Need for Speed: Carbon reimports a large number of gameplay features from Need for Speed: Most Wanted, but also introduced several features new to the franchise, including the ability to create teams, duel canyon races, and Autosculpt customization . It continues the plot of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, but takes place in a nighttime setting.
Need for Speed: Carbon was first released in the fall of 2006 for the PC, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox, as well as for the latest PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms. The following year, it was also made available for the Macintosh.
Similar to Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0, a portable spin-off title – titled Need for Speed: Carbon – Own The City – for the GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and Zeebo platforms was released.
Main features
In-game progression
Career mode is centered on the fictional scenario of Palmont City, which is made up of four distinct districts and the surrounding canyons. Each district is occupied by several rival teams that the player must face with his own team. Players will take control of a district after challenging and defeating a team boss, from whom they can also select Boss Bonus Cards that contain bonus rewards. Territories that have been successfully conquered by players can also be attacked randomly by smaller teams.
Events available during gameplay
- Circuit – Lap-based circuit races
- Sprint – point-to-point races
- Canyon Duel – distance-based two-player mode
- Speedtrap – speed-focused sprint races
- Checkpoint Race – time-limited checkpoint races
- Drift – Drift-focused circuit races
- Canyon Drift – drift-focused sprint races
- Pursuit – Pursuits open world police officers
- Free Roam Challenge – speed races with random encounters
- Pursuit Knockout – Multiplayer chases within a circuit
- Pursuit Tag – Multiplayer chases within a circuit of a district