Compared to the excruciating load times of the PS2 version, the GameCube’s mini-DVD and proprietary architecture load levels noticeably faster. Getting back into a race after a loss is less painful. The GameCube Difference: Weaknesses It wasn’t all perfect. EA made some baffling cuts to the GameCube version.
, the GameCube version is the best way to play on a CRT television via component cables. The controller’s analog triggers feel purpose-built for the drag racing launch sequences. Plus, with the GameCube’s recent resurgence in retro gaming popularity (and modding via Swiss to force 480p), Need for Speed: Underground looks shockingly vibrant.
In 2003, the racing genre was at a crossroads. Gran Turismo had cornered the market on sterile simulation, while Cruis’n styled arcade racers felt increasingly dated. Then, EA Black Box released Need for Speed: Underground . It didn’t just reboot the franchise; it defined the car culture of an entire generation. While the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions got the lion’s share of the hype, the Nintendo GameCube port remains a fascinating, underrated gem. need for speed underground gamecube
Here is why the purple lunchbox’s version of Underground is worth revisiting. First, the game itself. Underground stripped away the exotic supercars of previous NFS titles (Ferraris, Lamborghinis) and replaced them with tuner icons: the Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, the Subaru WRX STi, and the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34).
If you want the definitive technical experience, the Xbox version (backward compatible on modern Xboxes) is the king. If you want the nostalgia hit of the early 2000s, the PS2 version is the most historically significant. Compared to the excruciating load times of the
By default, the handbrake is mapped to the yellow C-stick. This is ergonomically weird. You have to take your thumb off the A button (gas) or the analog stick to flick the C-stick down. Most players immediately remap the controls to put the handbrake on the R trigger, but the default setup is a head-scratcher. The Verdict: Is it worth playing in 2024? Absolutely—with caveats.
On the original Xbox, you could rip CDs to the hard drive and race to your own music. The GameCube lacked a hard drive and memory for MP3s, so you are locked into the official soundtrack. While that soundtrack is iconic (Get Low by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz is permanently tied to this game), you will hear the same 20 songs on loop. EA made some baffling cuts to the GameCube version
The GameCube controller is polarizing for racing games due to its octagonal gated analog stick and the unique analog shoulder triggers (the "click" at the bottom). In Underground , this is a win. The octagonal gate makes precise steering inputs during Drift mode much easier. Furthermore, the analog shoulder buttons offer excellent modulation for braking and accelerating before you hit the digital click for the e-brake.