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The infamous Gods of stock car racing simulations are back with the release of NASCAR Racing 1999. Don't be mislead, this is not the raved about upcoming NASCAR technological breakthrough simulation that is due in out sometime in 1999. This is basically an update of NASCAR's 1998 season with some added refinements and enchancements.
Not only will you race in stock cars, you also get to race trucks!
It has always been nice to see what the guys from Boston have released in the realm of auto racing simulators. I have been a long time follower of their products. That doesn't make me a Papyrus groupie as there was really no other company or competition so to speak for Papyrus to compete with. In the past several years, Papyrus has set new standards in this type of gaming. I have purchased every simulation they have developed and designed. Remember Indy 500? I must admit, I am really a pure racing nut as I am totally devoted towards real life racing and simulators. I have gone so far as much to spend the big bucks for the best equipment that money could buy. I mean big bucks!
When NASCAR Racing first came out in 1994, I was shocked to see a simulation based on these heavy stock bodied cars. This was Papyrus' first attempt in the redneck world of racing based on NASCAR's flagship Winston Cup. Which became quite a success. Though it didn't have my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt. Having worked in real life as a NASCAR Sportsman pit crewmember I was really excited to try it. I loved that game so much, that I spent so much time with it to compare as it was to the real world of physics. Which end the last days of my N1 career, I ended up having six Winston Cup Championships. Watch out Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt! Soon the speeds were getting to be unbelievable. For example, Dover laptimes consisted of being has high as 164mph and for Bristol it was in the135mph range. For which NASCAR Racing didn't model the complete physics of a stock car. There were still some elements not touched on the topic of physics. Physics were a bit crude back then.
With the release of NASCAR Racing 2, I again looked forward in purchasing this release. In this version, they implemented 3D graphics, ala Rendition and the Busch Grand National Series. The Busch Grand National Series was a step down league from NASCAR's infamous Winston Cup. All seasons were based on the 1996-97 years. This time my favorite driver was included in the game! The physics were tweaked from the lessons learned from Papyrus' Open Beta Testing of Hawaii from NASCAR Racing. Hawaii was Papyrus' own development of multiplayer online racing. In which you race with 31 other humans. No predictable computer cars here! In my opinion, I felt that the physics went the wrong way in the version! Yes, the simulation looked pretty only in the Rendition version. I also felt that the AIs in the game went sour as compared to the first release. After two months of tinkering and racing, I put my driving gloves. NASCAR Racing 2 just felt like a Windows 95 upgrade to me. Sorry guys. All I saw was just a graphics upgrade and everything else went the wrong way. I didn't feel that this version of the game was complete!
Soon there was a release dedicated to NASCAR's 50th Anniversary. This included NASCAR Racing 2 and the Busch Grand National Series all in one box.
As the months past by, there was word that Papyrus' online multiplayer racing development would go live. In which it became into reality. The multiplayer racing series is held at TEN (Total Entertainment Network). The series is called the NASCAR Racing Online Series. I put my gloves back on and went to NROS, hoping that it could rejuvenate of lust for competition. Which till this day, it didn't. I guess the reason why is because of Papyrus/Sierra Sports' release of Grand Prix Legends. GPL is just plain addicting once you have driven the physics. I guess it spoiled me.
Then the shocking news about Papyrus/Sierra Sports' release of NASCAR Racing 1999. I was really looking forward to this one. For the reason being:
- Craftsman Sportsman Trucks
- More tracks from the Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Divisions
- Different physics for Trucks
- Coded in Windows for 3DFx - other executables, software and Rendition can be run in Windows
- Double File Restarts
- DOS driver for PDPI card owners
- Seasons based on the 1998 seasons for Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Craftsman Trucks Series
- AI Improvement
As you can see that is an impressive list of new features. During the review, I feel that this version of the game should've been NASCAR Racing 2. There was more evolution that occurred in this release.
CONTENTS
As always, Sierra Sports has done an exceptional job of packaging the product. The box is very attractive to grab the eyes of the consumers. The 272-page manual is brief in explanation in the setup department. Though, does give you tips on how to set the car up for each track. You also have the option in signing up for NROS. A tip for any upcoming driver joining NROS, practice and practice until you know the in's and out's of each track and the characteristics of your car.
PHYSICS
The realistic option for the physics haven't changed for the stock cars since the second release. But I still wish for a fix for the Busch Grand National stock cars, as they have lower power output. Though, they are somewhat lighter in weight compared to their bigger cousins, they still don't run the same speeds at the same tracks they race on. Please fix! I guess I am hoping for allot.But the new physics here are for the trucks. Since the trucks having a higher coefficient of drag, it's obvious that the trucks are going to be slower than the cars. At times, I felt that the trucks had some traction control. It was rare for them to spin the tires. The rate of acceleration seemed slower. Which was good for realism. It felt like the trucks only had 300hp around the track.
Setup options are the same as in N2. Nothing has changed with the exception of the picture of the truck on the setup screen.I would like to point out that NR 1999 does not use the new physics engine that was in GPL. So you want get the same performance and feel.
