Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights

Juiced 2 is the sequel to the 2005 racing game, Juiced. The game features many new features, new cars, improved graphics, and more customization options for your cars.  

Demo

The demo for the Xbox 360 version of the game was released on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the 1 9th of July, 2007. A second, multiplayer demo was also released, on the 14th of September 2007. It seems likely that Juiced 2 may be the final game in the Juiced series, as THQ have sold the publishing rights for this game, as well as that of the Stuntman franchise. 
 

Single Player

Single player in Juiced 2 begins with you creating your character in the game. This character will be seen when browsing the menus, in your car, and also before a race. The menu is designed to look like the inside of a nightclub, complete

with a dancer in the background. Juice Games removed the calendar and respect system from this game, so they no longer are available. The game starts you off in League 8, which is the lowest league in the game. The higher the league, the faster the cars available to you. League 8 features standard cars, such as Honda Civics. As you move up in leagues, the cars you can purchase become more exotic and have superior performance. You can also upgrade your car so that it is suitable to race in a higher league.

Character customization in the game is relatively basic, in comparison to some games. You select a preset character, and you can change the clothing. The character customization option is only available in the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC versions of the game. In the other versions of the game, you simply don't have a character.

Car modification in this game is vastly increased, in comparison to the previous Juiced game. In fact, the car customization is still superior to most racing games available currently. Players are able to customize their car's license plate, add custom graphics to their cars, and customize the car's body with spoilers, bumpers, body kits, etc. The game also allows customization of your car's interior - you can customize the steering wheel (it doesn't effect handling), and the seats. 

To move into a higher league, players must complete a certain number of the goals they are given. Some of these goals are things such as winning a certain amount from gambling on one race, winning a pink slip from a certain person, intimidating a certain driver, and other such goals. Some of the later goals given are incredibly hard, so Juiced 2 does not remain an easy game for long.

Driver DNA

A unique feature in Juiced 2 is 'Driver DNA'. The game will build up a DNA strand of your own unique style. Your DNA can change depending on how much nitrous you use, how much you gamble on a race, if you drive aggressively, and more. 
 
There are three possible ways your Driver DNA can go : Burning (you do this a lot), Neutral, and Ice Cold. Ice Cold basically says you're a calm, collected driver, and you only drive aggressively if necessary. Ursula Mayes is your guide to Driver DNA at the start of the game. Unsurprisingly, she has Ice Cold DNA, making her the best AI driver in the game.

Other players can view your DNA online before a race. They can download this DNA, and use it for a driver in their team, or race against it in the Driver DNA Lab.

Driver DNA Lab

The Driver DNA Lab in the game allows you to race against the DNA strands of your friends and competitors online, as well as allowing you to race against the DNA of different drivers. The Lab contains the DNA of several famous drivers, such as drifters. There is also a French football player you can race against. Ursula Mayes cannot be raced against in

the Lab, despite the fact she has the best DNA of any drivers in the game.

Soundtrack

Racing Soundtrack

• Acidecine - 16 Bit Lolitas
  
• Mind Killer  (Remix) - Adam Freeland
  
• High Speed Heist - Bruno Coon
  
• Stone Crows - Bruno Coon
  
• Lightning Strikes - Bruno Coon
• Whassisface - Adam Freeland
• Never Ever Enough - Adam Freeland
• Hommeage - Adam Freeland
• Blocks - Adam Freeland
• Flourohorns - Adam Freeland
• Morodish - Adam Freeland
• Sg Rei - Adam Freeland
• Neu! Rave - Adam Freeland
• Spin Machine - Adam Freeland
• E-Drone Part One - Adam Freeland
• Shinjuku Socks - Adam Freeland
• Futcant - Adam Freeland
• Grrrr! - Adam Freeland
• Monza - Adam Freeland
• Glowstick - Adam Freeland
• YesYesYesYes! - Adam Freeland
• Infinity 2008 - Guru Josh Project
• Hazy Way - Alex Dolby
• What She Wants - Alex Metric
• Hypnotized - Collette
• Paddy's Revenge - Steve Mac
• Best Looking Guy In Town - Natural Born Hippies
• Pleasure Me (Instrumental) - D. Ramirez
• Drummin' and Bassin' - DJ Rap
• For Lovers Not Fighters - Evil Nine
• Pjanoo - Eric Prydz
• Restless - Evil Nine
• This Is The Sound - K-Swing
• Get On - Moguai
• Voodoo People (Intrumental) - Prodigy
• Go With The Flow - Queens Of The Stone Age
• Jump - TC & Distorted Minds
• Killa - Way Out West
• What's Your Damage? (Remix) - Test Icicles
• Downfall (Instrumental) - Victory Phil
• Woman (Remix) - Wolfmother

Results / Podium

• Mindkiller - Adam Freeland

Menu Music 

• Mindkiller - Adam Freeland (DS Only)
  
• Hit Da Flow - MusicDoctorz
  
• Mobb Wit It - MusicDoctorz
• Open Sees - MusicDoctorz
  
• Pretty Boy - MusicDoctorz
  
• Students Of? - Music Doctorz
  

 

Reception

Reception for Juiced 2 was mixed. Metacritic calculated an average score of 66, which is merely one point more than its PSP-exclusive predecessor, Juiced Eliminator received. The highest score received for the Playstation 2 version of the  game was 80/100, by the Official UK Playstation magazine. This publication was quoted to have said: 

A surprising success, Juiced 2 is a glamorous, feature-rammed racer with variety by the hood-scoop load and mass appeal.

The lowest score given for the game was given by Gamespot. Gamespot rated the game 55/100, and were quoted to have said:

The total lack of online play and lackluster driving mechanics sink this derivative street racer into mediocrity. 

According to the 7 user reviews for the game, the average is 6.2 out of 10, or 62/100. 
 

System Requirements

Minimum

• Supported OS: Windows® XP SP2 / Windows® Media Center / Windows® Vista
• Processor: 3.0 Ghz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Graphics: DirectX shader 3 compatible card, such as ATI X1300, NVIDIA 6600
• DirectX Version: DirectX® 9.0c
• Sound: DirectX® 9 compatible sound card
• Hard Drive: 5.7 GB Hard Drive space

Recommended

• Processor: Processor Core Duo/AMD
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: DirectX® shader 3 compatible card, such as ATI X1900, NVIDIA 7900 or better
• Sound: DirectX® 9 compatible sound card. Surround sound is supported as hardware allows
• Input Devices: 100% Windows 2000/XP compatible mouse and keyboard or Xbox 360-compatible controller