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| {{ii}} A compilation<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://nfs.fandom.com/wiki/Need_for_Speed:_Collector%27s_Series|title=NFS Wiki - Need for Speed: Collector's Series|date=2023-06-29}}</ref> of the original Need for Speed: Underground, Underground 2 and Most Wanted is also available. | | {{ii}} A compilation<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://nfs.fandom.com/wiki/Need_for_Speed:_Collector%27s_Series|title=NFS Wiki - Need for Speed: Collector's Series|date=2023-06-29}}</ref> of the original Need for Speed: Underground, Underground 2 and Most Wanted is also available. |
| {{ii}} A faithful, higher quality icon can be found on [https://www.deviantart.com/triplezet/art/Need-for-Speed-Underground-2-HiDPI-icon-746208189 DeviantArt]. An alternate icon by AlexKVideos1 can be found on [https://www.steamgriddb.com/icon/11508 SteamGridDB]. | | {{ii}} A faithful, higher quality icon can be found on [https://www.deviantart.com/triplezet/art/Need-for-Speed-Underground-2-HiDPI-icon-746208189 DeviantArt]. An alternate icon by AlexKVideos1 can be found on [https://www.steamgriddb.com/icon/11508 SteamGridDB]. |
| + | |
| + | ===Demo/free trial=== |
| {{ii}} A playable demo is available on [https://archive.org/details/NeedForSpeedUnderground2_201405 the Internet Archive]. | | {{ii}} A playable demo is available on [https://archive.org/details/NeedForSpeedUnderground2_201405 the Internet Archive]. |
| {{ii}} Progress will not be carried over to the main game. | | {{ii}} Progress will not be carried over to the main game. |
Warnings
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
Need for Speed: Underground 2 is a singleplayer and multiplayer racing game developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts. It is the eighth entry in the Need for Speed series and the second entry in the Need for Speed: Underground duology.
Like the previous game, Underground 2 centers around the import racing/tuning scenes and features JDM cars. It is also the first game in the series to have an open world, where players can drive freely around the city. The game's career mode's story takes places six months after the event of Underground and focus on an unnamed racer (the same racer players had played as in Underground) as they race in the fictional city of Bayview.
It was released in North America on November 9, 2004, followed by Europe and Japan releases on November 19, 2004 and December 22, 2004 respectively.
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- A compilation[4] of the original Need for Speed: Underground, Underground 2 and Most Wanted is also available.
- A faithful, higher quality icon can be found on DeviantArt. An alternate icon by AlexKVideos1 can be found on SteamGridDB.
Demo/free trial
- A playable demo is available on the Internet Archive.
- Progress will not be carried over to the main game.
Monetization
Essential improvements
Patches
- Patch 1.2. Strongly recommended.
Skip intro videos
Invalidate the corresponding files[5]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\MOVIES\
- Delete, move or rename
ealogo.vp6 , FMVOpening.vp6 , PSA.vp6 , and THX_logo.vp6 .
|
Use ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix[6]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Set
SkipIntro setting to 1 in its .ini file.
|
Disable regional lock
- Allows playing with both EU and US exclusive cars at the same time.
Instructions[citation needed]
|
- Download ZIP files containing the files for the cars missing from your version of the game.
- Copy the contents of the
CARS folder of both ZIP files into <path-to-game>\CARS\ .
- This should result in two new folders named
PEUGOT106 and CORSA in <path-to-game>\CARS\ .
- Copy the contents of the
Saves folder of both ZIP files into %LOCALAPPDATA%\NFS Underground 2\ .
- This should result in two new files named
106 and Corsa in %LOCALAPPDATA%\NFS Underground 2\ .
- Download Need for Speed Underground 2 Extra Options.
- Unpack the archive, go to
NFSU2 Extra Options\Main Files folder and copy both dinput8.dll file and scripts folder into the installation folder.
- Make sure that the option UnlockRegionalCars in
scripts\NFSU2ExtraOptionsSettings.ini is set to 1.
- Use the US executable to launch the game (even if you have the EU version), otherwise it may crash.[citation needed]
|
- Improves gamepad support by implementing native XInput support into the game.
- Reimplements console-like controls with being able to rotate the car carousel in Garage with the right stick.
- Rebinding can be made only through .ini file. It's disabled in game menu, as for now it crashes the game.
- Controller vibration is not supported
- Controls are reset to default.
- Can be installed alongside both ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix and NFSU2 Extra Options, as it uses ThirteenAG's Ultimate ASI Loader (the included dinput8.dll, which is a DLL injector) and therefore will load the .asi files for all three mods, and was developed with compatibility with the other two mods in mind.[7]
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- Key bindings are stored in
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\DirectX\DirectInput\User Maps
(32-bit Windows) or %COMMONPROGRAMFILES(x86)%\DirectX\DirectInput\User Maps
(64-bit Windows).
Save game data location
Video
- Use NFSU2 HUD Resizer to modify the offset values of the HUD elements.
Set windowed/borderless/windowed with resizing[8]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Set
WindowedMode to desired value. 1 for borderless, 2 for border, 3 for resizeable border.
|
Change FPSLimit[citation needed]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Open
scripts\NFSUnderground2.WidescreenFix.ini .
- Set
FPSLimit = 120 to desired frame rate limit.
Notes
- Includes
60FPSCutscenes = 1 by default.
