GH Review: Nascar 09 (PS3 & X360)

craig5320

Read The Review Here
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Electronic Arts, sole owner of the Nascar sports game licensing rights have released the latest incarnation of the popular racing series. Can the newest game successfully capture the exciting atmosphere of the real thing or is it just another rehash of last years game?

If you have been lucky enough to ever attend a Nascar event you will already be aware of the electric atmosphere, the smell of burning gas (petrol to the Europeans) and the array of colourful race car drivers. Unfortunately the game translation has never captured the real life experience and we end up with a rather dull racing game which requires the player to simply press left on the gamepad from time to time.

Jeffrey9910

Just wondering if there is a big difference between the US and EU version? Which version is the review based on? As if it's the US version, I've never seen a review with more things wrong in my life. But no matter what version it's for, I really think someone else should have reviewed the game, especially since the reviewer obviously doesn't like oval racing from the following quotes. "

"If you are a NASCAR fan like me, then the crashes are part of the attraction and crowd appeal."

"Push left, rinse, repeat, as exciting as watching paint dry."

Clearly the reviewer doesn't like oval racing and the only reason for him to watch Nascar is for wrecks. Last time I checked, that was called demolition derby, not racing. And then of course, you would like Grid better. Considering that's the only thing worth playing that game for, replays and wrecks.

As for the US version, I've known nobody who's had any problems with uploading custom cars. The driver does move his arms/hands when in the incar view. He'll even take them off and open and close his hand to get cramps out during cautions. I'll admit I'm new to the site but if you want to be taken seriously, atleast get someone who knows something about the sport or actually likes it to review it.

Thanks, Jeffrey

Zardon

Thanks for the comments, even if you didn't like the review !

I spoke to John and he said he is a fan of the real life racing but the game is exceptionally boring as you basically just push the pad to the left and rinse and repeat. He said he has actually been to the races before as his cousin is a fanatic. In his own words "it is one of those exciting events that has not yet translated well into the electronic medium".....

Obviously if you like the game thats great and im sure not everyone agrees with all the game reviews, I mean reviewing games isn't really like reviewing hardware, very much of it is subjective and personal.

Hope you hang around and enjoy the forums and reviews, nice to see new faces.

Jeffrey9910

Thats what oval racing is. I don't really understand what he wants them to change. Of course the game also has Watkins Glen and Infineion Raceway, both of which are road courses.

Did he use the US version to review the game? As if he did, then there are some huge inaccuracies in the review.

I don't have a problem with him having a different review of the game then me, I could care less if he gave it a 1. I just think his reasons for giving such a score, all you do is turn left and the damage model, make it come off sounding like all he's worried about is huge over the top wrecks and not so much about the racing.

I would have like for him to tell me what they could change to make it better because to me, right now it comes off more as he doesn't like ovals and is more into road courses, so nothing they change would make him like the game.

LukeK

I think you need to calm down buddy. As you are new here thats cool but John pretty much hit the review of the game on the head (his reviews are some of the best on the net). Its a terrible game. Is the sport terrible? seems entertaining enough when I watch it on tv, but to me Nascar is awful on a computer. A racing game to me should be exciting and fun with great environments. Nascar the game is "turn in one direction" and have the odd crash. It's like darts, its good to watch and play but makes a crap game.

I played the demo of this game and I thought it sucked and from what ive read, most people think the same unless they are Nascar fanatics like yourself.

humonous

Someone is defending this game? ouch, its rubbish. The demo was enough for me, after 10 minutes I was almost sleeping.

Alex

I think the issue here is exactly what John said in his review, the game won't appeal to the masses but will to fanatics of the racing which is clearly what Jeffrey is. For a hugely read tech site like Driverheaven, Gamingheaven reviews have a spot on balance, John always tries to give his own views then rate the game on how it will appeal to most people. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that if something particularly appeals to you then the rating will be higher.

I love racing games myself and I thought Nascar was quite poor, it didnt even run smoothly on my PS3. Nothing exciting enough in it to appeal to me, and I think the damage model in the game should have been greatly improved to increase the feeling that you were actually driving such a car in what is a very dangerous and exciting event.

Jeffrey9910

If you don't like the sport or aren't a racing fan, then yes I can clearly see why you won't like the game. My problem with the review is 2 things,

1) If he's reviewing the US version, there are some drastic inaccuracies in the review. Example the drivers hand and arms do move(which the reviewer says they don't and then bashes EA, as that's unacceptable for a nex gen game) and I've known nobody who's had problems uploading custom cars. Even though it's possible he could have, he just made it sound like a huge hassle.

2) The reviewer came off sounding like he didn't like the game because, he doesn't like oval racing. Example "Push left, rinse, repeat, as exciting as watching paint dry." And because the game didn't have exciting crashes "If you are a NASCAR fan like me, then the crashes are part of the attraction and crowd appeal."

While I'll agree the damage model is messed up, the crashes are still way overdone. But after all that, he never really said what he'd like to see changed. I mean, Nascar racing is what it is, 99% ovals with nothing but left turns. If you don't like that kind of racing, I understand completely how you wouldn't like the game. I just don't see how they can make driving around in circle for 500 miles anymore entertaining or fun.

brutusmaximus

I own this game, I don't notice the hands moving. the hands and arms dont move at all. Why not bash EA? this game is no where near as good as it should be on a next gen console, I can firmly speak as a nascar fan and I think this game is unfinished and shoddy. I also have problems uploading! What version of the game are you using? because ive been on EA's forums complaining about a number of issues.

Well maybe he doesn't like the way you have to drive in a circle within a game, I agree its not the most versatile racing game however im a nascar fan so I like the concept. I still don't think this is anywhere near as good as going to a track and watching a live race. Sometimes games really don't translate well to computers. I don't think its rubbish but there are better racing games out there by a long shot.

Perhaps its just colorful reviewers language, I think everyone likes a crash in a race cause its exciting. I do find the fact in this game that you can hit other cars really hard which in real life would cause a serious accident, but you quite often just bounce off as though you had padding on the cars. This isnt dodgems' its nascar. The cars don't feel real to me and I think the developers needed to spend more time on the physics.

Well I think if they
a: fixed the physics
b: enhanced the collision algorithms

it would make a hell of an improvement to the game we have right now. Sure I don't think they will ever make it extremely varied, but they could make it a lot better. I think you are analysing the review as a Nascar fan like myself and reading too much into it, rather than reading it as a general gamer who might be interested in it as a racing game (which is who the game is targetted at really, this isnt a nascar fan site after all). I think the reviewer is right with most things in the review and just shares his opinion. I mean a nascar fan like me is going to buy it anyway but unless they make changes ill not be buying next years.

Jeffrey9910

YouTube - NASCAR 09 - In Car View
If you look at that video, 30 secs in, you can clearly see the arms and hands moving to turn the steering wheel. Is that not what the reviewer is talking about? Or am I missing something?

Alex

isnt the steering wheel just moving to the left and right? looks pretty naff man, like a robot.

nascar-driver

hi there i was thinking of buying nascar 09 but i wondered in career mode and any mode is there damage and tyre punctures and pit stops which you control not auto-pit-stop? please answer ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!