The characters of the Need for Speed: Underground sub-series of Need for Speed, consisting of Underground and Underground 2.

As the first game in the Need for Speed series to feature a plot as its main story mode,^note Underground features a wide array of memorable characters, something EA doubled down on in Underground 2, with some characters even receiving mentions in later Need for Speed games.

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Player

The player during the prologue of Underground 2.

Car: Acura Integra Type R (Underground, in a Dream Intro), Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) (Underground 2, cutscene only), Nissan 350Z (Z33, 2003) (Underground 2, loaned by Rachel Teller), player's choice

"..."

The main protagonist of the Underground games.

In Underground, the player arrives as a newbie in the street racing scene of Olympic City, but quickly starts to make a name for themselves with the help of Samantha and TJ. Soon, the player challenges the best racers of the city, who were listed in a series of ranking boards. Eventually, the player takes on Eddie's Eastsiders crew, the top ranking racers, and defeats them. The final race sees the player being put against a mysterious racer who has tailed the player through the game, who turns out to be a familiar face.

Following the events of Underground, in Underground 2 the player (the same character as the player in Underground, as established by a voice message from Samantha) is offered a spot in the crew of an unknown driver. The player refuses the offer and is later rammed by said unknown driver, who totaled the player's car. Six months after the incident, the player arrives in Bayview City. Samantha's friend, Rachel Teller, helps the player get to the racing scene in a similar bid to what Samantha did. After successfully completing a series of sponsor contracts, the player becomes noticed by The Wraiths, led by Caleb Reece, who is revealed to be responsible for the player's crash, and who plans to manipulating the sponsorships granted to races in order to claim Bayview's racing scene for himself. The player proceeds to challenge The Wraiths and defeats them, including Nikki Morris, who afterwards decides to join the player. Due to his crew's poor performance, Caleb loses his sponsors and challenges the player to a race, which he also loses in the end.

Ambiguous Gender: Averted; the player's gender at the beginning of Underground 2 is revealed to be a male (plus in Underground some characters refer to the player as "bro"), which is justified as it is the target market for Need for Speed games.
Badass Driver: In both games, their driving skills attract the attention of both the Eastsiders and the Wraiths street-racing crews, and the player takes on all of their members plus their leaders to crown themselves the best street racer of Olympic City and Bayview.
Blank Slate: Underground establishes that they're new to the street racing scene, and is trying to make a name for themselves, to the point their A Taste of Power scene is them dreaming about racing in a fully-modded car. The player is effectively also this in Underground 2, since they move to another city and has to start all over in the street racing scene there.
Cool Car: In Underground, they drive an white Acura Integra Type R with red accents in the opening race, although it's revealed afterwards that it was All Just a Dream. By the beginning of Underground 2, they managed to get themselves a Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34), although it only appears in a cutscene in which it gets totaled. Afterwards, the player is given a metallic-green Nissan 350Z with a carbon-fiber hood and a unique dragon graphic with purple flames, but that is actually Rachel Teller's car that the player eventually has to return to her.
Cutscene Incompetence: As long as the player is controlling them behind the wheel, the main character can be the Badass Driver the game describes him to be. In the intro of Underground 2, however, you will see them spectacularly crash their Nissan Skyline and get it totaled.
Distracted by the Sexy: At one point during Underground, the player exchanges glances with Melissa, Eddie's girlfriend. They player keeps looking at her while choir-like music plays, implying that the player became enthralled with her. Samantha catches on this and snaps the player out of it, calling them a "loser".
No Name Given: They're simply the player. That is all.
Player Character: The player is the character through which you play the game.
Rank Up: In each game, the player must climb up the ranks of the street racing rankings.
A Taste of Power:
- In Underground, the opening race in which you drive a fully-modded car is revealed to be a daydream of the player. After Samantha wakes you up from your daydream, you're invited to select your actual unmodded starter car.
  Samantha: Ouch! That is seriously weak, dude!
- In Underground 2, once you arrive in Bayview, Rachel lets you borrow her car (a fully-modded Nissan 350Z) so you can get from the airport over to your garage. You can drive straight there, or you can participate in a couple of races, which will prompt increasingly irate messages from Rachel.
Villain Protagonist: Street racing is illegal, so the player qualifies as this. That being said, in the Underground games, street racing is treated as apparently morally-ambiguous enough that in Underground you get invited to magazine cover photo shoots, and in Underground 2 there's a privately-sponsored racing league, the Underground Racing League (URL), operating alongside the street races.
The Voiceless: The player doesn't ever speak at all.
You Can't Thwart Stage One: In Underground 2, Caleb Reece caused the player to total their Nissan Skyline at the beginning of the game, to which the player can do nothing against, as it is represented in a cutscene.

Need for Speed: Underground

Main characters

Samantha

Car: Honda Civic Si (EM1)

Portrayed by: Cindy Johnson (likeness), Sharon Alexander (voice)

"You wanna be the best? You gotta take these boys down! If you lose, you're gone! Got it? Good! Now move it!"

