[Short]
The controversial attractive lads aside (can be ignored if you wish), SRS ain't half bad, to be honest. Despite a lack of sense of true speed because the map is mostly linear, FOV is kinda low and doesn't offers many long straights, SRS can still be fun with how mostly different each car handles. But SRS needs more quality (Cops are pointless, for example).

If you enjoyed some 2000s Eutechnyx games before like Ford vs Chevy and Ford Mustang: The Legend Lives, you'll also enjoy this. Underground? 50/50 chances...

3/5 - Better and complete Arcade, customization and sense of speed, and fix cops and tuning quirkiness...



[Long]

You CAN ignore the lads if it embarrass you (kinda). It is possible to play in front of someone (kinda).

Yes, this has attractive womens. Yes, that's its main gimmick (mostly). It also includes many of them in the main menu, bonus videos of them dancing in various outfits, pretty anime womans pant jobs and the ability to "hook up" 18 girlfriends (necessary to 100% the game, but aren't "in your face" and is MOSTLY safe).
But, while it may raise an eyebrown when someone is passing while ignoring, it also isn't in your face that much.

Now that that's out of the way...



I must say: SRS, pr Street Racing Syndicate, ain't half bad! I noticed some negative reviews are playing the game wrong... (And can't blame them)

So there's +10 cars not counting generations and variants (maybe around 40 with) that handles... different.
And that's what I like about SRS: some of them understeer and needs to release the gas or use e-brake to turn, overspins a lot and needs delicate handling, almost don't turn but is linear to drive, "Namco quality of racing", "NFS:U quality of handling", etc. It's almost like I'm playing a different game while the driving is semi-dynamic, it's very cool!

But you may mess up on choosing the wrong car (not fun), and tuning...
Oh yeah, the tuning: another thing I like is, unlike other games as NFS:U, in SRS it has some different upgrades for some parts. For example tires. There's grip and drift tires that can impact the way your car performs, or how some can lower the HP of your car, making it easy to control.

The problem? Well, good luck finding which part is actually correct and what it's benefits because it won't tell you. I wouldn't be surprised if the negative reviewers choose the wrong parts that makes your car have a oversteer and overspin problem...
Apart from that, some cars have a max speed tunning limit. Some is endless. Some can only gain +30 MPH extra speed. Some +10... And some nothing! That's an interesting balance... but even on a starter car??? It sounded too flashy but there was no thoughts... (tho people wasn't obsessed on balancing stuffs before compared to today, just making a game fun and interesting)

Customization has a lot to be desire. 1 widebody kits for most cars, some spoilers, rims, paint jobs, car paints, stickers brand a la NFS:U, a neon... And that's it. (Also, when adding Lightweight Tune 3, your car's hood will ALWAYS be black and cannot be changed unless you don't choose it...)
Stickers can only be obtained when you purchase a brand tunning. If you want a specific brand but it's not recommended for your vehicle's performance then too bad!

There's 3 locations (well 5): an open... zone? To explore (L.A.) and 2 (+2 areas for L.A.) that can't be explored and is used for races only.
For the most part, the game doesn't offer much unique roads, often being linear, short, same-y corners, etc. Speed vehicles is almost useless...

Some in-screen needs improvements; FOV is low and the blur when speeding makes it so you can't see well (can be turned off).

There's cops... That may or not appear after a race... And with slow cars they're hard to escape (they can U-turn like they're cheating...), and with fast cars they're a joke...

The game is also... repetitive. If I can't quit or do something else for the most part, that's a problem. There's 3 races tournaments for the most part, challenges to conquer the womans heart and 1-on-1 races that's kinda broken and easy to not get why... And a cruise mode that lets the game play for itself (yipeee...).

There's also Arcade mode that for some reason only offers 21 races??? (11 in time trails) Where's the rest?
Another tournament mode more longer then the main mode, few checkpoints and time trail. You can also play 2-Players split-screens (hallelujah, PC games!!!), Online (bet it's down) and a LAN mode that crashes...

All of this sounds like it sucks but no, far from it. The game has its moments and you'll see (especially if you like womans).
If you enjoyed some 2000s Eutechnyx games before like Ford vs Chevy and Ford Mustang: The Legend Lives, you'll also enjoy this. Underground? 50/50 chances...

3/5 - Better and complete Arcade, customization and sense of speed, and fix cops and tuning quirkiness...

can't go wrong with a game for 58p.

better than nfsug2