Need For Speed Carbon almost feels like a back-to-basics game for the series. Not that it really needed to go back to basics, as Most Wanted remains a top-tier racing game. However, Carbon follows the underground theme more specifically this time around as you challenge different racing sectors for superiority. These sections of cities are being ruled over by racing gangs, and they aren't looking to move out right away. One in particular has a serious grudge against you- they used to be your former street team. So you proceed through the events of the game with your ride of choice, in which you can choose many.

During our run with the Need For Speed Carbon demo, we checked out three different kinds of rides. The first is a car in the exotic class, a yellow and black Lamborghini Gallardo. The second is a classic blue Chevy Camaro SS, found in the muscle category. Finally, there's the tuner division, in which we were able to drive around in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. There were spaces for other classes, although they haven't yet been revealed. What secret cars could be lurking in EA's garage? We'll find out soon enough. As for the three offered here, they all handle differently, but they all offer separate handling to their rides- a big plus for this game.

After choosing a car from the menu, we were given the option of manual or automatic. From there, another sub-menu opened up, allowing for some tinkering with customization. Everything from wheels (and their covers, for the bling bling lovers) to bumpers to body color were present and accounted for. This is nothing new in the Need For Speed series, but this menu appears to be a slight bit more helpful than previous ones. There weren't that many options here, but the final game will have lots of accessories and design schemes to choose from, including many that can be unlocked and purchased. You'll be able to pimp your ride plenty.

The graphics in the game are vastly detailed, although all of the races we took part in were at night. This means relying on your headlights to get a clear view of what lies ahead, although there are neon markers and street signs to help you out. The game runs between 45-60 frames per second, with no real slowdown to be found at all. There are also a number of camera selections, ranging from behind-the-car to right-on-the-bumper.

The demo contained three different racing events- Circuit, Drift, and Canyon Race. Circuit is about what you'd expect, a full-blown racing event between you and five other street racing competitors. A big different with Carbon, however, is that you have access to crew members who can help you out in a bind, boxing in a competitor or granting you the lead when you need it most. The option wasn't really that heavy here to use, but it is an appealing idea that could swing the door wide open on team play via Xbox Live. (We'll revisit multiplayer once the final game hits shelves.)

Drift pretty much explains itself. Instead of racing to see who gets to the finish line first, you instead engage in a stylish competition of drifting, spinning your wheels and creating a slickly executed corner hug without hitting the wall. As you keep up your drift, you'll begin to build points and earn a multiplier bonus. Keep the drift alive long enough and you'll score those points in the real-time scoreboard. Keep it together long enough for the three-lap run and you'll win it.

The final event, Canyon Race, didn't become unlockable until we proved our worth in Circuit and Drift races. In the Canyon Race, you find yourself challenging the leader of the gang that rules the particular section of the city. In this case, it was Kenji, driving a lime-green tuner specialty as he attempted to prove his worth to his fellow Scorpions. Canyon Race is trickier than the two previous events in the game. It's a longer race where you have to keep ahead of your opposition at a certain distance. If you get close to your opponent as they're in the lead, you knock points off their score. But they can do the same to you.

The main thing you have to realize with Canyon Race is that the race can end AT ANY TIME. Those barriers that go along the walls don't stop a car from going through them. This is why you need to keep your speed, but you also need to make sure you don't go careening into a wall at 90 miles per hour. You'll fly right through it and go careening down the canyon-side, ending the race prematurely. Fortunately, a map navigation system sits in the corner, so you can plan out your route and try to show Kenji who's boss. Canyon Race is probably the most challenging event in the race, and we're sure that later Canyon Races will be even moreso. Hopefully we'll get some gap jumps in the later tracks to mount the tension.

Need For Speed Carbon is missing the police officer chases that made Most Wanted such fun last year, and a lot of people will miss that. However, those who are fans of underground racing will love what EA is putting into the game, complete with slick visuals, solid gameplay, online competition, and intensified rivalries. We'll be back with a full review of the game when it arrives early next month, so be sure to check back. And, um, if I do end up checking you off the side of a canyon, don't take it personal. That's just the way I race.