The player's faithful companion in Underground.

She befriends the player and introduces them to the street racing scene in Olympic City by highlighting racing rules and new events. However, Eddie forces the player to race against Samantha before they can challenge him in event #78 "Friends Are Easy to Make, and Easier to Lose". Samantha will wreck her Honda Civic Si after the player wins, and will end their friendship in the process. Prior to the end of Underground Mode, the player must reclaim Samantha's car by beating TJ (revealing that TJ took the car for his own, even altering its livery) in event #110 "Good Samaritan". Samantha will then thank the player and reconcile with them.

Break the Cutie: The game forces you to challenge the sweet and lovable Samantha to a race, ending your friendship with her. Not only that, but her car gets totaled in the process. Fortunately, TJ repaired the car to use it himself and you eventually challenge him to get the car back to Samantha and make amends.
The Cameo: She makes a voice-only cameo in Underground 2, calling the player shortly before they wreck their car, making her the only character to appear in both Underground games besides the player.
Exposition Fairy: She's the one who introduces the player to the street racing scene in Olympic City by highlighting racing rules and new events.
Itasha: Her Honda Civic Si is wrapped in a Hello Kitty-like kawaii design. When TJ takes the car for himself after the player defeats her, TJ vandalizes the design, like adding crosses over the cat's eyes and a mouthful of ferocious teeth.
It's a Wonderful Failure: If you actually lose your race against her, a cutscene will appear of her saying that from now on, she'll do like Buddha and tells you to get lost.
Samantha: When it comes to losers like you, I am wise. I am Buddha. Get lost...
Ms. Fanservice: Actually downplayed; while Samantha is very lovely, in the game proper there's no moment in which she gives outright fanservice for the viewers, and her relationship with the player is strictly platonic as they remain just friends, with Melissa instead being portrayed as the player's object of desire.^note The most far she goes as this is that some of her voice messages to the player (especially the ones about races with exclusive parts at stake) can be done in a flirty manner.
Nice Girl: She has a very warm and sunny disposition to the player. The only time she loses her cool is when the player is forced to challenge her to a race.
Shout-Out: Samantha's car is decorated with a character that looks-quite-like-but-technically-isn't Hello Kitty.
The Tease: While her friendship to the player is strictly platonic, some of her voice messages to them can be quite flirty. One for example has her promising the player that she'll give them "something sweeter than candy" if they win the next race. (Don't have any ideas; she's talking about exclusive parts for the player's car.) Event #77, which is a race that awards exclusive parts, is in fact titled "Samantha's Big Tease".
Tomboy with a Girly Streak: She takes part in street racing, not exactly a femenine hobby, but she does so in a baby-blue car with Kawaii-inspired livery.
True Companions: With the player. She introduces them to the street racing scene, and while the player is forced to race her and she loses her car in the process, the player later challenges TJ (who took the car for himself) and upon defeating him gets the car back to Samantha.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfsu1_tj.jpg

Car: Honda Civic Si (EM1) (originally owned by Samantha)

"I gave them the edge, and they blew it. You think you're better? Prove it, and maybe, I'll help you out."

The game's junkman. He offers the player unique performance upgrades that can be combined with any regular upgrade for beating his time trial events.

After the player races against Samantha in event #78, "Friends Are Easy to Make, and Easier to Lose", TJ will be given her Honda Civic Si. In event #110, "Good Samaritan", TJ will race against the player and if defeated will return his car to Samantha.

Defacement Insult: Upon taking Samantha's car, he defaces the livery by adding aggresive expressions to the Kawaii-like faces on it. While it's not stated that he does so to intentionally insult Samantha, it's clear that he didn't like the livery as it was.
Drives Like Crazy: When it's finally time to race him, he drives like this, swinging around maniacally.
The Engineer: He's the game's junkman, meaning that he can give you unique performance upgrades for your car for beating his time trial events.
Fun with Acronyms: It's not explicitly stated in the game, but it's appropiate that The Junkman of the game is named TJ.
Graceful Loser: Downplayed. He does return Samantha's car upon losing to the player (compare this to Razor in Most Wanted, who wouldn't have returned the M3 if not for Mia's intervention), but it's implied that he does so very reluctantly, considering that upon doing so he leaves in his tow truck with a scowl.
Hate Sink: There is absolutely nothing in terms of redeeming qualities personality-wise in him. The only reason he's technically on the player's side is that he can give them unique upgrades.
Jerkass: He's one of the more miserable S.O.B.'s in the franchise (which is saying something), from belittling the player for no good reason when the player goes to him for upgrades, to taking Samantha's car for himself.
Laser-Guided Karma: For all of his demands that the player beat his time trial events to give them upgrades, he can't put his money where his mouth is when he faces them, and ends up engrossing the list of racers the player defeated, and is forced to return Samantha her car.
Token Evil Teammate: Out of all the characters who help the player, he's the one who sticks out as being particularly unpleasant, as while he does give the player upgrades, he does so while constantly belittling them. Then he becomes an out-and-out antagonist after taking Samantha's car and challenging the player with it.

