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 SHOP >> Toys
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NASCAR Heat
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| List Price: |
$32.99 |
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| Price: |
$9.98 |
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| Availability: |
Usually ships in 24 hours |
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| Edition: |
CD-ROM |
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| ASIN: |
B00004SPYI |
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| Mpaa Rating: |
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| Studio: |
Atari |
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| Release Date: |
20 November, 2000 |
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| Avg. rating: |
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| Description: |
NASCAR Heat has some good things going for it. For starters, it's packed with pro drivers and their cars, which are detailed with every decal that fans could ask for. It also features every track on the circuit, from the superspeedways to the short courses. Of course, any NASCAR game that didn't have these features would be a disappointment. Surprisingly, the gameplay adds a few twists to the standard paradigm, including a draft meter, which can be used to determine the best time to pass other cars. The concept of drafting has been used in previous racing games; here, however, players actually can tell how much speed they're gaining from friends in front of them. Also helpful is a break meter that tells players what percentage of breaking power they're using, and the game gives advice on how much breaking should be done in specific turns. The best part about NASCAR Heat is its collection of challenges, which are prefaced by video tutorials. About the only place in which this game fails is the graphics and sound department. The grainy cars and tracks, along with a lack of music during races, detract from the overall experience. Also, don't expect any mind-boggling crashes. --Robb Guido Pros: Long list of challenges All of the cars, drivers, and courses Cons: Grainy graphics, and nonexistent music during races |
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Surprisingly good racing!
This surprisingly good racing game packs quite a bit of punch in terms of play modes and crazy fun.Games based on the NASCAR license have always tended to be either hardcore simulations geared towards diehard fans of the sport or straight-up arcade-style racers aimed at racing fans in general. However, in Hasbro Interactive's NASCAR Heat, which seemingly came out of the blue, we finally get a game that has qualities that should appeal to both the simulation and casual fan almost equally. GAMEPLAY In what should please diehard NASCAR and simulation fans, the game has been given an amazingly large feature set and the gameplay is fully customizable. The console version of the game isn't quite as deep as its PC cousin, but that's kind of expected and it's still pretty loaded. First, the game has four different difficulty levels that range from Rookie to Legend. Rookie is overly easy as it's near impossible to not finish in first on this setting, while Legend is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum as most gamers will find it bordering on impossible to beat. Simply running a clean and error-free race isn't enough to come out victorious here, as skilled-driving and effective use of drafting plays a key role in the outcome of the races. Second, the game contains a nice set of play modes that include single race, a championship season and two original gameplay modes in the form of Beat the Heat and Race the Pro. The single race mode lets players take on the competition on any of the game's nearly 20 real-life NASCAR tracks with any one of the 25-plus real drivers that are included in the game. Races can also be customized to be of various different lengths lasting anywhere from four to over 400 laps depending on the venue and can be played with Wear on or off. The seasons are equally as customizable, so gamers looking for a easy, fast-paced arcade fun can turn off the Wear, tune down the difficulty level and trim down the number of laps to get a quick and fearless ride. While simulation fans can turn on the Wear, up the Pack Size, and turn up the number of laps to get more of a realistic NASCAR Racing experience. The only things that might turn off simulation fans are the facts that there's not really a way to adjust the game's racing physics, which are generally much too forgiving and arcade-like, especially when compared to the NASCAR sims on the PC. Additionally, the level of customization that can be done with the cars in between races isn't quite as detailed as it could be when compared to other NASCAR sims. All the same, this is somewhat forgivable given that the game's AI on the Legend level requires players to take turns more realistically and depend on drafting much more than any other NASCAR-based console game. The aspect of this game that really sets it apart from its competitors is its unique Beat the Heat mode. With this mode, players are given a variety of challenges that begin with some easy challenges that are slowly and gradually increased with difficulty. The challenges are very similar to the License Tests in Gran Turismo, in that it has players do things like a complete a single turn or set of turns under a certain time limit with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. One of the most interesting things learned from this play mode is that while NASCAR tracks are seemingly bland and uneventful because of their oval designs, there is a lot of skill involved in how each of the corners are taken. And what's more, you'll learn that taking a corner well can make a huge difference in the time it takes to get around the track. NASCAR Heat's other novel feature is its Race the Pros mode that lets players race against ghost cars of real-life racers on different tracks of the drivers' choice. There's nothing really amazing here, but it's a nice little added feature that helps extend the game's overall play value, as it's pretty cool to do these one-on-one against the pros.
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Fun...but there is always a downfall for racing games...
I was somewhat disapointed...first off having problems using a racing wheel with this game..what else would you use a wheel for in a racing game? Geesh...the graphics are kind of disapointing as well,after seeing the intro graphics leading into the game you get excited...but when the games auctually starts...seems they could have easily of done better compared to the PC Nascar heat game...when driving the emcee repeats the same phrase just about everytime you hit the side of the track or go into the grass..."Watch the paint"...I was about ready to blow the 12th time he said it in a 2 minute period...The Damage graphics barely work,with the feature turned on,you'd swear there off...and when you make turns ocasionally you'll go into an uncontrollable spin,I know I didn't make that sharp of a turn...and it's hard to get back on the track...Well...if you're a nascar game collector,pick this one up,if you want extreme fun...look elsewhere...
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Fun, but...
First I'll say this is the only NASCAR game I have, which is in stark contrast to how big of a NASCAR fan I am. I consider myself a veteran of racing games however, and thus feel qualified to review this game. Probably the fact I am such a big fan makes it hard for me to feel any NASCAR game is bad, so I have to say overall this game is fun. I like the fact damage effects your car differently on short-tracks and super-speedways. I like being able to change the stiffness of the shocks and the gear ratios. I'm happy with the drafting element as well. Many aspects of the game are well above acceptable, which actually makes the not-so-great aspects sting worse. The attempt at trying to mimick the change of speed on new & older tires is clicheic at best. You are twice as fast as all other cars on new tires, and after 2 laps or so it goes away suddenly. There are no yellow flags. If you get loose & loop it, or even if you hit the wall, another car, or several cars, everybody keeps right on racing. Damage doesn't exist on the AI cars, or the effect it has on their performance anyway. I'll wrap it up with my biggest complaint, the pits. Well, pitting in general. Although speed is reduced, if you pit just ahead of another car & complete your stop as he's coming down pit road he'll crash right into the rear of your car...every time, (ruining any chance of winning on a big track in the very first pit stop.) The only answer is to try to get off sequence, (which is kinda fun I admit.) It doesn't stop on pit road though...now that you're off sequence and have avoided getting hit on pit road, the cars that just pitted come barrelling right for you now that they are on new tires. The AI cars make little attempt to avoid you if you are in the racing line, (all the time on an oval,) and there goes your race...again. A last note...I basically maxed out the competition level menu the first time I played. (Don't get me wrong, I CAN play) There are maybe 4 or 5 levels and I have to race on the second to highest just to have any sort of competition. If you love NASCAR this is a good game to have, not the best from a racing game standpoint hoewever.
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