Game Description

Sporting a brand new graphics and gameplay engine, NASCAR 2001 for the PS2 offers high-resolution graphics, real-life physics, realistic damage and individual driver AI for all computer-controlled cars. Over 30 top drivers and their cars, including Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt and Bobby Labonte, are along for the ride, with 13 official tracks that can be raced in the day or under the lights. ~ All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

If you can overlook some of the flaws, the game offers plenty of fun. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

It seemed almost inevitable that EA SPORTS would bring its NASCAR series to the PlayStation 2. With the system's added horsepower, NASCAR fans have a lot to look forward to in this installment of the series. For the most part, this title delivers on those expectations.

With the port of the NASCAR series to the PlayStation 2, naturally one of the first improvements gamers would expect is in the area of visuals. EA SPORTS does raise the bar in this department by producing top-notch vehicle models (complete with authentic team logos and sponsor decals), in addition to well-rendered environments and in-game effects such as smoke and flying debris.

While the graphics are not the Holy Grail of racing visuals on the PlayStation 2 (look to Gran Turismo 3 A-spec for this), they are by all means acceptable. The in-game cinematics, which showcase transitions between full-motion video racing clips and rendered game footage, show off the power and realism of the game's 3D engine.

While NASCAR 2001's graphics are impressive, they are not without fault. In particular, graphic vibration "hiccups" plague the game from time to time, causing it to stutter visually for a second or two during the action. The effects of this phenomenon range from minor annoyance to major frustration, depending on the player's situation at the time.

Arguably, game physics are one of the single most important aspects of a racing game, especially a simulation-style title. While they do lean toward a more arcade-style experience, NASCAR 2001's physics do provide a fairly realistic and extremely enjoyable experience.

Bumping and "trading paint" with other racers is fun, but car damage forces the player to pay the price for too much aggression. Crashes, spinouts, rollovers, and other mayhem are all realistically portrayed in all their glory. Various vehicle settings can be customized, such as tire pressure, gear ratio, downforce, and suspension, but the number of customization options is admittedly somewhat limited.

Computer AI ranges from moderate to, in the "legacy" setting, very challenging. Computer cars even model the racing style of their real-life counterparts. Conservative drivers race conservatively, aggressive drivers show a more aggressive nature, and so forth. Unfortunately, one aspect which mars the otherwise well-written opponent AI is a feature that many will find particularly aggravating: computer opponent "cheating."

For example, let's say you knock Jeff Gordon cleanly off the road, watch him careen into the grass or spin out and end up facing the wrong direction on the track. Thirty seconds later, check your rear view mirror, and there is the Rainbow Warrior again, breathing down your neck. Or worse yet, flying past you on the next corner. This kind of AI "feature" was irritating in F-Zero, but practically unacceptable on a supposedly realistic NASCAR title.

NASCAR 2001 features an innovative "highlight" system for replays, in which key moments of the race are played back after the race, a la TV highlights. Unfortunately, while this is a clever idea and fairly well implemented, it simply isn't enough. Sometimes the clips seem to be chosen somewhat arbitrarily, and one is left to wonder, "Why is a single car driving across the finish line being shown, when there was the 15-car pileup on the 87th lap?" What's worse, that's all you get. There's no user-controlled replay of the whole race, either in-game or after the race is completed. And saving replays isn't possible either.

Sound in NASCAR 2001 is definitely one of the game's strong points. Commentary, pit crew chatter, engine noises, and squealing tires are all top notch. Close your eyes and you'd think you were in a real NASCAR race. That is, if your stereo system is loud enough.

Unfortunately, only two players are supported (no Multitap support), and multiplayer races allow only a limited pool of 10 drivers in total. It's funny to hear the canned commentary at the end of a multiplayer, ten-vehicle race: "Woo hoo! You got a top 10 finish!" You'd think they would have left that one out...

Most importantly though, NASCAR 2001 is fun. The various difficulty settings provide an enjoyable experience for all levels of skill, and the multiplayer mode provides an exciting challenge to share with your friends. If you can look over the occasional graphic anomalies, limited replays, and lack of four-player support, NASCAR 2001 provides a solid, enjoyable racing experience for race fans young and old. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Car models and special effects are nice. Good frame rate, but occasional vibration oddities. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Top-notch commentary, sound effects, and music. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

Multi-player is always enjoyable, but the absence of four-player support is a drawback. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

Explains the basics but not many frills. ~ Mike King, All Game Guide