GAMEPLAY
NR 1999 gives you the same type of modes of play. You can choose in what racing series you would like to race in. For that case being, WC, BGN or CTS. When you can also switch bodies, meaning, you can either use a car or truck. There is no preference of what carset or truckset you are currently on. The car's DAT file will make the changes. It was neat to see a known stock car appearing as a truck and vice versa for the trucks as cars.
You can practice or test by selecting the option Quick Race; this screen will give you various options for you to choose. There are two types of sessions, basic or testing. Basic means that you just go to the track you would like to race at and practice with AIs. The basic session also means in layman's terminology single race. The format gives you as follows:
- Practice-Everyone's best laptimes are shown via the F2 key.
- Qualify-All tracks under a mile in length get two laps of qualifying with the exception of Talladega (2.66miles)
- Warm-up-only your best times are shown
- Race
Also, in the Quick Race menu you have the following criteria that can be adjusted:
- Season: Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, Craftsman Truck Series
- Race Length: 1-100%
- Number of drivers: 1-39
- Opponent Strength: 80%-120% (The higher the number the faster the opponent)
- Driving Mode: Realistic and Arcade
- Vehicle Type: Cars or Trucks
- Entry List: This is the drivers list selection (Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, Craftsman Truck Series)
- Race Weekend: Basic (Single Race with opponents) and Testing (by yourself)
- Yellow Flags: On or off for those caution laps
- Pace Lap: If you want to pace one lap prior starting the race
- Player Breakdowns: On/Off, this gives you random breakdowns unexpectedly during the race.
- Damage: Off, Arcade, Realistic (Realistic as being the most sensitive in damage)
- Weather: Temperature, Wind direction, and speed of wind
I would like to mention that setting the opponent strength to 103% is the most realistic laptimes during a racing environment for the AI. If you think you ready for a season in any of the three series, go ahead and click on Championship. You can run multiple seasons regardless of what division.When you race with the Truck seasons, you are given the option of having a halftime during the race. Though this is gone for the 1999 season. It was nice to encounter this and change my ill-handling truck. And you can take a break!You are still given the option to save your race regardless of how many laps run.
The game also supports modem and IPX play. And the future possibility for NROS of having NR 1999.The same paint shop from N2 is brought into NR 1999 with a new look. And you still can import and export cars or trucks. All current drivers from the 1998 season present in all three divisions. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it in!
As I drove onto the track, I noticed something different about the game. The game was actually more fun than N2 ever was! It was simply because of the new and revamped AI. I love the feature of the double file restarts. As in past NASCAR Sims, this wasn't a feature that could be done; well now it's here! It's worth every penny to have it enabled. My spotter was right on key with the laptimes, though overtime I was in a heated battled he wouldn't say my times. Good boy, I needed to concentrate!
Yes, enabled, there is a configuration file for the type of executable to be run. You have a Windows or a DOS version. There are several options for you set. For 3DFx users, you can set the variables for the game in here. For all executables, there is an option for the long waited rear view mirror fix. You also change the setting for the spotter in the game to go to text instead of voice. DOS people can the option to enable the PDPI fix if you have this game card. Windows users use the Direct X joystick driver. Rendition users can enable a frame rate counter in the file.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
This is perhaps Papyrus' best job in the AI depart. Now you can actually have some AI that will race you a bit. But as you reach the top 5, things get a bit easier. As you pass the leader, he doesn't fight back much. This was one of the most noted problems of the AI. But if you stay in from the positions 6th and back, they will race two or even three wide, at times 4 wide! The computer cars are also at their best on double file restarts! That was certainly a rush!
GRAPHICS
Besides the new Smacker animation. This is where NR 1999 excels. All tracks that need updating sure got it! Some tracks even got a bit wider. Thank God! At times, I felt there was no way this track could be so narrow in N2. New lighting schemes and new textures are laid out in majority of the tracks. The night tracks are especially beautiful.
All car and truck graphics are updated with the exception of sponsor promoting alcohol and cigarettes. Cockpits for both the cars and trucks are different. Though, they are clearer than N2's cockpit. Smoke and sparks are the weaknesses of this graphics engine. It is nice to see the 3DFx users get the option of using anti-aliasing. Too bad the Rendition users can't.
Resolutions can be had at 320x200 and 640x480. Though 3D users should use the latter resolution. The same graphical options are available to tweak your frame rate to its best. There still needs to be some optimization in the 3DFx code. The frame rate still takes a hit from the cockpit view.
SOUND
The sounds haven't changed. For some reason, the spotter would repeat himself twice. I think there is definitely a problem here. This was running in the 3DFx version of the game. Which was designed for Windows. Music in the intro movie went from Metal music to Country twine genre.
BOTTOMLINE
You can tell there are obvious improvements and additions to NR 1999. As I said before, this should've been NASCAR Racing 2. If you notice the slow progress from VGA/SVGA graphics in DOS in N1 and in N2 you had, VGA/SVGA/3D graphics in DOS. For NR 1999, VGA/SVGA/3D graphics in DOS and Windows and finally better AI. See the difference?
I still recommend this game to anyone that is planning to take a trip to NROS la-la land. With the new physics, graphics and AI engine from GPL, I have a feeling the next sequel of NASCAR will be a classic. Plans for this reviewer are to be there to preview and review it!
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