============================
Need For Speed Underground
FAQ/Walkthrough Version 0.5
Written By: xMonoXlitHx
Last Updated: June 3rd, 2005
============================
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Intro
=====
I wrote this guide out of boredom.  If you don't know by now, it's for Need For
Speed: Underground for the PS2.  I am, by no means, claiming to be an expert on
this game.  Point in fact, I'm not even that great at it.  I'm doing this
because I want to put something back out there after using this site for all my
needs over the years.  Plus, if I can beat this game without breaking anything,
so can everyone else in the world.
=================
Table of Contents
=================
i.    Version History
ii.   Controls
iii.  Quick Race Mode
a. Circuit
b. Sprint
c. Drag
d. Drift
e. Lap Knockout
f. Free Run
iv.   Underground Mode
v.    Cars
a. Standard Cars
b. Unique Cars
vi.   Car Parts - Visual
vii.  Car Parts - Performance
viii. Style Points
ix.   Style Point Rewards
x.    Magazine Covers
xi.   Courses
a. Circuit
b. Sprint
c. Drag
d. Drift
xii.  Extra Tips
xiii. Music
xiv.  Frequently Asked Questions
xv.   Copyright Info
xvi.  Credits
xvii. Contact Info
==================
i. Version History
==================
Version 0.1 - Started FAQ
5/29/2005     Did T.O.C. & controls
Added copyright & contact info
Added music info
Added most the the magazine stuff
Wrote definitions and strategies for the race modes
Added courses and best times/scores
Added cars and car stats
Added info on some of the visual upgrades
Version 0.2 - Finished the visual upgrades, just have to put the cost and when
5/30/2005          unlocked
Listed the performance parts
Added a couple FAQs
Started Underground Mode
Added more info on the visual parts
Version 0.3 - Added some style point values and rewards
5/31/2005     Put up a style point table compliments of CodyLoco
Submitting to GameFAQs *crosses fingers for posting*
Version 0.4 - Added some more style point rewards
6/1/2005      Did some more stuff for Underground Mode
Filled in the value for Insane Drift! on CodyLoco's table
Version 0.5 - Added Neoseeker.com to allowed to use list
6/3/2005      Fixed a mis-type in the Copyright Info section
Finished the style point rewards
More stuff for Underground Mode
============
ii. Controls
============
Start:              Pause race
Select:             Reset car position
D-Pad:              Steer
Left Analog Stick:  Steer
Right Analog Stick: Up - Gas, Down - Brake/Reverse
X:                  Gas
Square:             Brake/Reverse
Circle:             Look behind
Triangle:           Change camera view
L1:                 Nitrous Oxide (When installed)
L2:                 Shift down (Manual transmission)
R1:                 Emergency brake
R2:                 Shift up (Manual transmission)
===============
iii. Quick Race Mode
===============
a. Circuit
----------
"Multi-lap racing against three opponents"
A circuit race is pretty much you driving in a circle (only it's not actually a
circle).  One line serves as the start and finish line, and in this game you
have to go around anywhere from 2-10 times depending on what you set.
*General Strategy*
If you're confident enough in your ability to stay in first the whole race, go
ahead and use your Nitrous right at the beginning.  I, personally, wait until
the last lap, near the finish.
b. Sprint
---------
"Race from point A to point B"
The game description pretty much covers it.  There's three opponents, as usual,
and you have to get from one part of the city to another before them.
Time-trials fall under this category of racing modes, only there's no opponents
and you have a set amount of time to get from place to place.
*General Strategy*
Again, if you're confident, use your NOS right at the start.  At least this
time you don't have to worry about staying in first for as long as in Circuit
mode.
c. Drag
-------
"Straight line, flat out racing"
Time to see exactly how much muscle your car has.  Works like a Sprint race
with a few changes.  It's a straight line, so you don't have to worry about
steering, unless of course you need to get out of the way of a car, and then
you just need to tap left or right.
*General Strategy*
I find it easier to get a perfect shift right off the bat if you use the right
analog stick for the gas instead of the X button.  Then once the race starts,
jam the stick forward.  For shifting throughout, watch the middle of the screen
for traffic, and you should be able to see out of the corner of your eye the
needle turn green.  With NOS, you can either use it to help you get to your
next gear faster, or you can save it until after you hit your last gear.
Either way works.
d. Drift
--------
"Slide with style to score big points"
If you like to power slide, this is your event.  You pretty much power slide
around a course and the faster you go and the more angled you are, the more
points you get.