The Eastsiders

Eddie

^{Click here to see Eddie in Need for Speed (2015).}

Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34)

"You want a shot at me? Well, you gotta prove it!"

The main antagonist of Underground, the leader of The Eastsiders street racing crew and the most prominent racer in Olympic City.

Eddie later appears in the 2015 reboot and provide the player his set of 15 races called "Eddie's Challenges".

Big Bad: He's the main antagonist of Underground.
Bring It: Once the player is finally going to face him in Underground, Eddie does this in a cutscene.
Eddie: Let's do this! It's on!
Bullying a Dragon: In Underground, despite the player's progress, he will think nothing of the player's skills. At one point he even calls a taxi for them to go home!
Eddie: Here's some money. Call a cab. You'll get home quicker. [looking offscreen] Yo, taxi!
The Bus Came Back: Eddie makes a special return in the 2015 reboot as part of the Legends update, where he's also driving the iconic orange Nissan Skyline.
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Unlike later antagonists in the franchise, the ending of Underground doesn't show what happens to Eddie immediately after the player defeats him, as it segues to the player being challenged by the mysterious racer. Ironically, Eddie would later return in another game, the 2015 reboot.
Continuity Nod: The final race of Eddie's Challenge in the 2015 reboot is the same when you challenged Eddie in Underground: the aptly named "Wrath of Eddie".
Cool Car: He drives an orange Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) with a custom vinyl showing The Eastsiders' logo. It's a quite nifty car, and Need for Speed certainly agreed: Besides being in the game's cover front and center, it's most likely an influence on the player being shown at the beginning of Underground 2 also driving Nissan Skyline GT-R (albeit one that's blue with a yellow striped vinyl). Eddie's orange Skyline also appears in later games:
- It makes a comeback in World, albeit with the incorrect body kit and using a factory spoiler.
- The Run has it as part of the Underground Pack, but using the non-V-Spec R32 as its base model. Among other things, the door decals are omitted, the NFSU logo replacing the namesake crew and using a different set of BBS rims.
- It returns in Most Wanted (2012), which can be obtained via the Need for Speed Heroes Pack. It uses the R34 Skyline again, but using a Nismo body kit Expy and still with the decals missing. At least they properly added the "Eastsiders" logo text this time.
- Ghost Games brings this legendary car to all their games as being their developer for the franchise at the time being.
  - The car was added in the 2015 reboot as part of the Legends update, which actually plays a major role in one of the substories. Among others, it uses a Sun Line Racing body kit, Work Meister wheels and a large volume of decals scattered all over the car.
  - Payback has it appear as one of the abandoned cars, using the same design as the 2015 reboot. This time it only has the decals positioned correctly on the door (albeit incorrect), but still uses the same body kit as above and Rotiform wheels.
  - Heat finally got the Skyline correctly identical to the one in Underground, complete with the correct and actual body kit, wheels, spoiler and decals. The car is unlockable when you complete all of Dex's Driving Stories.
- As part of the Vol 4 update, Unbound marks the return of the Skyline, which was basically copy-pasted from Heat and it can be obtained via paid DLC. However, the anomaly is that the Kenwood decal on the door was removed.
Final Boss: He is the last major challenge you face in Underground's career mode.
Hate Sink: In Underground, there is absolutely nothing in terms of redeeming qualities in him.
How the Mighty Have Fallen: Implied by Travis's dialogue when he first tells the player about Eddie's Challenge in the 2015 reboot, as he says that Eddie "used to rule the streets". Nonetheless, actually racing him shows that despite this he's nothing to be scoffed at, plus he appears to have enough reputation to have many racers sign up for Eddie's Challenge.
Jerkass: In Underground, he's ultimately a jerk who thinks nothing of the player.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: When Eddie returns in the 2015 reboot, he initially appears to be the same thug as he was in Underground (declaring that all those who signed up for Eddie's Challenge are "toast"), but as the player progresses through his challenges, he will slowly mellow out and eventually congratulate you after you beat him, sounding genuinely amicable during it.
Manipulative Bastard: In Underground, he forces the player to race against their friend Samantha first before having to face him. Made worse by the fact that afterwards he actually turns down the player and the player will have to race Eddie's crew some more before actually having to face him.
The Rival: To Travis in the 2015 reboot.
Took a Level in Kindness: Eddie in the 2015 reboot has a different approach to the one he had in Underground. He still retains his Jerkass personality, as usual. But as you progress through his challenges, he will slowly mellow out and eventually congratulate and respect you after you beat him.

