Although I've never played the first one, this one is good. The cars are detailed. Very detailed. The cars all handle well. There are some parts that you have to go and find a racer. Then flash your high beams on him. That lets him know you want to race. When it comes to story it doesn't have the right essentials to make it a good story. The characters are all annoying. There is little things that make the game good also. Sometimes it will lightning. When you hit a small puddle it slows you down. If you can look past the annoying characters. You have a game that has excellent gameplay when it comes to street racing.