- Rain particles will not function properly at more than 60 FPS. If the rain does not work in Windows 7 or 10 follow this guide: Effects flicker (Windows 7 and 10).[9]
- Gear changes are tied to the frame rate.[10]
|
Input
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Master, Menu Music, In-Game Music, Speech, Effects, Tires and Engine sliders available. |
Surround sound |
|
Only Stereo and Mono available. Optimized for Dolby Pro Logic. |
Subtitles |
|
|
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
EAX support |
|
Although not advertised as such the game does support EAX, at least reverb effects, but without surround sound. It can be restored with ALchemy. |
Royalty free audio |
|
The main menu uses licensed music. It is hardcoded to play Riders on the Storm (ft. The Doors) by Snoop Dogg every time the game starts. |
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
UK and US English. |
Traditional Chinese |
|
|
|
|
French |
|
|
|
|
German |
|
|
|
|
Italian |
|
|
|
|
Japanese |
|
|
|
|
Korean |
|
|
|
|
Polish |
|
|
|
Local retail only. |
Brazilian Portuguese |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Local retail only, download. |
Slovak |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download or alternative translation. |
Spanish |
|
|
|
|
Thai |
|
|
|
|
Network
Multiplayer types
VR support
3D modes |
State |
Notes |
vorpX |
| G3D User created game profile, see vorpx forum profile introduction. |
Issues fixed
Custom bindings lost on game restart
- Windows Vista and later lack a file needed for the game to remember custom mappings.
Download dimap.dll[5]
|
- Download dimap.dll.
- Extract it into the installation folder.
|
Controller deadzone issues
Fix left stick deadzone[11]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Deadzone can be adjusted in
NFSUnderground2.WidescreenFix.ini .
|
The game doesn't load (crashes during loading screen)
- This is likely caused by multi-monitor setups using multiple GPU's.[citation needed]
Potential workaround[citation needed]
|
- Turn off monitors which use another GPU or monitor duplication when starting up the game
- Turn it on once the game finishes loading if you still need them
|
Random crashing on entering/exiting shops
- Can be caused by multiple CPUs.
Set affinity for speed2.exe to use only 1 CPU[citation needed]
|
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc)
- Click "set Affinity..."
- Untick all but ONE of the CPUs
- Click OK
|
Use ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix[12]
|
- Install ThirteenAG's fix.
- Make sure
SingleCoreAffinity setting is set to 1.
- Recent changes in Widescreen Fix for NFSU2 include improved routines for single core performance.[13]
|
Use compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Open Properties from SPEED2.EXE
- Go to Compatibility Tab
- Set "Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
- Click OK
|
Effects flicker (Windows 7 and 10)
- Some effects, such as rain, car respawn effect or the nos flames, flicker or glitch. Otherwise, no issues.[citation needed]
Use compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Open Properties from SPEED2.EXE
- Go to Compatibility Tab
- Set "Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
- Click OK
|
Particle system lag (Windows 10)
- Particle system causes lag, mostly at start of races, turning it off gets rid of the issue.
- Fullscreen Exclusive Mode causes lag
- Optionally it is possible to disable VSync through video card settings, and keep Particle System on.
Run game in Windowed or Borderless Mode
|
Go to Windowed section
|
Use compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Open Properties from SPEED2.EXE
- Go to Compatibility Tab
- Set "Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
- Click OK
|
Savegame name turned to random symbols, unable to save
- This is likely extremely rare to occur.
Relaunch the game(this rollbacks progress to last time you saved)[citation needed]
|
Change the savegame name variable[citation needed]
|
- Keep the game running
- Download Cheat Engine
- Select the NFS Underground 2 proccess
- Select "String" in "Value Type"
- Tick the "Codepage" checkbox
- In "Text" enter first symbols of the changed savegame name (use Process Monitor and track the SPEED2.exe proccess WriteFile operations if unable to recognize the symbol)
- Press "First Scan"
- Select found values and double tap them or press the red arrow
- In the below window, change "Value" of the found values to your original savegame name
- Save the game
|
Music stops playing after Alt-Tab out of game window focus
Pause, return to the garage, then return to explore mode or the race
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9.0c |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
- Having the game running in the background can affect audio of other programs, generally eliminating sounds below a certain decibel level. It's recommended to close the game to avoid this problem.
Modifications
- Some mods could break LAN multiplayer mode component, making it impossible to host/join LAN servers.
- Changes resolution of reflections.
- Adds ability to change HUD and FMV scale.
- Adds many useful features and fixes.
- Fixes some issues and makes some improvements for add-on cars and events.
- Fixes off-center window and mouse cursor in borderless windowed mode.
- The game will always look for keyboard input even after alt-tabbing.
- Adds higher quality videos from the Xbox version.
- Basic implementation of Xbox rain droplets from SkyGFX for other games.
- Makes it possible to progress through the game without ricing the car.
- Makes it possible to replace in-game tracks with user
.mp3
or .wav
.
- Restores every single song in the game to their full, unedited and/or uncensored and higher quality versions.
- Aims to add the cut cars from beta/NFSUG1 and Underground Rivals back into Need for Speed Underground 2.
- Requires Unlimiter and Car Sound Tuner to avoid crashes and bugs.
- Replaces low-res GUI and HUD graphics with high-res counterparts.
- This mod is discontinued.
- A recreation of NFSU2's UI using mostly vector materials, with original texture proportions to help keep the same look.
- Certain icons will appear different than their vanilla counterparts.
- Remakes some of the ground textures to be as close to the originals as possible.
- Author of this mod recommends to use 8K HDRI Skyboxes mod.
- Enhances the visuals of the game.
- Does not require Texmod.
- Deviates from the original look of the game.
- Archived download link
- Graphics improvement mod.
- A set of textures from different authors in one package.
- Improves the visuals of the game.
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
98, 2000, ME, XP |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium III 933 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
256 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
2 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 2 ATI Radeon 7500 32 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible |
Sound (audio device) |
DirectX compatible |
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[2] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[3]
- ↑ Applications writing to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
will be redirected to other locations based on various criterias, see the glossary page for more details.
References