Chad, Kurt and Todd

From top to bottom: Chad, Kurt, and Todd

Car: Toyota Celica GT-S, Honda S2000 (AP1) (Chad); Acura RSX Type-S, Mazda RX-7 (FD) (Series 6) (Kurt); Mitsubishi Lancer ES, Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (Todd)

The rest of the members of The Eastsiders, who challenge the player en route to the player facing Eddie.

Bald of Evil: Todd has a shiny pate, which heightens his appearance as a street thug.
Casanova Wannabe: Todd at one point will chastise the player by telling them that he could spend the time he's wasting on dealing with them by being with some ladies instead.
Evil Counterpart: They can be considered to be this to Dirt, José, and Klutch; the three racers, each one centered in a particular type of race, who also hand out challenges to the player, except they do so a much more friendly manner, while Chad, Kurt and Todd are actively attempting to stop the player from confronting their boss. Heck, even Todd and Klutch both share a penchant to boast about the ladies.
Extremity Extremist: Each member is specialized in a particular type of race: Chad is specialized in Sprint, Kurt is specialized in Circuit, and Todd is specialized in Drag.
Flat Character: They share a folder for a reason. Their characterization begins and ends with them being Eddie's toadies who serve as an inconvenience to the player.
Mid-Season Upgrade: Each one of them upgrades their cars to a more powerful one at one point in the game: Chad goes from a Toyota Celica GT-S to a Honda S2000; Kurt goes from an Acura RSX Type-S to a Mazda RX-7 (FD) (Series 6); and Todd goes from a Mitsubishi Lancer ES to a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. The events in which each new car debuts lampshade this, being given names like "Chad's New Toy" and "Kurt's Killer Ride".

Dirt, José and Klutch

In General

A trio of racers that appear through Underground's career mode, handing out various challenges to the player.

Aerith and Bob: They are Dirt, Klutch, and... José.
Extremity Extremist: Each one is specialized in a particular type of race: Dirt on Drift, Klutch on Drag, and José mainly on Circuits.
Good Counterpart: Could be considered to be a "good" version of Eddie's Eastsiders lackeys Chad, Kurt and Todd; a trio of racers who each specialize in a particular type of race, but are much more cordial to the player (Klutch's trash talk notwitstanding).
Nice Guy: Dirt and José are very cordial to the player. Klutch, with his Trash Talk towards them... less so.

Dirt

Car: Nissan 240SX (S13)

"They call me Dirt, and I like to get... sideways."

A racer who gives race challenges to the player throughout Underground Mode. He mainly gives the player Drift events.

Only Known by Their Nickname: He's only known as "Dirt". His real name is unknown.
Worthy Opponent: Dirt ends up admiring the player's skills behind the wheel.
Dirt: Gotta say, there's a new drifter in town.

José

Car: Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 (Mk4)

"Wassup bro, I'm Jose. Sam told me to keep an eye on you. She says you plan on turning the streets upside down. Welcome to the streets dog. See if you can hang."

A racer who gives the player many race challenge events, and like them is a friend of Samantha. His challenges are mainly Circuit events.

Big Fun: While only his headshot is seen, José's rather round face implies that he has quite some girth, but doesn't stop him from being a fun racer to be around.
What the Hell, Hero?: José will call out the player for challenging and defeating Samantha, despite the game requiring you to race her in order to finish the story.
José: Hey bro, knew you were gonna contend, but it's pretty weak that you turned on Samantha...

José: Bro, it's me! Nice job taking down Eddie's posse in the last tourney. Number 3 in the sprints is on the line. Too bad your friend Samantha ain't here to see ya.

Klutch

Car: Dodge Neon

"Sup dawg? Name's Derek but my buds call me Klutch. I think I'll call you Tow Truck cuz that's what's goin' to be haulin' that heap to the dump after this race!"

A racer who hands out challenges to the player on several occasions, although much more rambunctiously so than Dirt and José.

Bullying a Dragon: Good grief, Klutch does not know when to shut up. No matter how many times the player beats him, he'll claim that they got lucky, underestimating their racing ability.
Casanova Wannabe: One of his excuses for losing to the player is that he was distracted "checkin' out the ladies!" Of course, the only proof of that are his own words.
Meaningful Name: "Klutch" is an appropiate nickname for a guy who competes in drag racing, which involves a good handling of the clutch pedal.
Only Known by Their Nickname: There is one sole mention that his actual name is Derek, the rest of the time it's just "Klutch".
Out of Focus: He gives out less challenges to the player in comparison to Dirt and José.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Klutch eventually realizes that the player is "too lucky" and decides to call it a night.
Klutch: Yes, you too lucky for me, I'm out for the games, holmes!
Xtreme Kool Letterz: Klutch. Like "clutch" but with a "k" instead of a "c", probably because he's x-treme!

