NASCAR 2009 Review
- Posted June 21st, 2008 at 18:03 EDT by
- 8,715 views
- 28 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 7.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 3.4
Summary
NASCAR 09 is a step in the right direction, but it’ll still be another year or so until the NASCAR franchise becomes a must-own to those other than diehard fans.
We like
- Great custom design ability
- Improved game mechanics
- Solid online servers
We dislike
- AI is too predictable
- Lack of offline multiplayer
- Only friends can see custom paintjobs
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
(continued from previous page) ...(or even weeks) of playing time out of their purchase, because I’m sure we can all agree that if a game is ridiculously easy, it’ll only be worth playing for an extremely limited amount of time.
EA Sports seems to make up for this debauchery of simple AI by instilling a great online racer -- though the game lacks offline splitscreen -- for its users. You’ll be able to take your car online and compete with up to 14 other drivers nationwide. The game operates mainly lag free to an extent with a bit of jumpiness here or there, but nothing increasingly bothersome. Even though they decided to leave out online team creation, you’ll still be able to bring your custom painted vehicle to race day against the world’s best. The only problem with this is if the other users are not on your friend’s list, your car just appears as clunky plain gray piece of metal.
This brings me to arguably the best part of the entire NASCAR 09 experience - the custom paintjobs you can create. As an example of this, we’ve included our very own PlayStation Universe Metal Gear Solid 4 inspired themed car below. EA Sports has allowed users to download a template to open up in various image editing software in order for you to create the dream stock car that you desire. The new feature is not without error, as it sometimes becomes quite troublesome and time consuming to get your car all the way into your EA Locker for use in the game. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great idea and they should definitely improve on it, however there are far too many steps in the process for the feature to truly shine. For those of you familiar with Forza, NASCAR is not as proficient in this area.
When it comes down to the look of the speedway, you’re going to be merely mildly impressed. The graphics seem to be as decent as they’re going to get. There just isn’t as much refined detail as in Gran Turismo Prologue or GRID, but the game does offer a somewhat aesthetically pleasing experience. The soundtrack provided revolves around a lot of country music, which if it’s your thing, is halfway decent, though custom soundtracks would benefit this game a lot.
Overall, NASCAR 09 feels as though EA Sports is on the right track and going the left direction -- repeatedly. With improved handling, in-depth tuning, and enough options to keep you playing for a month or so, this may be best suited for a rental. It will appeal to both the hardcore fan and somewhat to the casual racer, but there are better racing options out there.
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Comments
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NoMercy666 |
Ask me...- 6:15pm BST - June 21st, 2008
- 1
Ugh, NASCAR is the most boring sport in the world. why did they have to make a game out of it? Driving in circles on a GAME! How exciting, if you start first you finish first. Unless, you crash.
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dirtblaster
- 6:20pm BST - June 21st, 2008
- 2
i wouldnt say its the most boring sport in the world, but it is quite boring to watch even though what they do takes a lot more skill than what it looks like.
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evilmonkey501 |
evilmonkey501- 10:11pm BST - June 21st, 2008
- 6
even in America nascar is known as a redneck sport....next up: tractor pulls and cow tipping...lol
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sn-plazaskater |
Dumpweeed- 11:49pm BST - June 21st, 2008
- 8
yeah i liked the demo but won't be interested in the full game. if anything this would be a buy for my dad who loves nascar.
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MotorStormman222 |
BuffaloNY92- 1:46am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 11
To all NASCAR haters- SCREW YOU!!! NASCAR is the BEST sport, if you don't like it, why are you reading this review?????!!!!!!!!!
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edward_moffet |
edd- 3:11am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 13
nascar should be considered a sport for the simple fact that you can lose 20lbs doing it once its mentally and physically taxing to drive at speeds upwards of 200mph for so long but yes its extremely boring to watch
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bloodwarg |
bloodwarg- 5:03am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 14
the demo was sh it it expected me to do 66 laps on one of the crappest driving games ever made driving on the same track as the speedway on proluge just alot worse so i delted after 1 lap crap graphics crap gameplay and overall just crap. and how you gave it a 7.0 i do not now i think youve got your marking the wrong way round u musto f meant 3 surely! keep away!
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mayhemmusic |
mayhemmusic / stonepig / philmadog1970- 6:43am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 15
Graphically poor, boring gameplay, how a 7 is justified is beyond me its only a jumped up PS2 game. The only advantage is its an EA title so it wont be released over here for about a year, then when it is it will be a timed exclusive on the 360.
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graphixmaster |
mcx- 7:07am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 16
The demo was better than last year. Just not my type of racer.
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regissreg |
Zapp- 8:41am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 17
The Nascar game has not been good since Nascar Thunder 04. Great offline & Online and that was on the PS2. I rented Nascar 08 and it sucks. No Offline multiplayer at all. The 04 was the best. me & my freinds would play 4 player split screen with the rest of the field fill with Computer A I, it was very good not one of us would dominate the game. After Nascar 04 the series has gone down hill.
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xVxSMOKExVx
- 10:56am BST - June 22nd, 2008
- 18
You guys don't think it is a sport because you don't understand it. It takes a lot of stamina, endurance, and strength to do what they do. These guys have to sit in 110+ degree cars. Trying to turn a heavy car into banked turns pushin as much as like 5 g's. Watching the races is fun when you understand what is going on. Whether they are loose or tight what they may need to do to fix that condition. Pit road is a sport in it's self. Changing tires, fueling up, adjusting track bar and what not in 14 secs or less. Please give me a break.
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funItalian
- 4:01pm BST - June 23rd, 2008
- 21
@ xVxSMOKExVx
"You guys don't think it is a sport because you don't understand it. It takes a lot of stamina, endurance, and strength to do what they do".<---quote---so does making porn, does that mean porn should be a sport?! MMMMM ?
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 4:11pm BST - June 23rd, 2008
- 22
Typical Sports fan here. I like my American football and the MLB and what not. So whereas NASCAR isn't high on my list, I have tried it many years ago (NASCAR 04) and I was impressed by how they capture the "game-within-the-game" in the EA series. Now, I play Gran Turismo, so I was't compelled to get another NASCAR game I dowmloaded the demo for 08 and I also noticed that those games are graphical nightmares. EA should be ashamed of themselves. How do people buy their games like Need for Speed and such? They do look like PS2 games.
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xVxSMOKExVx
- 4:39pm BST - June 23rd, 2008
- 23
@funItalian
What makes a sport a sport then? BALLS maybe thats why you don't like NASCAR.
@richkaos
they don't always go "roundy roundy". They were at Sonoma in Northern Cali yesterday which is a road course.
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ThaoNguyen
- 7:46pm BST - June 23rd, 2008
- 24
Handling a NASCAR car is like trying to balance a fat kid on a fishing line.
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wildchild2008
- 1:31am BST - June 26th, 2008
- 25
i dont see how they get two players when i got it it said you can only have one player unless you play online
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AJ2271
- 5:14pm BST - July 2nd, 2008
- 26
I love watching nascar and this is the third version of the game ive bought - and i am really dissapointed. I think EA has been really lazy and can't see how this is not an updated version of a ps2 game! the graphics are terrible!!! the idea is great but it looks like no effort at all has gone into this, ill be sending it back, very angry to have spent my money here.
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ticklechamp |
ticklechamp- 11:14am BST - September 7th, 2008
- 28
i'll take prologue or grid over any nascar game.i'd rather watch the real nascar races than play the videogame versions.
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