Need for Speed: Underground 2

Need for Speed: Underground 2

Developers
	EA Black Box
Publishers
	Electronic Arts
Engines
	EAGL 2
Release dates
Windows	November 9, 2004
Reception
Metacritic	82
IGDB	79
Taxonomy
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	First-person, Third-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	Racing
Vehicles	Automobile, Street racing
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Contemporary
Series	Need for Speed: Underground

Need for Speed: Underground
Subseries of Need for Speed
Need for Speed: Underground	2003
Need for Speed: Underground 2	2004

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		SafeDisc v4 DRM. Has both a 2 CD and a DVD version.

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

A compilation 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.

Demo

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.2. Strongly recommended.

Skip intro videos

Instructions[citation needed]
Go to <path-to-game>\MOVIES\ Delete or rename ealogo.vp6, FMVOpening.vp6, PSA.vp6, and THX_logo.vp6.

Disable regional lock

Allows playing with both EU and US exclusive cars at the same time.

Instructions[citation needed]

Download the missing cars. If you have the US version, download Peugeot 106 and the Vauxhall Corsa. If you have the EU version, download Honda Civic and Acura RSX. 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]

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\EA Games\Need for Speed Underground 2\

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

System	Location
Windows	%LOCALAPPDATA%\NFS Underground 2\

Video

General video settings

Advanced video settings

Advanced video settings

Advanced video settings

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution			Use ThirteenAG's fix.
Multi-monitor			Use ThirteenAG's fix.
Ultra-widescreen			Use ThirteenAG's fix and Ultrawide (21:9) Fix.
4K Ultra HD			Use ThirteenAG's fix.
Field of view (FOV)		Use ThirteenAG's fix.
Windowed		See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed		See Windowed.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)		FSAA
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
120+ FPS		Frame rate is capped at 120 FPS. See High frame rate. Multiplayer Outrun is capped at 30 FPS.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Use 16:9 Safe Zone to modify the offset values of the HUD elements.

Windowed

Set windowed/borderless
Install ThirteenAG's fix. Create wndmode.ini in <path-to-game>.

Force windowed[citation needed]
Download NFSU2 Extra Options. Extract the main files to the installation folder. Open NFSU2ExtraOptionsSettings.ini. Change WindowedMode = 0 to WindowedMode = 2 for bordered or WindowedMode = 1 for borderless.

High frame rate

Change FPSLimit[citation needed]

Install Need for Speed Underground 2 Widescreen 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). Gear changes are tied to the frame rate. Multiplayer Outrun mode is 30 FPS capped.

Input

Input settings

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		Requires the DirectInput Mapper to remember bindings between sessions.
Mouse acceleration		Mouse is used only in menus. Default Windows behavior
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion		Fixed view
Controller
Controller support		Use ThirteenAG's fix to adjust deadzone.
Full controller support		Use ThirteenAG's fix
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion		Unused

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts		Use ThirteenAG's fix
Impulse Trigger vibration

PlayStation controllers		Button mappings will be all over the place, requiring manual remapping.
PlayStation button prompts		Use ThirteenAG's fix
Light bar support
Adaptive trigger support
DualSense haptic feedback support
Connection modes

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback		DirectInput controllers only.
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio settings

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.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English				UK and US English.
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Korean
Italian
Japanese
Polish				Fan translation, download.
Russian				Available here. Localization with added subtitles is here (requires setting ShowSubs=1 in Extra Options).
Slovak				Fan translation, download here or alternative translation here.
Spanish
Thai

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
Local play		Console versions only.
LAN play		6
Online play		6	The official EA server was shut down in November 2007

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[citation needed]
Download dimap.dll. Extract it into the installation folder.

Controller deadzone issues

Fix left stick deadzone
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

Affinity can be set automatically on launch by editing the shortcut to the game[citation needed]
Open shortcut properties In the Target field paste this line: %WINDIR%\System32\cmd.exe /C CD /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Need for Speed Underground 2\" && START /AFFINITY 1 SPEED2.EXE Make sure to modify the path to the game if necessary Click apply Optionally change the icon back to the game icon manually.

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

Use dgVoodoo 2[citation needed]

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

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

Change FPSLimit[citation needed]
Install Need for Speed Underground 2 Widescreen Fix. Open scripts\NFSUnderground2.WidescreenFix.ini. Set FPSLimit = 120 to 60.

Optionally it is possible to disable VSync through video card settings, and keep Particle System on.

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

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	9

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Modifications

Some mods could break LAN multiplayer mode component, making it impossible to host/join LAN servers.

HD Reflections

Changes resolution of reflections.

HUD Resizer

Adds ability to change HUD and FMV scale.

Extra Options

Adds many useful features and fixes.

Unlimiter

Fixes some issues and makes some improvements for add-on cars and events.

Visual Reputation Remover

Makes it possible to progress through the game without ricing the car.

NFS Underground 2 Music Importer

Makes it possible to replace in-game tracks with user .mp3 or .wav.

Olympic Imports

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.

Scout's UI Remaster

Replaces low-res GUI and HUD graphics with high-res counterparts.

New HD Textures Pack

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.

Lightsiders Global

Enhances the visuals of the game.

Does not require Texmod.

Deviates from the original look of the game.

Archived download link

NFS Underground 2 High Vision 1.10

Graphics improvement mod.

A set of textures from different authors in one package.

Need for Speed Underground 2 Last Breath

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