Other characters

Melissa (SPOILERS)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfsu1_melissa.jpg

^{Click here to see live-action Melissa in the magazine cover obtained after defeating Eddie.}

^{Click here to see Melissa in Need for Speed (2015).}

Car: Nissan 350Z (Z33, 2003), OTHERS^*

Portrayed by: Amy Walz (Underground)

Eddie's girlfriend. After the player has completed the prologue event of Underground Mode, she will appear in a cutscene that shows her hanging out with The Eastsiders and glancing at the player.

After the player defeats Samantha, as her totaled car is towed out, a mysterious silver Nissan 350Z appears witnessing the events. After the player defeats Eddie, the silver Nissan 350Z reappears to challenge the player to one last race, in the event "Legend of the Street". After the player emerges victorious, the mysterious driver is revealed to be Melissa herself.

Alongside Eddie, Melissa herself returns in the 2015 reboot.

Ascended Extra: Unlike in Underground where Melissa was only seen briefly early on in the game and at the end of it, the 2015 reboot gives her more screen time where she often calls the player throughout the entire sub-story.
The Bus Came Back: Like Eddie, Melissa makes a special return in the 2015 reboot as part of the Legends update.
Chekhov's Gunman: She gets introduced at the beginning of Underground simply as being Eddie's girlfriend, but turns out to be the game's Post-Final Boss.
Exposition Fairy: Serves as this in the 2015 reboot, who acts as the player's guide throughout Eddie's Challenge.
Five-Second Foreshadowing: In Underground, after defeating Eddie, one of the achievements obtained is a new magazine cover featuring Melissa, Eddie's girlfriend. (Complete with the model whose likeness Melissa is based on, Amy Walz,appearing in a live-action photo.) She ends up being the "mysterious" opponent for the next (and the absolute last) story event.
Foreshadowing: Aside from the Five-Second Foreshadowing before the very last race, Underground's very intro features a clue about Melissa's true nature. The intro shows a purple Mitsubishi Eclipse racing through some streets before doing a Ramp Jump through a drawbridge. While the driver is never clearly shown, some eagle-eyed viewers might notice that there are some shots of the driver featuring items belonging to Melissa (such as her wristband and shoes), and at one point the driver's face can be partially seen on a rear view mirror, and indeed, it appears to be someone with long, blonde hair, just like Melissa. This means that even from the very beginning there were already some hints that Melissa, rather than just some eye candy, is the actual final boss of the game.
Head-Turning Beauty: An attractive enough woman that at one point the player keeps staring a her for a while, causing Samantha to have to snap them out of it.
Ms. Fanservice: In Underground, Melissa is the main source of eye candy of the game. At one point, the player looks at her while choir-like music plays, implying that the player became enthralled with her; Samantha catches on this and snaps the player out of it, calling them a "loser".
Post-Final Boss: She ends up being the actual final boss of Underground, having to face her after defeating Eddie.
Samus Is a Girl: In Underground, there's no indication that the mysterious racer is actually a woman. That being said, looking at the position table during the race with her will show that your opponent is billed as "MELISSA".
The Voiceless: In Underground, like the player, she doesn't ever speak at all.
The Rival: To Travis in the 2015 reboot, although his dialogue leaves it ambiguous on whether she's this or was actually his ex.
Suddenly Voiced: After having been The Voiceless in Underground, in the 2015 reboot she is given a voice.
Walking Spoiler: It's impossible to talk about her without revealing that she's the mysterious driver at the end of Underground.

Need for Speed: Underground 2

Main characters

Rachel Teller

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfsu2_rachel.jpg

Car: Nissan 350Z (Z33, 2003)

Portrayed by: Brooke Burke

"Hey, how's it going? I'm Rachel, Samantha's friend. I heard your plane finally got in. Welcome to Bayview."

A friend of Samantha who helps the player as they earn reputation in the city of Bayview.

After the player arrives to Bayview, she lets the player drive her Nissan 350Z to meet her at a car dealership. The player can enter into a couple of race events, outruns and a hidden race in Rachel's car to earn money, which will result in Rachel becoming increasingly angrier at the player as they enter events, but she ultimately forgives them upon reaching the car dealership. From then on, Rachel will help the player frequently throughout the game by giving them tips on driving, secret shops, important events and sometimes hidden events.