*General Strategy*
It's kind of hard to give an actual strategy for drifting.  Try to chain your
drifts together.  By that I mean when you're drifting one way, turn your car
to drift the other way.  Try to get in the bonus zone, which is the stripes on
the side of the road.  Don't hit the wall.  I'd rather come to a dead stop than
hit the wall and lose a good amount of drift points.  Drifting was hard for me
until I realized, "Hey, it's just driving as crappy as I can without hitting
the wall."  Pretty much it.
e. Lap Knockout
---------------
"Last-place car on each lap is eliminated"
Yeah.  I hate these.  It's the same thing as a circuit race, except for as
above, "Last-place car on each lap is eliminated."  Three opponents. Four laps.
You don't know how many times I've messed up ever so slightly on the last lap
only to have the other guy pass me and cross the finish line and eliminate me
causing me to have to do the entire race over again.
*General Strategy*
Same as circuits, only you can never be in last place long enough to let the
other cars to cross the start/finish line.  Do what you have to do to stay in
first, and it won't cause TOO much frustration.
f. Free Run
-----------
"Learn the tracks and practice setting hot laps"
Nothing much here, just a place where you can practice on the circuit courses
that you've already unlocked.  Goes on as long as you want.  No opponents.
*General Strategy*
No strategy necessary.
====================
iv. Underground Mode
====================
Quick thing before you start getting into the walkthrough.  This is by no means
a simple guide through the game.  It's more of a comprehensive walkthrough.
That means I'll be listing exactly what I did while playing through.  This is
specifically referring to visual upgrades.  If you pick anything different, it
won't affect your game at all, except for maybe style point rewards and
your reputation meter.  Now onto the guide...
Race 000/111
------------
-Race Type-
-Text-
-Tips-For your first race you're put in a car for a 2 lap circuit against
three other people.  It's a pretty easy race.  Try and save your NOS
until the last lap, and if you get in a bad collision, remember, you can
press Select to reset your car position.
-Rewards-You start with $10,000 and get to pick your first car.  Depending on
what you pick, you may end up with some extra cash.  I'd suggest going
with the Miata MX-5.  It's a good overall car, and I actually kept it
as my car through the whole thing until I unlocked the Skyline, and
did just fine with it.
At this point I chose the Mazda Miata MX-5 as my car, leaving me with $500.  I
went ahead and put the Snyper front bumper on, leaving me with no money.  I
also painted my car black, which doesnt cost anything.  To the next race we go
then.
Race 001/111 - Jose's Got Your Back
-----------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-Your first race in your new car.  Don't worry, it's not hard at all.  You
could even do it on hard to net some extra cash.  Just do like you did in
the last race, except this time you don't have any nitrous.
-Cash-Easy: $375, Medium: $500, Hard: $625
I did it on Medium, which gave me $500, so I went ahead and got the Snyper rear
bumper.  Onto the next race.
Race 002/111 - Last One There Is A Rotten Egg
---------------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-Ooooo!!  The first Sprint of the game!!  I like these.  Not any harder
than what you've done so far, there's just no second lap in case you
screw up.  Just concentrate on getting and staying in first and there
won't be any problem.  Just be careful in that tunnel near the end.
-Cash-Easy: $375, Medium: $500, Hard: $625
Again, I did it on Medium getting me 500 cash.  Actually, until further notice,
just go ahead and assume I do it all on Medium.  At this point, go ahead and
buy one of the side skirts and a window tint, you should have enough.
Race 003/111 - It's All About Style And Finesse
-----------------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-First drift event.  The tracks just a retangle so concentrate on getting
your drifts at the turns and if you can, chain them together in between.
-Cash-Easy: $375, Medium: $500, Hard: $625
-Rewards-You should've unlocked Dirt Track 1 and gotten onto the Option Auto
magazine cover.
Go ahead and install one of the spoilers, and a neon.  Next...
Race 004/111 - The Perfect Shift
--------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-A new event, drag.  Easy, and straight-forward.  Literally.  Just try and
get perfect shifts as much as you can.  Use the right analog stick if
you're having trouble with it at the starting line.  There's no traffic
yet either, so you don't have to worry about changing lanes.
-Cash-Easy: $375, Medium: $500, Hard: $625
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the Mitsubishi Lancer and the track you just
raced on.
Install a new hood and move on to the next race.
Race 005/111 - Last Place Is A Bad Place To Be
----------------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-It's just three circuit races, nothing new.  Only now you don't have to
worry so much about getting first place.  Two firsts and a second will
win it for you, and most of the time two seconds and a first will.  Just
make sure you pay attention to the series points after each race.
-Cash-Easy: $3750, Medium: $5000, Hard: $6250
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 1 Engine/Exhaust, Drivetrain, and
Tire performance upgrades.
w00t!  Your first performance upgrades!  Go on and install them, you definitly
should have enough money after that tournament.  After you install them, just
move on to the next race.
