it's not a step up from Most Wanted, but it beats the car selection from MW.

User Rating: 8.5 | Need for Speed Carbon PS2
Need For Speed Carbon, I can say is a great game coming back with drift, and other new mode called canyon run. Canyon Run makes you the driver feel like you are on the verge of dying at anytime if you make a mistake on a turn while either being chased or chasing the boss for that particular race.
aside from that the cars have been put into classes, as of Exotic, Muscle and Tuner. this helps out people with no sense of car labeling and make it easier for other people to tell between a Charger and a Lancer, its that easy. The PS2 version may not have as much contend as the PS3,360, and PC versions. but it does have its ups and downs. (you figure it out)
i could say more but ill get to the point.

If you are a racing junkie like me, you will like the car selection and will care a little about the tracks since most all of them have curves in places that is not needed. if you just like it for time passing, rent it.

overall i give this game a 10pt higher than the gamespot critics.