Adaptation Dye-Job: In the Japanese release of Underground 2, Underground 2 Sha-Do, instead of being metallic green with a purple vinyl, Rachel's Nissan 350Z is black with a gold vinyl.
Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: A dark-haired, attractive woman who has an aloof demeanour towards the player, although she'll become more friendly towards them as the player nears victory against Caleb.
The Cameo: In Undercover, she is mentioned in the police profile of Rose Largo, which mentions Rachel Teller as one of her contacts.
Contrasting Replacement Character: In Underground 2, she takes the role of the game's Exposition Fairy from Samantha from the first Underground game, and while they're described as being friends, they couldn't be more different. While Samantha was a Nice Girl who helps the player out just because they're friends (to the point Underground introduces some drama by forcing you to race against her), Rachel on the other hand is an Aloof Dark-Haired Girl who mellows out through the game, and while stating that she's helping the player as a favor to Samantha, she also more or less becomes the player's boss/manager, handing out the sponsorships they receive.
Cool Car: She owns a metallic green Nissan 350Z with a purple vinyl, which she lends to the player upon arriving to Bayview until they can chose their starter car. Much like Eddie's Nissan Skyline, it also appears as it follows:
- The car appears in World but using the wrong body kit, spoiler, rims and the only vinyl used is the Underground 2 logo.
- The same car is added in The Run as part of the Underground Pack, but using the 370Z as the base model and still using the game's namesake logo and an unusual one on the hood as its vinyl.
- Most Wanted (2012) returns to the 350Z (albeit 2006 model), but still uses the same vinyl as above, and using a Nismo Expy body kit.
- Payback makes a comeback of Rachel's 350Z (albeit 2008 model) as an abandoned car. Though Ghost Games retained the original vinyl design, among other incorrect parts were the body kit, spoiler and rims.
- Heat finally uses the exact same model and customization as Rachel's car. The car is unlockable when you complete all of Wayne's Driving Stories.
- Like Eddie's car, Unbound's Vol 4 update adds her 350Z as part of a paid DLC.
Defrosting Ice Queen: She starts out being pretty aloof and business-focused when she first takes the player under her wing, but as the player progresses through the game she warms up over time to them, ending with her (and Nikki Morris) enthusiastically celebrating after the player defeats Caleb.
Exposition Fairy: She's the one who introduces the player to the street racing scene in Bayview, giving them tips on driving, shops, and important events.
Ms. Fanservice: She shares with Nikki Morris the duties of giving eye candy in Underground 2, and quite so. The game finds many ways to show Rachel in figure-flattering outfits that highlight Brooke Burke's buxom looks. Her image even graces the game's loading screen◊, a rarity even during Need for Speed's fanservice-laden "tuner" era.
What the Hell, Player?: The game has Rachel give you her car as your Taste of Power, as while she ostensibly gave you the car until you go to the car lot to chose a starter car, there are a couple of races (plus a hidden one) that you can accept to participate in while in her car. If you do so, you'll receive increasingly angry messages from Rachel asking where her car is.
Rachel: Hey dude, w— what's the holdup? You're lost or something? The car lot is on the minimap. Hurry up and get over here. I don't have all night.

Rachel: Hey man, I want my car back! You better haul over here ASAP or I'm puttin' the word out on you — and that means no more racin' until I say so. Get over here...NOW!

Rachel: [dismissive] You know what, hotshot? The word is out... racing's over. The longer you take to get over here, the harder it's gonna be. I ain't calling you again.

The Wraiths

In General

A street racing crew that operates in Bayview, led by Caleb Reece.

Equal-Opportunity Evil: For a Blood Sport not particularly seen as femenine as street racing, all of the Wraiths, as jerks as they may be, seem pretty okay not only with having a female member, but also with her apparently being The Dragon to their organization. They also appear to have one Asian male as a member.
Evil Wears Black: They are the largest rivals to the player and they all dress in black and all of their cars are black (although with a purple hue).
The Freelance Shame Squad: Pretty much the only reason for the other Wraiths members not named Caleb or Nikki to exist is to laugh at and mock the player.
"Check it out! It's the big daddy champ from up north!"
"Nah, it can't be. Looks more like a chump than a champ."
The Grim Reaper: They use the Grim Reaper on their imagery; all of their cars have reaper vinyls, plus Caleb has a scythe tattooed on one hand, which identifies him as the one who caused the player to crash at the beginning of the game.
Out of Focus: Besides Caleb Reece and Nikki Morris, there are shown to be other Wraiths members (named Scott, Tom, Al, Nigel, and Marcus), but they don't receive as much focus as Caleb or Nikki.

Caleb Reece

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfsu2_caleb.jpg

Car: Pontiac GTO (2004), Hummer H2 (intro cutscene)

Portrayed by: David Palffy

"YOU!!! You're nothing but bad luck! I took you out once and I'm gonna do it again! I'm calling you out! Right here, right now. Everything on the line. You down, or what?"

The main antagonist of Underground 2, and the leader of The Wraiths street racing crew.

At the beginning of the game, a mysterious man called the player to try to force them to join his crew, but the player refused by hanging up. This man later ambushed the player whilst he was en route to a party by sitting in a dark alley and activating the headlights of his Hummer H2, blinding the player and causing them to crash. This eventually led to the player traveling to Bayview.

By the time the player arrives to Bayview, Caleb is known as the most ruthless racer in all of the city, but he starts to notice that the player is earning rep within the city and tries to have members of his crew curb the player's success, eventually being revealed as the mysterious man who caused the player to crash at the beginning of the game (as noted by how the game focuses on the fact he has the same scythe tatoo on his hand as the man was shown to have). Caleb's failure to stop the player's success, as well as his psychotic obsession with control over the city, causes him to race the player in a final confrontation, but loses in the process.

