NASCAR 08
Score: 68% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Sports Developer: Tiburon Media: Blu-ray/1 Players: 1; 2 - 12 (Online) Genre: Racing (Simulation)
Graphics & Sound: I guess you could call me a "casual" fan of NASCAR. I enjoy races when they are on TV, though I couldn't name more than a handful of races, nor do I know THAT much about the sport in general. At the same time, I have a better idea of what goes into a good game, racing or otherwise. While I probably can't give as in-depth of a review of NASCAR 08 that hardcore fans will want, I can use my limited knowledge to deduce it is something that only the hardest of hardcore fans will enjoy. NASCAR 08 just looks okay. Considering that this is the series' first next-gen appearance, I was expecting a little more than what the final package delivered. All of the cars and tracks are replicated rather well, though there's nothing about either that really pops or stands out in any way. While there are no other NASCAR games to draw comparisons with, there are still a number of excellent racing games out, like the recently released DiRT or F1 Championship, that completely trump EA's effort. There are a few small effects that are nice, but in the end it really doesn't feel like you are getting much more than a cleaner version of last year's visuals. Sound is very underwhelming. The best thing about NASCAR is the sound of 46 high-powered engines thundering around the track at top speed - a feeling that is completely absent in NASCAR 08. The music selection is a nice mix, though I really wasn't feeling it at all. During races, your pit chief will feed you information, though his advice falls into the same category as the commentary on EA's sports titles; sometimes it makes sense, though you'll also hear a lot of useless trash.
Gameplay: NASCAR 08 features a majority of the tracks and drivers that make up the sport. In addition to Nextel races, it also includes Busch (National) and Craftsman truck races. The Car of Tomorrow, designed to be a safer riding car, even makes an appearance - so there is certainly a lot for fans to enjoy. Once you get below the attention-getting vinyls, there really isn't much else to the game. Season Mode is limited to just one season; in its place is a new mode called The Chase. Here you take on the role of an unknown driver and complete license tests in hopes of earning a contract. A few races into The Chase, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy the rest of the mode, or the game for that matter. I've never been a fan of any type of race where you have to earn a "license." On one hand, it is a great way to sneak in a training mode; but at the same time, it is outright boring for anyone who is not a beginner. Before you're actually able to compete in "real" races, you'll have to slog through a bunch of license and contract races - both of which are pretty meaningless in the long run. Once you manage to get into the actual career part of The Chase, there isn't much to keep you engaged. You can race, but many of the little things like trying to sign new sponsors or, well... manage a career are completely missing. Online is an area that NASCAR 08 really needed to get right and didn't. Connecting to a race is harder than you would want and when you do, it is hard to actually find someone to race against. Lag was rarely an issue, though racing online is a very lonely experience and not all that fun.
Difficulty: Overall, the A.I. is rather dumb and a step down from previous games. Once on the track it seems like every car is out to get you while playing a "fun" game of "Protect the Leader" (unless, of course, you are the leader - then it is more like "Kill the Man with the Lead." The really odd part is how sporadic A.I. acts. Most of the time, it sticks to the above mentioned behaviors, but there are times where it will play it safe or brake for no apparent reason, sometimes while at the peak of a turn, other than to make things difficult for you. It really makes no sense and makes races a little more challenging than they probably should be.
Game Mechanics: Races are pretty challenging, though not always in the best way. Unlike other types of racing seen in games, NASCAR has always been something different. While you can easily bump cars around and skid a little in other racing games, NASCAR requires extreme precision. One mistake can completely take you out of the race. The controls are really touchy, so it is impossible to race close to cars and not risk hitting them - which tended to happen quite a bit. I also noticed a slight bit of pull to the left, which made things even trickier. The SIXAXIS can be used to steer, though I didn't find that it made that much of a difference. NASCAR 08 also supports a steering wheel accessory if you own one, though I don't so I can't vouch for how well it handles. Several aspects of your car can be adjusted, which will alter its handling on the track. You can even share setups with other players online, which is a nice thing to have if you aren't a gear head but happen to know one who lives three states over. Making adjustments isn't something you have to do to be competitive, though it can certainly make things easier. You can also make a few visual customizations, though they aren't that deep. If you don't think this is that big a deal, you've likely never seen an online league built around the old Papyrus NASCAR games. Ultimately, NASCAR 08's biggest problem is a lack of competition in the market; with no other NASCAR games on the market, there really isn't any reason to push development, resulting in lackluster, issue-ridden games like this one. Despite all of its issues, NASCAR 08 is an okay game, though only for hardcore fans of the sport who can't live without their yearly fix of NASCAR gaming.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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