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I have a Logitech Pro Wheel, an HDTV, the whole set up, and I am a HUGE NASCAR fan.
This is probably the most disappointing game I have ever played. It is a complete disaster. The only possible way that anyone can enjoy this game is if they have never played another racing game in their life.
It constantly freezes. It has frozen three times for me today while trying to play online. I hit join game, and the PS3 freezes. It is infuriating.
The graphics are abysmal. Compare this game to GT5 prologue; it is an absolute joke. You cannot see things until they are right up on you, the resolution is awful; this looks like a PS2 game, IF THAT.
Jeff Gordon is constantly talking to you, it gets incredibly annoying.
Load times are incredibly long; go to the bathroom while the next screen is loading, come back and wait some more.
The setups are completely impossible to figure out; if you want racing but do not want to spend 40 hours trying to figure out the best setup for each track, forget about competing online.
But when you do finally get your car handling correctly and take it online, for one, there will always be someone with a car much better than yours (and you will never be able to figure out how to catch him), and two, there is always the sound of a pre-school class full of kids in the background with a microphone, wrecking everyone in the back. The competition is just awful, the other players are a joke. I think the reason for this is that serious simulation racers laugh at EA NASCAR games and go straight to NR2003 or something. Do not expect any good competition; towards the front, it is nothing but a battle of setups from what I have seen anyways, not much real racing going on.
Do not buy this game. You may feel the need to buy the only NASCAR game available, but this is not worth your time. It is a monopoly at its worst, an absolute utter waste of $ and an insult to us as humans that this is our only option. Shame on NASCAR for letting a terrible company like EA buy exclusive rights to making their game.
I want a good NASCAR game on my PS3; I want it desperately, but it looks like I am never going to get it.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue gives you a better NASCAR racing experience. Racing Daytona on that game and compare it to Daytona on NASCAR 09; not even close, it is night and day.
Do not buy this game.
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Well I was waiting for this years installment to come out to write a NASCAR review, but that's not going to happen any time soon. This game was a must buy for me because I buy it every year. NASCAR 08 was terrible in my opinion and I hoped that EA would change their way of thinking this year. By far this game exceeds the previous installment. The actual racing is nicely refined, giving veterans of the series a more challenging experience while still giving the rookie a chance. There is an opening race where you set up your skill level, actually the game provides its estimate of what you should pick, I chose the veteran driver setting, but if you're a rookie I advise you don't choose it. The game play is fast and furious. Even if you've found the perfect set up for a track and saved the next time around the track will change and you're back to square one just like in real life. I wish they had a tutorial for the setups to help me adjust my car better. I simply adjust air pressure, wedge, and the track bar the rest of the set up is a mystery to me. The career mode is lacking though. There is really no interaction with the team you chose. You can't communicate with team mates or even see who your teammates are. There are no driver changes; everyone is the same every year. There is no trophy room to see your hard earned possessions. The contracts are stupid; a team dropped me a three time champion because I didn't qualify in the top 20 one race. You also can't run more than one series at a time you have to choose which one to run at the beginning of the season. Also I liked in previous years where you could build up your garage and team, and even price your own merchandise. All that has been taken away, you can't even check your stats for the previous year. Come on EA what were you thinking in the career mode. Overall the only choice right now and the game play is smooth enough, but the lack of split-screen still pisses me off.PresentationThe game has an interactive Jeff Gordon to talk to you as you progress through your career which is nice. The music is a mix of country and rock to accommodate both music groups. The ability to save and watch your replays is nice. 4.5/5
GraphicsIt's the same every year. They get a little better. There is nice dirt on your screen when you go through the grass. The damage element needs to be more elaborate, you can't really tear up your car that much. The normal cars look great, but your created cars are missing the nice polished look the other drivers have. The inside camera view is very well done. The stats you can out on while driving really help you adjust the car, though they hurt the realism of the game, I love the tire wear gauges. 4.3/5
Game playThe overall driving is a lot of fun. You actually feel like your driving a stock car. There are a few problems, like the super speedways. If you start 1st you will pull away and never look back, which doesn't happen in real life. The cars actually handle like real cars and don't always make the corner. You have to be precise in this game because like in real NASCAR if you mess up you're going to be in the wall. It has a simulator feel to it unlike any previous game in the franchise. 4.7/5
StoryThe career is bare bones and has a lot of problems that I have stated above. The racing really brings you back not the career itself. I've finished 6 seasons and I'm beginning my seventh. It's nice to have a career to keep you playing, but it should have been better developed. 3.5/5
Lasting AppealThis game has kept my interest for two years now as I await Gran Tourismo 5 which will have NASCAR as one of its series. There is a lack of career options, but it is fun to race and I love this game despite its flaws. 5/5
The VerdictIf you like NASCAR I recommend this game whole heartily. It will be a long time until someone makes a full forced NASCAR game again. GT5 will have the NASCAR series, but its not the focus of the game. This game was a huge leap over NASCAR 08. If you don't mind bad graphics I recommend either NASCAR Thunder 2004 or NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, they have the whole package for their time. NASCAR 09 was a nice effort, lets just hope its not the last. Overall 4.4/5If driving a real NASCAR is anything like the video game, then it should be noted that I would clearly leave it to the professionals. 42 Cars are doing nearly 200 mph bumper to bumper and the 43rd car is all over the place. Causing wreck. After wreck. After wreck.
This might be the case where the game is SO realistic that it takes a real NASCAR driver (with the right virtual set up and a steering wheel) to be competitive.
I'm not, and I'm more than just the casual fan.
As bad as I am and as hard as the game is, I still enjoy trying. I've reserved myself to knowing I can never finish ahead of last on anything more difficult that a Rookie setting.
Read Best Reviews of Nascar 09 Here
If you have read any of my past reviews, I have been a vocal critic of EA's NASCAR titles and how unrealistic they have been. For the past few years, I rented them ONLY and found myself disappointed. I finally gave in again and bought NASCAR 09 for my PS3.I must say I am impressed with some of the new features that I have seen. I love the inclusion of Jeff Gordon and the removal of Agent Ace Moneymaker...what an annoyance he was. The controls are better, the graphics look good and crisp and I love the ability to look around left, right, and behind using the analog stick.
So, here are my PROS:
1. Saw some new features, like the "lucky dog" during a race.
2. Love the new paintbooth and the ability to copy cars from your PC to PS3 from Photoshop, etc.
3. Importing your own driver photo.
4. 2 handling modes for varying skill drivers.
5. Inclusion of Jeff Gordon as your mentor.
6. Great new challenge mode.
7. Online play with up to 12 persons.
8. The new "reputation" meter.
and on the other hand, the CONS....
1. Glitchy online play (but understandable early on).
2. Freezes occasionally between menus.
3. Still has unrealistic accidents and lack of AI cars blowing engines, having wrecks, etc.
4. Limit of 12 cars in online play.
5. No prerace ceremonies, activities that add realism and flair to the game.
All in all though, I am happy with this game and think it's a very worthy purchase if you are a NASCAR or racing fan in general. Props, EA !! But don't stop now, keep those improvements coming for NASCAR 2010 !!This is by far the worst racing game I ever played. Although the graphics are great, the gameplay is awful. I much rather play 08 on PS2. The biggest thing for me is no bump drafting. If you get behind another car and try to push them they lock the brakes and both of you go to the back.
There are lots of other problems as well. I couldn't help but feel like the developer has never even seen a nascar race. Forced myself to play 6 hours hoping it would get grow on me. Finally I gave up and haven't played it since. I've had it almost a month now.
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