Bad Boss: He berates Nikki Morris after her defeat to the player, even though up until then she was described as being an exceptional racer to the point of being his Dragon, causing her to quit The Wraiths and join the player.
Bald of Evil: Caleb has a shiny pate, which heightens his appearance as a street thug.
Big Bad: He is the main antagonist of Underground 2.
The Cameo: In Undercover, he is mentioned in Hector Maio's police profile, where he is listed as one of Hector's acquaintances.
Final Boss: He is the last racer you face in Underground 2's career mode.
Hate Sink: There is absolutely nothing in terms of redeeming qualities in him.
Hot-Blooded: He gets increasingly riled up as the player goes through his minions.
Caleb: Not one of you could take that guy out?! NOT. ONE?!
Jerkass: A bossy, cheating thug who loves to see the player in humiliating misery.
Marathon Boss: The race you face him in as his Boss Battle is a five-lap circuit race, the longest in the game.
Tattooed Crook: He has a scythe tattoo on his right hand, which gives him away as the one responsible for making the player crash at the beginning of the game, as the perpetrator, while obscured by shadows, was shown to have the exact same tattoo.
Vehicular Assault: A particular variation of this. At the beginning of the game he uses a Hummer against the player, but rather than use the car to directly crash against the player, Caleb instead sits in a dark alley and waits until the player approaches and turns on the Hummer's headlights, blinding the player and causing them to crash.
Villainous Breakdown: He gradually loses his cool as the player goes through his minions, but the straw that breaks the camel's back is when the control of the sponsorships slips from his grasp due to The Wraiths' multiple defeats, leading him to challenge the player as quoted above.
"You!" Exclamation: He begins his rant at the player before their climatic race by shouting "You!" at them.

Nikki Morris

^{Click here to see Nikki after leaving The Wraiths}

Car: Ford Mustang GT (Gen. 5)

Portrayed by: Kelly Brook

"So you're what all the fuss is about? Ha ha... Don't look like much to me. You haven't got a chance here, on or off the track."

Caleb's second in command in The Wraiths. As such she is sent by Caleb to take down the player, but is defeated, and she eventually defects from The Wraiths following Caleb's mistreatment and will help the player in taking down Caleb.

The Dragon: She's Caleb's second in command, as she's implied to be a experimented-enough racer to be sent by Caleb to deal with the player.
Good Costume Switch: After leaving The Wraiths, she ditches her all-black racing outfit and starts dressing more casually, similarly to Rachel.
Heel–Face Turn: She starts out as a member of The Wraiths before leaving them and joining the player's side.
Hell-Bent for Leather: Her outfit as a member of The Wraiths includes a leather racing jacket.
High-Heel–Face Turn: The sole female member of The Wraiths, who leaves them and joins the player's side.
Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: She is extremely adamant about never cheating and always racing fair and square; this results in her clash with Caleb and her eventual departure from the Wraiths.
Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: She eventually gets fed up with Caleb's crap after he berates her for losing to the player, causing her to leave The Wraiths and join the player's side.
Ms. Fanservice: She shares with Rachel Teller the duties of giving eye candy in Underground 2. She's introduced with a leather outfit, and after her Heel–Face Turn, she takes a page from Rachel's style book by wearing similar figure-flattering outfits that highlight Kelly Brook's buxom looks.
Proud Beauty: She's a stunningly attractive woman, and it's implied that she's well-aware of it, going by her comment upon meeting the player that they have no chance "on or off the track" with her.
Samus Is a Girl: Seems to be what her introduction goes for. We are introduced to the other members of The Wraiths, all guys, then a car pulls over, the driver wearing a racing jacket and a full helmet, then takes the helmet off... and reveals a drop-dead gorgeous woman behind it.
The Smurfette Principle: The only female member of The Wraiths.
Underestimating Badassery: She's dismissive of the player's talents even when Caleb (of all people) tells her to not underestimate them, calling the player "a showboating loser." Naturally, she ends up losing to the player.

Other characters

Tommy

"Round back is Tommy. He's a wizard under the hood. He'll hook you up."

— Rachel Teller

A mechanic who works in the player's garage. He gives the player tutorials including event play instructions and gives hints to hidden race events.

The Engineer: He's described as your mechanic, meaning that nominally he would fit this role, but oddly enough he's more of a secondary Exposition Fairy who gives the player tutorials on events and car setups.
Exposition Fairy: Acts as a secondary one to Rachel, giving the player tutorials on how to play each event type, descriptions of what all the various tuning options do, and hints for finding hidden race events.
Good Counterpart: He's basically a nicer version of TJ from Underground, in that both are mechanics who help the player through the game, but Tommy helps you amicably and without asking for anything in return, whereas TJ constantly belittled the player and asked them to compete in his time trial events.
Nice Guy: He is nothing but enthusiastic towards the player.

