NASCAR Racing 2

by Vivendi Universal

Product Features

• Based on the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing season
• Experience an authentic driving experience with realistic physics
• 16 recreated tracks with actual cars, drivers, sponsors, and track-side scenery and billboards
• Novice racers can use Help features for assistance with braking, shifting, and steering
• For 1 to 2 players, or up to 8 player over a LAN

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001LCDI
• Media: CD-ROM
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,352 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #19 in Video Games > PC Games > Simulation > Driving
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC | Edition: Standard

GameSpot Review

Before I begin reviewing Sierra's NASCAR 2, allow me to make one crucial point: NASCAR 2 is not a toy. I thought I was fairly adept at your average brake-accelerate PC racer, but NASCAR draws a thin line between exhilarating action-racing and strategic planning. This is a game where every track must be considered individually when tweaking the design of your car, where you need to know where and when to pit, all while staying aware of your competition's position on the road. After a few hours of roaring around the oval, taking cues from your spotter through a headset (let's assume you're wearing headphones during your game) it becomes startlingly clear: NASCAR 2 is so realistic, it's scary.

First of all, NASCAR 2's graphics are top-notch. Sierra has improved on the frame rate of the first game, making for fluid car animation, and realistic body damage. Simply put, this is as close as most of us are going to come to participating in an actual televised race. As an added bonus, Sierra has included a paintshop-style program where you're given the opportunity to customize the artwork of any car on the track. Slap your dog's name on the hood, a smiley face on the bumper. The association doesn't care: In NASCAR 2 the car is your canvas.

I don't mean this wholly in an artistic sense. Half the fun of NASCAR 2 is making the ever-so-slight adjustments to your vehicle's tire pressure, foil height, camber, and gear ratios to achieve optimal performance for a particular track. Experienced racers - whether they're the real McCoy or just veteran desktop competitors - will know what all these arcane terms mean from the start. However, before hitting the first NASCAR track, most of us are going to need an quick learner's course. An easy to understand which-element-on-your-car-affects-what diagram made it all clear, and in no time at all I began to experiment until I felt I had a firm grasp on exactly what I could tweak to make my V-8 the finest machine on the track.

The AI in the game is pretty incredible. When you accidentally blindside another vehicle (or even on purpose, if you don't believe in good sportsmanship), the other cars realistically slow down or cautiously slide out to avoid a collision. It's funny, but although NASCAR 2 doesn't purport itself as being the kind of body-casualty ride that Psygnosis' Destruction Derby 2 is (with its incredibly realistic incremental car damage - fenders mashing in, hoods flying off, wheels tearing from their axles, bouncing down the track, requiring a tow into the pit-stop), it certainly rivals that game damage-wise. . If you collide with another vehicle because you performed an action contradictory to your spotter's directions, he'll remind you of your ineptitude with a reprimanding "What kind of bone-headed move was that!" And at that point, you're probably so absorbed in the race that you'll want to go back and apologize to him personally.

That's the kind of complete immersion NASCAR 2 offers. It's a completely professional game, both in its execution and in its dedication to the NASCAR tradition. In fact, it's so that Sierra and NASCAR have teamed up to bring the game to TEN (the online Total Entertainment Network) to allow players to compete and achieve "official" NASCAR standings in an Internet roster. Now how cool is that? People who played and worshipped the original NASCAR already own this game. I'm writing this review largely for gamers out there who are intimidated by realistic sims. Games like Grand Prix 2 and now NASCAR 2 have converted me: I can now rest my rocket-launcher temporarily to carry on some in-depth racing. --Tim Soete
--Copyright ©1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome game!, December 2, 2011

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NASCAR Racing 2 (CD-ROM)

Awesome Game! It has no problems yet and I received it earlier than I expected. The price is a bargain, in my opinion.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic, February 11, 2007

By 

Shane DeHart (Racine, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NASCAR Racing 2 (CD-ROM)

I diddn't buy this game for intence grafix or for streaming online play. I bought this game because years ago I loved to play it and lately I just wanted to play it again, its still fun and although it did not come in an expensive factory sealed box, it was a quality buy. thanks

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