NASCAR Heat 2002 Review

How to tell one Nascar game from another – the cover art!

Nascar is an odd sport in that there aren’t too many ‘casual’ fans. You either

love it and follow it religiously or could care less. The hardcore fans can pick

out the intricate drama of ultra high-powered vehicles cruising within inches

of each other trying lap after lap to gain an advantage. One minor mistake can

cost an entire race.

Of

course, many of us just see a bunch of cars going around in an oval for a couple

of hours. I have to admit, I’m pretty firmly in this category. However, while

reviewing Nascar Heat 2002 , I am taking into consideration the numerous

death threats I received the last time I covered a Nascar game, so trust that

this review (like any good review) is written with total objectivity in mind.

If you’re new to the Nascar scene and your looking for a racing game for the

PS2, there are some things you should know. Stock car racing emphasizes driver

skill and endurance as opposed to car type and modifications. Due to heavy restrictions,

all stock cars must be similar in style and performance. If you’re seeking something

with cars that are a little more customizable and say, a track with a right

turn every once and a while, than you’re better of with something like

Gran Turismo 3. Out of the 19 tracks in Nascar Heat, 17 of them consist

of the driver traveling counterclockwise on an oval shaped track.

This is old news, but it makes the experience much different than other racing

games. Nascar races test patience and mettle rather than quick twitch skills,

so consider yourself forewarned.

Still, Heat is a solid game. As far as Nascar games go for the PS2,

the only other competitor is Nascar 2001 by Electronic

Arts, and Nascar Heat is the better of the two.

The graphics are eye catching. Where EA’s Nascar used poor car models

and backdrops, those in Heat are much smoother. The game flows nicely

without slowdown, despite the number of cars on screen.

Heat also provides more in-game challenges such as “Beat the Heat.”

In this mode, the driver is faced with several challenges that increase in difficulty.

This is a great training ground that helps the players familiarize themselves

with the car.

From that point, though, the options are similar to other Nascar games. You

pick your Nascar hero and can compete in either a single race or enter the Championship,

which allows you to compete in an entire Winston Cup season. It’s nice and long

and should satisfy fans.

Nascar

Heat provides you with arcade or simulation control options. In the Normal

mode, the car has much more control and is best suited for beginners. Nascar

veterans will definitely opt for Expert mode, which attempts to capture the

real controls of a stock car. The physics are right on and you’ll need to use

common techniques like drafting and downshifting if you want to succeed.

To make the game even more realistic, your car will be damaged if obstacles

are hit. So if you’re used to purposefully crashing into something in order

to make sharper turns, you might want to revise your strategy – before you know

it the car may be too damaged to compete, although seeing Heat‘s crash

physics can be entertaining.

Unlike many other racing simulations, Heat offers a first-person view

that includes the steering wheel and dashboard. Not easy to drive with, but

it’s there. There are a few other angles as well, all of which are fairly standard.

While stock cars are similarly built, there is still some degree of customization available. Most of the modifications are for control purposes. You can adjust the weight, shocks, springs and even tire pressure, whereas engine modifications that would increase speed and power are not an option.

Nascar Heat is a decent game, but it’s still just good ol’ Nascar.

While it is to some degree better than Nascar 2001, in many ways it is

almost the same game (aside from the new foil cover). It features the same oval

tracks, same types of cars and the same types of options. Nascar fans – you

know who you are – this one’s for you, but the more casual racer might want

to seek out racing jollies elsewhere.