Need for Speed: Underground Rivals

Weasel

Weasel's Nissan Sentra.

Car: Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

The boss of the Novice series who drives a white Nissan Sentra with red side stripes.

Weasel is only seen when you drive an American car.^note

Animal Motif: Averted. While Weasel shares their name with the animal of the same name, they otherwise show little to no connection to said animal.
Unusable Enemy Equipment: Weasel's car is unobtainable, though it is possible to customize a stock Nissan Sentra to resemble said car.
What a Piece of Junk: Drives a sporty trimmed Nissan Sentra with very simple modifications.

Des3000

Des3000's Ford Focus ZX3.

Car: Ford Focus ZX3 (Gen. 1)

The boss of the Novice series who drives a black first-gen Ford Focus with a Toyo Tires-themed skidmark pattern.

Des3000 is only seen when you drive a Japanese car.

Aerith and Bob: Among bosses with an cool name to go with their ride, Des3000 is the only boss whose name that combines letters and numbers in one word, which sounds more like a username.
Red and Black and Evil All Over: Des3000's Ford Focus is painted in black with red window tint, and is one of the player's rivals. (Plus, street racing being illegal and all that.)
Unusable Enemy Equipment: Like Weasel, Des3000's car is unobtainable, though it is possible to customize a stock Ford Focus to resemble said car.

Tank

Tank's Dodge Charger R/T.

Car: Dodge Charger R/T (1969)

The boss of the Pro series who drives a black classic Dodge Charger R/T with red and grey tribal patterns.

Tank is only seen when you drive a Japanese car.

Red and Black and Evil All Over: A Dodge Charger with black paint, red window tint and red neon, and is one of the player's rivals. (Plus, street racing being illegal and all that.)
What a Piece of Junk: Tank's choice of car is a classic Dodge Charger, complete with a body kit, OZ Superturismo wheels and flashy vinyl patterns, but its sheer raw power makes it no slouch to compete against.

Triple Dub

Car: Subaru Impreza WRX STi (GDB-D)

Triple Dub's Subaru WRX STi.

The boss of the Pro series who drives a silver Subaru Impreza with blue and grey streaks and a turbocharger sticker.

Triple Dub is only seen when you drive an American car.^note

Mythology Gag: Triple Dub's vinyl pattern later becomes the car exclusive vinyl for the WRX STi in Most Wanted 5-1-0.^note

DJ Wess

DJ Wess's Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

Car: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C5)

The boss of the Master series who drives a black C5 Corvette Z06 with red stipes, an elaborate star pattern and an eagle decal.

DJ Wess is only seen when you drive a Japanese car.

Animal Motif: Uses an elaborate American bald eagle vinyl pattern on their Corvette.
Cool Car: A C5 Z06 Corvette (which was last seen in Hot Pursuit 2) is so cool enough already, it is something you can't find in the main versions of Underground. Doubles as a Pimped-Out Car, which includes the race-spec body kit with fixed headlights, pulsated neon and a tuner spoiler.
Final Boss: One of the two final bosses of the game alongside GT King, depending on which car you drive.
Mythology Gag: DJ Wess makes a few mentions in the PSP version of Most Wanted, Most Wanted 5-1-0.
- The vinyl vinyl pattern is later used as Kaze's vinyl pattern for her C6 Corvette, albeit in blue paint, which resembles the flag of the United States.
- DJ Wess themselves appear as a regular opponent. Either they're seen in a C6 Corvette or a road-going M3 GTR.

GT King

GT King's Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

Car: Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34)

The boss of the Master series who drives a white Nissan R34 Skyline with blue flame patterns.

DJ Wess is only seen when you drive an American car.^note

The Ace: They're called GT King for a reason.
Cool Car: The R34 Skyline, which is one of the best cars in the line up.
Final Boss: One of the two final bosses of the game alongside DJ Wess, depending on which car you drive.
Hot Paint Job: Blue flame patterns are fitted on GT King's Skyline.
Mythology Gag: GT King's blue flame pattern (but with different decals) is later used as JV's vinyl pattern for his Ford GT in the PSP version of Most Wanted, Most Wanted 5-1-0.
Red and Black and Evil All Over: Inverted. GT King's Skyline is painted cream white with blue flame patterns and a light blue tint and neon, which makes it more of White and Blue and Evil All Over. And GT King one of the final bosses of the game, plus as mentioned above, street racing is illegal, so they definitely fit as one.

Characters / Need for Speed: Underground

Car: Acura Integra Type R (Underground, in a Dream Intro), Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) (Underground 2, cutscene only), Nissan 350Z (Z33, 2003) (Underground 2, loaned by Rachel Teller), player's choice

Need for Speed: Underground