Customer Reviews

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Can't decide between EA's NASCAR Thunder and Papy's NASCAR Racing? Well Thunder is an arcade game, and Racing is a simulation. First time buyers or people new to racing sims would do well to pickup one additional item Papy's NASCAR Racing 3. It takes real computer driving skills to play this game, and N3 helps you learn that. (Note: N4 and NR2002 do not have a brake assist option, that's why I suggest N3 for rookies) Then when you're ready to take full control, load this one up. The only thing that this Simulator is missing from the real deal is the seat of your pants feeling that the car is getting loose, or is tight. Ride in a real stock car just once, and you'll gain a prospective that can't be built into any computer simulation. This game features two unique options, Adaptive AI and Auto AI strength. No one can drive all 36 tracks at the same 100% AI strength and have a realistic race. This game will tailor each track to your ability and then improve the AI ability as yours improves for each track. (Second note 100% AI strength has the cars going faster then real life top speeds anyway, 96% is closer to current real competition levels at most tracks). Plus the ability to create your own team, paint your own car, and add additional special paint schemes is priceless. The Online community has lots of add-ons for this game. And the developers even put out a free fantasy track add-on. I also strongly suggest a racing wheel for this game. I got away with a joystick with N3, but you will be challenged to produce realistic lap times with a joystick. And you'll need the gas and steering pedals to keep yourself out of the wall. Force feedback is a preference, one I have chosen to disable for myself, but some people like it. Final note, this will be the last Papy NASCAR Racing game released. So I wouldn't look for NASCAR Racing 2004 and beyond.

Even though I'm a huge racing sim fan, I've really had no interest in any of the Nascar related games. I generally prefer Formula 1 style racing sims. However, for some reason I decided to download the demo for Nascar Racing Season 2003 and I was hooked!

Nascar racing seems to translate very well to the PC. NR2003 captures the door to door racing and keeps the excitement level high. The tracks are pretty simple to learn (hey, there are only a couple of turns), but difficult to master, especially when you throw 40 other cars in the mix. In traffic you'll be fighting to keep your line as cars surround you and your own car always feels like it is on the verge of swapping ends.

The large variety of tracks makes for very different racing experiences. On the superspeedways, drafting is king. Loose the lead pack and you're in for a long, lonely drive until you can work your way back into the lead draft. Small tracks like Bristol are wars of attritrion. By the end of a race your car will be fully battle scarred from brashing your way around the tight, fast track.

Oh, and I have to mention the graphics... amazing. They are so good I would even consider buying new hardware so I could increase the detail level. On the highest settings this game will easily bring a top end system to it's knees. Oh, if I had to criticize the graphics at all, it would be some of the lighting effects at night. They are pretty bad.

I haven't played any of the other versions of this game, so I can't comment on how good this is compared with the 2002 version. However, I will say that by itself, this version is simply amazing. Papyrus has done a great job of reproducing the Nascar experience. I (sadly) haven't touched F1 2002 in quite a while.

I highly recommend this to all racing sim fans. If you have any doubts, try downloading the demo first.

I've had the game since it first came out and I must say I'm very happy with Papyrus's final Nascar simulation. The game itself has a believable physics model, Great graphics when it first arrived (still not too bad in 2006), OK damage modelling (could have done better) and fantastic multiplayer and modding capabilities. The only problem I have with the singleplayer game is the AI difficulty. I'm extremely good on just about every track in the game, but the auto-difficulty measuring tool is a bit off, saying on tracks where there was no possible way of going faster or reaching better lap times a value in the mid 90 percent where as on other tracks I'm topping the scale at or near 110%. Right now the game is of high value, since its the last "true" simulation that has emerged, and prices are usually around $100USD. You will also need a wheel for this game, because the keyboard just wont cut it unless you only want to play the game on arcade settings. If your not into Nascar, check out GTR or GT Legends (and soon GTR2) - newer games with even better physics and graphics than Nascar 2003, but focusing on the Road Courses instead of the ovals (even though in GTR there are oval track downloads). Bracketman@gmail.com

And 2002 was pretty darn good itself. I was very amazed at the physics that have been incorporated into this game. When your car gets 'loose', believe me, it is HARD to handle! Just like the real thing - ask Kyle Petty!

I'm writing my review about the demo only. I can tell you it follows the same line Papyrus always has when it comes to Nascar series, only with better physics, better graphics, better realistic environment, better everything. Graphics: Driving at top speed in sunny weather, looking at sun glares made me half-close my eyes... it was amazing! Pit crew look like lego, but is animated, and gives a different feeling about pit stops. Physics (even if I didn't think it could improve): when I drove the first time, I couldn't accelerate too much because I kept spinning all the time. Crashes looked so real that reminded me the crashes of cops chases on TV. Environment: Two driving ways come with the demo and the tracks are very different when it comes to track marks, colors, dirt, announcer ("Gentleman... start your engines!"). A word for this game: Attention to detail. Papyrus does it again.

I like racing games, although I've never felt the need to get a wheel till Rally Trophy came out(that is, I'm not a total racing head...more of a weekend driver). As for Nascar, I can't stand it. All the left left left really is pretty boring...in a game or on the TV. That is, I thought it was boring till I tried the demo.

Now, a total convert and with retail version of NR2003 in hand, I can safely say this is the best racing sim around. If your PC has the muscle, this game has all the physics, graphics, and fun-factor(in single and especially multi) you could ask for.
And it's a light year ahead of its Nascar competitors in every way, shape and form, from the main menu to the final checkered flag.

EA Sports doesn't have anything in their invetory that can conpare with this game. Papyrus is way ahead of everyone else when it comes to Racing simulations. Yes...I'm calling it a simulator instead of a game because that's what it is. Dale Earnheardt Jr. has been know to use the game to prepare himself for the next race. Yes folks, it's that realistic. It's a real shame that this was the last edition of this game. Ea sports bought out the license from NSACAR.

Enjoy the full potential of this awesome game with real live opponents.Practice off line as mush as possible and enlist in one of the many Nascar leagues available out there.
A fast gaming computer is an absolute must to fully appriciate all this Nascar game has to offer.
Yet it IS very playable on a slower macine. i.e.PIII 1.3Ghz with GF4 4400 AGP video card.I even dropped my old ASUS GF2 GTS 64MB video card in, and was still playable driving on-line.Although the FPS suffered with less (FPS) frames per second.
Overall graphics best with GF4 or higher video card.

Nascar 2003 Season is a markedly much improved version over it's predecessor Nascar 2002.
A terrific Nascar sim!

They just don't make them better. Step on the excellerater and listen to the roar of the engine. Chills run down your back. A person's fantasy is when you step on the gas, this car will take you where you want to go. You are given a great car or you can choose one. Either way your car is good enough to win all races. As soon as you get use to the tracks, set the AL at 90%or more and off you go to the greatest competion you have ever had in a fantasy game. Graphics are great except father down the track or long distance racing. Crashes occur often expecially in short tracks like Bristal. I have won all the races except Bristal. Even if you don't crash, there are other crashes throughout the race. It is pure luck if you win this race. The cons do not outweigh the pros. Greatest game on the market.

Donald Lindsey

I've been playing the Papy racing sims for years and have consistently be awestruck at the accuracy of the controls and the "feel" of the cars. Lets face it, anything else is 3rd rate compared to this racing sim.

What I find amazing is the amount of support online for this product. You can race all of the usual "Cup" tracks or download awesome tracks like Mosport and Le Mans. Anyone with the slightest amount of computer savy will be able to add outrageously modified high-speed tracks with close to 300 MPH top speeds and classic road courses like Riverside. BUY THIS PRODUCT or be disappointed.