NASCAR Racing 2003

• Platform:   Windows 98 / Me / XP
• ELSPA Minimum Age: 15
• Media: Video Game

True to the NASCAR Racing legacy, this isn't an arcade racing game. You can crank up the realism settings and expect to race in all the qualifying rounds to determine your place in the opening pack for the race itself. You can set the physics to perfectly model the real world, where you have to fight your car every step of the way. Set the AI to maximum and you'll have to battle for every inch of track space. You can even tweak the tire pressure and brakes, and set how your pit crew behaves. It's a race fan and grease monkey's dream come true. Less hardcore fans have the option of dialling down the realism settings. You can add a green line to the track showing the ideal route, let the computer help you with traction, steering, and braking, and even set unlimited fuel and unbreakable cars.

The graphics are decent, cars look good up close, and the sense of speed is extremely realistic. But farther way, even at the highest detail settings, there are problems with shimmering and jagged lines around cars and objects. The audio is perfect, from the pit crew giving advice to the roar of the engines; it's all very convincing.

NASCAR may look like a crowd of cars all turning left but in reality it's split second timing, daring, and skill. It's not easy riding an oval for 20-200 laps at high speed with little margin for error, or passing a crowd of 10 two-ton vehicles all hurtling along in excess of 170 MPH. This game perfectly shows just how hard NASCAR racing can be. One word of caution before you get the green light: the keyboard or a game pad will let you play reasonably well, but you'll never take the chequered flag without a good steering wheel. --Bob Andrews

Product Description
Developed by Massachusetts-based Papyrus Racing Games, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season will feature new 3-D graphics, an enhanced physics model developed with the input of official NASCAR team engineers, and informative driving aids for both seasoned and novice drivers. In addition, the game will include 2003 NASCAR Cup series teams, sponsors and tracks.

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season showcases new dynamic 3-D graphics including a populated pit row, team war wagons, pit signs, aerial objects such as planes, helicopters, blimps and more. In addition, the enhanced AI automatically adjusts to match the player's driving ability, allowing both rookies and veterans the opportunity to trade paint with the pros. Inspired by the exhilarating world of actual NASCAR Cup racing, drivers can also choose to compete against a full field of 42 NASCAR drivers online via Internet or LAN in NASCAR Racing 2003 season.

• PC & Video Games > Games > Racing