase the desire to make the plunge for a new console. On the road, however, is a different story. The speed at which the car whizzes by the lurid nocturnal streets does wonders for the presentation. The movement and blur effects that EA has been honing for years on this series really shines through. The cutscenes are heavily-edited FMV sequences, starring a few character actors and a flavor-of-the-month babe. It's odd to see the story being tied together by actual actors, but it's not offensively bad (see: Wing Commander); it's just not compelling.

audio

EA pretty much oozes licensed music these days, for once it actually fits the motif. The hip-hop/electronica splicing ends up sounding like something Vin Diesel would toss in his stereo. With the target audience not being those who street race, but those who either want to or think they can, it doesn't matter that the music is most likely too popular for the nigh-mythical underground crowd who do this stuff in real life. It's suitably fast, with beats that give a sense of empowerment the whole game is based around. Unfortunately, nothing here is too hummable or even memorable, unlike the earlier Underground games. At least the cars themselves sound nice with convincing effects for revving engines, screeching tires and the like; but it's almost irrelevant, unless you turn off the constant chatter that's smeared on top of everything. Your crew members will talk relentlessly, reminding the player of their position in the race and will keep encouraging them to race on. Not only is this insulting as the game progresses, but it's also exactly three inches away from being considered a cheer.

gameplay

Carbon keeps the hand-holding as a running theme. The game overall is easy; even the most casual of gamers won't break a sweat to complete the Career mode. A major factor is the ease of driving: it just feels smooth with enough speed to really put the player in a position of power. Even though an obligitory bullet-time move exists to navigate tight corners, it's mostly just there to look cool. Players can get through the game without hitting the brake hardly at all. It almost seems more effective just to let go of the gas instead of hitting the brake at the right time.

Adding to the feeble difficulty level are the incredibly forgiving opponents. Hit a wall head-on? Four times in one lap? No problem! Just whale on that nitrous and hit the Y button to send a crew member to take out another racer. Alternatively, get a different crew member back in front of you to slingshot ahead even further in true Shake N' Bake fashion. It's too bad, because the core driving mechanics and gameplay are actually quite enjoyable; there's just nothing to test your mettle against.

NFS:C features various modes to blow through, but aside from Drift mode and the fun boss fights in Carbon Canyon, they end up feeling the same. The police chases that sometimes break them up don't appear nearly enough. The tracks blend together, each a neon green and pink blur clutching at all but a drop of personality. That morsel is in the feature that lets players can add their own touch to the game via the wealth of unlockable mods and additions to truly (insert over-played MTV show play-on-words here). It's been a series staple since Underground, and it's still satisfying to edit every minute detail to any liking. It's just too bad there isn't any online mode to show them off.

Recently, EA has made quite a bit of talk about making their games more accessible. Carbon is definitely user-friendly, albeit too much. Experienced and jaded gamers looking for a challenge are better off looking around a bit harder, as Carbon gives too much power to the player too quickly. The climb-the-ladder conceit is based around the character from Most Wanted falling from grace and working to gain back everything he's lost, which smacks of the beginning of Metroid. Yet, the game makes sure that it feels awesome to be that guy from the start. The game's agenda is not to give the player respect for gaining territory, but rather to make it look really cool on the way. The Need for Speed series is only #2 to Madden for EA, and they've tailored Carbon to sell to the guy who buys that football game every year. He's the one that craves power and control, and Carbon doesn't bother with making him earn it; it's his right from the beginning, and he feels good leaving everyone else in the dust every race. At least, that's what EA is trying to do.

multiplayer

It's another case of the split-screen blues here, as players feel like they're playing the N64 even more in light of the new systems and their newfangled interweb shenanigans. Really, it's not like it's expected whatsoever, but the saving grace of this game could have been a solid online component. Since the AI doesn't challenge the player to really use the decent racing engine, it's up to other players to come up with their own competition, which would be leagues easier online. Perhaps that will be saved for whatever iteration appears on the Wii next year, Nitrogen or otherwise. What's here is serviceable, at least, if a bit hum-drum.

overall

It's hard to say that EA is giving GameCube owners a favor with Carbon, they are a business after all, but it probably doesn't hurt. Kids will play and enjoy this game, finish it and move on. Those really interested in the seedy world of illegal street racing aren't going to find any more substance than they would in 3 Fast 3 Furious, but it might be worth a rent. 2006 hasn't seen too many solid racers, so those looking for a fix might not have a choice, especially on the GC. It's pretty much $40 for this or $300 for a Wii and Excite Truck, as far as Nintendo consoles are concerned, and that's exactly what EA is banking on.

6.5/10