Flashback: Need for Speed: Undercover Review - Underappreciated

Let's be clear: this isn't the existential dread that comes from pondering life's fleeting nature. No, this is the dread that comes from the very existence of Need for Speed: Undercover. We're going back, and it's going to be painful but also Nostalgia. Flashback: Expectations vs. Reality Remember Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Carbon? Pure arcade racing bliss. Then came Pro Street, a solid game, but not what fans wanted. Undercover promised a return to that open-world, police chase-infused gameplay. Hopes were high. That, my friends, was the first mistake. This game was doomed from the start and did everything it could to confirm that doom. The Disappointing Start The game opens with a dramatic ocean shot and ominous narration before dropping you into a hilariously underwhelming chase. Picture this: police helicopters, a red 370Z, a highway... and absolutely zero excitement. Instead of a heart-pounding start, we get a tutorial in navigating rush hour. Th…