Race 007/111 - TJ's Time Trial
------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-The base time is 1:45, so if you find yourself needing a significant
extra amount of time, quit the race and pick Easy, you'll get ten extra
Seconds.  Other than that, it's just a regular sprint race.  Nothing
special.
-Cash-Easy: $100, Medium: $125, Hard: $150
-Rewards-You should've unlocked that track and a unique performance upgrade
from TJ.
I suggest picking the Engine/Exhaust package for your upgrade, it gives the
biggest boost to a stat, and really, your car has more than enough handling for
the speed you're putting out right now.  That's just my opinion though.  Onto
the next race.
Race 008/111 - Atlantica Challenge
----------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-Regular circuit race, just with three laps, which means you have more
time to correct a screw-up.  It also means you have more time TO screw
up, so still, be careful.  Also, try and take the shortcut on the right
in the construction zone.  It'll shave off a decent amount of time.
-Cash-Easy: $525, Medium: $750, Hard: $900
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the 2003 Ford Focus ZX3 and the track you just
raced on.
Nothing to do but move on to the next race.
Race 009/111 - All Go, No Show!
-------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Courses-
-Text-
-Tips-Just do the same thing you did the last time you did this course, and
you'll easily crush them.
-Cash-Easy: $200, Medium: $250, Hard: $300
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 2 Neon visual upgrade.
Put a new neon on your car and go to the next race.
Race 019/111 - The Only Way To Go Is Up
---------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-There's a lot of u-turns and curves, so as long as you don't think you
can just blast your way to the finish line, it'll be all good.
-Cash-Easy: $200, Medium: $250, Hard: $300
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the 2003 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS, Broadway (R)
sprint track, and you should be ranked 10th in Sprint.
Nothing to see here move along...
Race 023/111 - Steeltown Sprint
-------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-There's a couple of tough turns in this course, but overall, it's pretty
easy.  Just do the do, and win the race.
-Cash-Easy: $225, Medium: $300, Hard: $375
-Rewards-You should've unlock the level 2 Paint visual upgrade and the Lock Up
Sprint track
Take this time to paint your car one of the pretty new Gloss or Metallic colors
and move on to the next race.
Race 024/111 - One Down, Two To Go
----------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-It's an easy course, so just get in first and stay there.  And don't be
afraid to race dirty.  Slam them into a corner or another car if you have
to.
-Cash-Easy: $225, Medium: $300, Hard: $375
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V.
Nothing going on so just go to the next race.
Race 025/111 - A Little Dirt Won't Hurt
---------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-Just like the text says.  Get there as fast as you can.  If you can't get
there in time, quit and switch to Easy.
-Cash-Easy: $100, Medium: $125, Hard: $150
-Rewards-You should've unlocked (9th & Frey sprint track and a unique
performance upgrade from TJ.
Pick the E.C.U. & Fuel System, it'll give you a good boost to acceleration that
you'll need soon enough.  After you do that, move on to the next race.
Race 027/111 - Wrong Place, Right Time
--------------------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-This is a bigger course than the other ones so far, so drift, drift to
your hearts content.
-Cash-Easy: $225, Medium: $300, Hard: $375
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 2 Muffler Tips visual upgrade and
Drift Track 4
Install a new muffler tip, paint it if you like, and move on to the next race.
Race 029/111 - Scouting Report
--------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tips-As always, watch out for traffic, and aim for perfect shifts.
-Cash-Easy: $225, Medium: $300, Hard: $375
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 2 Window Tint visual upgrade.
Install that new window tint, and go to the next race.
Race 030/111 - Dead Calm
------------------------
-Race Type-
-Courses-
-Text-
-Tips-Two laps each race so it won't take long.  Just keep up what you've been
doing and this tourny will be yours.
-Cash-Easy: $3750, Medium: $5000, Hard: $6250
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 2 Engine/Exhaust Packages, Drivetrain
Packages, Tire Packages, and the National Rail circuit track.
Install your first level 2 performance upgrades and then move on to the next
race.
Race 031/111 - Outtasite!
-------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-
-Tip-Okay, this time you pay attention to the text.  Cut through the
construction site, but take the path that goes downward instead of upward.
It'll pay off.
-Cash-Easy: $225, Medium: $300, Hard: $375
-Rewards-You should've unlocked the level 2 Roof Scoops visual upgrade.
Pick out a roof scoop, put it on, and go to the next race.
Race 032/111 - World Of Hurt
----------------------------
-Race Type-
-Course-
-Text-