It had a few shortcomings, but they were minor and insignificant compared with the outstanding gameplay and graphics. It just isn't a huge leap in terms of graphics and gameplay. Those who buy this game should realize that it plays very much like Need for Speed III, but with some extra play modes and one big added feature. The biggest feature added to the game is car damage, which we've all been crying for since the inception of this fine arcade racing series. I'm happy to say that on this count, the game benefits greatly from damage modeling.
All cars have ratings for body, engine, suspension, and handling.
Too many bumps, scrapes, and crashes will bring those ratings down. At first, the damage is subtle, but once you start racking up the collisions, you'll see the car's body start to warp, the windshield and windows break, and the engine start to smoke. Tires will be off kilter, and you'll notice the performance of your car suffering commensurately. There is no way to fix your car during a race, so you are in a bind should the damage be extensive. There is a status window on the top right corner of your screen, though, so you can monitor your damage and respond accordingly.