It feels like a long time since EA released Need for Speed on consoles, it was a refreshing new racing game that made the series such a fan favorite. Over the years, the series changed, moving from the hot pursuits between illegal racer and the law to an underground racing and mod scene that has been popular for a long while. What also changed along with the series are the consoles and thanks to the next-generation in gaming, this also means the series will see some new concepts. So it was a treat to see Need for Speed Carbon for the Wii, a game that might not be as amazing as it could have been but thanks to the new hardware, it’s a version of the game that does have a lot to offer.

Carbon once again tells a tale via the same Need for Speed Most Wanted cutscenes that insert real actors in unreal environments. Taking place after the events of Most Wanted, you find yourself in Palmont City when suddenly you come across your old rival named Cross who now spends his days as a bitter bounty hunter. In a confrontation that leaves your car totaled, a friend is there to give Cross some money to let you go. From there you find yourself fighting to the top again. You also encounter your ex-girlfriend Nikki - who is played by Emmanuel Vaugier (from the second season of Smallville) - who introduces you to Neville … the first member of your crew.

That’s right; you get to recruit racers to join your created crew that will go up against a list of racing crews that dominate Palmont City and the surrounding Carbon canyons. For most of the game’s main career mode, you will be challenging other crews like the Kings (to name a few of the many crews) by jumping directly into a challenge or by driving into a territory in the game’s Free Roam exploration mode. Either way you’ll be going up against a number of racers but to dominate an area you will have to beat a crew’s leader.

Of course, that’s not as easy as it sounds and even more so on the Wii. The game uses the Wii remote with the nunchuk attachment but it also allows you to simply use the remote alone. With the nunchuk, you can use the analog stick to steer or you can also change the default to make turns by simply tilting the attachment. Personally, using only the remote feels better (and won’t hurt your wrist much). Alone you will have to hold to remote sideways and turn it the way you would if you had your hands on a steering while pressing the number 2 button to accelerate and the number 1 button to break or reverse. For the most part, the controls are surprisingly responsive and you can make sharp turns without any problems. Still, you’ll want to practice awhile before tackling the game’s Career mode.

Career mode is a lengthy affair with enough to do and many races to participate in but it’s the new features that set this game apart from the last. As I mentioned above, you’ll have the freedom to form your own crew and recruit members from other crews you defeat during a race. Your crew actually does serve a purpose in the game and that comes in the form of wingmen roles. There’s the Blocker, who you call upon to block the leading rival. Then there are the Scouts who drive ahead of you and look for shortcuts. Lastly, there the Drafters that give you a speed boost if you drive up behind them.

Another great addition to the game is customization mode that includes the new Autosculpt feature. Autosculpt allows you to customize your ride by fabricating your own parts. Imagine designing your own spoilers or mufflers, twisting them in any bizarre form you like. The crazier the parts the more interesting your ride and since the game includes some real licensed cars (like a ‘70s Chevy Camero SS) it makes for some unique personalized cars.

Unfortunately, the police don’t chase you as often as they should. There are Pursuit Evasion races but it was more fun when the police was called after trading paint with traffic like the PSP version. At least there’s Trade Paint, a mode that has you ramming police cars off the road much like in the Burnout games. New to the series is the Canyon Duel that has you going up against a single opponent while going down a canyon road with plenty of twists and turns.

Visually, Carbon on the Wii looks amazing and goes well beyond what you would see on the GameCube. Sure, it might not be in the same league as the PS3 or the Xbox 360 version but it is a sharp-looking game that really does stand out. The licensed cars are wonderfully detailed and the game does a great job of displaying speed and the city lights do reflect off the surface of your vehicle. The backgrounds also look particularly good and the cutscenes work seamlessly.

The game’s sound includes a great soundtrack with a number of tunes that range from rock to electronica as well as some hip-hop tunes. What will make you turn up the volume is the sound effects that sound nicely detailed with opposing traffic whizzing by and the sounds of screeching tires that echo while you’re in a tunnel. The game’s voice acting is also excellent, with a majority of the actors sounding the way you expect them to sound. Unlike Most Wanted, though, the dialogue is actually a lot wittier and it doesn’t take itself very seriously.

While not outstandingly innovative, Need for Speed Carbon for the Wii is a great step in the right direction in terms of giving us a game that takes advantage of Nintendo’s revolutionary hardware. While it takes awhile to get a hang of the controls, the game itself is a fun ride that might not take the game to a completely new direction but the few changes are a good start. If you’re a Need for Speed fan or want more racing action for your new console, you might want to consider buying this one.

Gameplay: 7.5
The Wii remote takes some getting use to but it makes for an interesting racing game that would otherwise been a decent one. The best part is that having a Blocker, Drafter and a Scout in your crew makes for some interesting teamwork strategies during the various races.

Graphics: 8.0
The game’s visuals are actually surprisingly beautiful on the Wii and while it’s not as dazzling as the 360 or the PS3 version. Still, the cars look nicely detailed as does the environments. Even the wet pavement reflects the lights. The cutscenes look nice as well, mixing real actors with a digitally created environment. It’s nice work, indeed.

Sound: 8.0
The eclectic soundtrack fits the underground racing theme perfectly this time around and the racing sound effects are nicely detailed so pump up the volume on that Dolby Digital sound system. The voice acting in the game is actually pretty good but Emmanuelle Vaugier just doesn’t sound like she’s enjoying herself.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
The new controls are the reason you’ll be struggling to keep from slamming into a barrier but then again the boss races are ridiculously challenging so you’ll find yourself spending some money really modifying your ride.

Concept: 8.0
The collection of licensed cars is pretty nice and the ability to modify parts with the Autosculpt feature will make any mod fans cheer. Palmont City is a pretty huge map to explore and you have to love the ability to recruit your crew. Sadly, there’s no online multiplayer and once again this girl will cry. Are you happy, EA?

Multiplayer: 7.0
Unfortunately, Carbon lacks online multiplayer racing fun but at least you can race against a friend wirelessly. The multiplayer runs rather smoothly as well so you’ll definitely want to share this game with a friend.

Overall: 7.5
Need for Speed Carbon for the Wii falls a bit flat in certain areas but it’s a good attempt at bringing us a fresh new twist to this underground racing series. While it doesn’t contain all the cheesy-yet-enjoyable drama of Most Wanted, the series still has some challenging races fans will like. For those who are looking for an innovative racing game with the Wii remote will not be disappointed.