20 More Cult Classics Trapped On Old Consoles
6. Need For Speed Carbon
Sure, Underground 2 and Most Wanted are the more commonly thrown around names when it comes to old Need for Speed titles, but 2006’s Carbon has a strong following and is extremely underappreciated more broadly, despite it being the direct sequel to Most Wanted.
The shadow of most Wanted has inevitably led to Carbon being forgotten when thinking about this era of Need for Speed titles, but the game does implement a lot of interesting ideas that help it stand apart from its predecessor. In addition to being a step up graphically, Carbon made some positive changes to gameplay, such as drift challenges and checkpoint-based canyon duels.
A highly detailed customisation system also allowed players to tweak their favourite cars far more than previous entries allowed, and even more so than many other racing games of the mid 2000s. The crew system was also notable, allowing players to recruit AI teammates to aid their chances during races, creating the feeling that the protagonist is gaining a network of allies as you take over the city.
All of these additions worked well and gave the series a new energy, and the permanent night-time setting helped Carbon stick in the minds of many players that owned the game at the time. The fact that it is still so overshadowed by Most Wanted gives Carbon an underrated quality, and for these reasons, it is perhaps time that the permanently dark Carbon got its day in the sun.