The game sees you play the role of an undercover officer, your mission to take down a group of street racers who have become involved in a drug smuggling ring.

But you need not worry about that. Undercover is at heart about tearing your car around a city, usually with the simple goal of getting from A to B.

First the problems, and there are a few. Undercover is supposed to be 'open world' with traffic and cops to contend with, yet on many of the races artifical barriers are placed across junctions forcing you to go one way.

It just is not open enough and feels really fake- you can't even travel up stairs or break through other scenery it it is not scripted into the game.

After playing a title like Grand Theft Auto, it really does seem so restrictive.

The cut scenes telling the story are also dire, with the audio quality so bad you will struggle to hear much of what is going on.

The graphics are not particularly bad, but the game does suffer from framerates issues now and again, and when you select a race or the map, a loading screen appears...very last generation.

The game is also a little too easy, and therefore the races often offer too little in the way of bumper-to-bumper thrills.

And yet...there is something about Undercover, the fact that is not too challenging, the fact you don't need to worry about making a wrong turn, which makes it so entertaining and moreish.

And nothing beats hurtling down the highway weaving inbetween traffic trying to keep a set distance between you and your opponent, or evading cops by ploughing into a bridge and seeing the rubble tumble down in front of them (don't worry, such scripted actions are sign-posted a mile away with a large icon over everthing that triggers such an event).

The great soundtrack also helps keep everything fun, and although the story is really cheesy, it does make you want to play through to the game's conclusion.

Need for Speed Undercover allows you to switch your brain off, sit back, and enjoy the fun of speeding down a highway at 150mph whilst being chased by the police, without having to face the real life consequences.

Bucksherald.co.uk rating: 7/10

Platform review: Xbox 360