NASCAR Thunder 2002

by Xbox

Product Features

• 2001 - EA Sports - XBOX
• Nascar Thunder 2002
• Rated E
• Original Guide - Case
• Limited Edition

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005NZ1R
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 6.1 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 6, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,954 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Xbox

Amazon.com Product Description

NASCAR Thunder 2002 roars onto your Xbox with an ultra-fast rendering engine. Its deep field of more than 60 drivers includes every active NASCAR star, rookie, and veteran, or you can create your own legendary champion. Climb behind the wheel of a Pontiac, Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge to race on all 23 NASCAR tracks, including the Chicagoland and Kansas City Speedway venues. The new career mode lets you compete for the championship over multiple seasons or go for the full-blown NASCAR experience and choose a manufacturer, paint your car, and earn sponsor decals based on performance.

Apply your race winnings to car enhancements that help you power past potential collisions or improve your pit crew. Damage effects include tire donuts on body panels, paint scrapes, tire smoke, oil fires, crumpled cars, and more. Easy play features let novice drivers hit the track without hitting the wall by using optional driving aids that assist acceleration, braking, and stability.

Product Description

2001 - EA Sports - XBOX - NASCAR Thunder 2002 - Rated E - Original Case, Paperwork - Players 1-4 - Memory Unit - Limited Edition - Collectible

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great game, but not perfect, December 24, 2001

By 

P. Larson (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NASCAR Thunder 2002 (Video Game)

I was blown away by a demo of this game in the store, and being a huge Nascar fan, just had to have it.

Like most everything else on xBox, the graphics are simply amazing. Little details like leaving burnt rubber marks on the track that are there throughout a race to leaving "doughnuts" on an opponent's midsection is very cool. The frames also are very fast, and system response is almost instantaneous. Visually, the game is just stunning.

The gameplay is also quite fun. Race for just one race, a full Nascar season, or race over multiple seasons to build a racing dynasty by picking up money and sponsorships for better equipment. Being able to drive all the active Nascar drivers' cars, all the tracks, and also being able to totally customize a car is a nice touch.

The physics of the game are also quite realistic. Have a car with the wrong setup and you will be driving a bucking bronco. The "assist" modes are nice for beginners, while hard-core Nascar [gamers] have a pretty darn close simulator in Nascar Thunder.

With all the good stuff, the game is far from perfect. For instance, in career mode, some of the gameplay settings are not customizable. The "damage" setting is set to "limited", which tends to lead to gratuitous use of the front bumper for passing. Moreover, the "damage repair" setting in the pits is kind of a joke. Your car will just magically morph from a banged up piece of junk to a pristine new car in 2 seconds. I also noticed no difference in the drivability of the car when damaged. Bottom line -- the simulation of damage needs LOTS more work. If not for this, I would give the game 5 stars.

Still, if you're a Nascar nut, this remains by far the best available racing game on any console.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MADE A FAN OUT OF ME!, February 16, 2002

By 

M. Grant "MacGyver of the Books" (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NASCAR Thunder 2002 (Video Game)

This game is contagiously fun! I've never followed NASCAR at all but picked this game up on a whim (boredom and disappointment with THQ's WWF RAW game).

Let me tell you, this game really makes me glad I have an Xbox. The controls are crisp and simple which means that anyone can pick it up and play it immediately. The Quick Race is a nice function which means you can load up the game and play for 10 minutes and leave. Seems like most current games involve hours or time and sometimes I just can't devote that during a hectic day...not so with Nascar Thunder 2002.

The bread and the butter of the game for me though is the career mode (20 years - 12 races a year). You can design and build your own car and then improve it through the money you earn through various sponsorships. The 12 race tracks are not only different looking (I'm assuming based on their real likenesses) but they all handle very differently. Some races are top speed with tight turns, others weave through awkward patterns, and many are so narrow that passing becomes a serious chore.

The computer racer A.I. is also nice. There's lots of rubbing and smashing and at times you can lose the lead within a second of the finish line - frustrating but fun.

If you're a fan of Nascar you probably already own this game. However, if you're not a fan and are looking for hours of racing fun and excitement then this is the Xbox game for you!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not as good as NASCAR Heat, December 15, 2001

By 

MarkM6fan (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NASCAR Thunder 2002 (Video Game)

This is a good NASCAR game. If it wasn't for NASCAR Heat I would say that this is a great game. Unfortunately for the folks at EA Sports, NASCAR Heat is a much more realistic game that has tons more features than does NASCAR Thunder 2002. I have both games and I find myself playing NASCAR Heat much more often. If you only want one NASCAR game and you consider yourself a fan of NASCAR, spend your money on NASCAR Heat and you won't regret it.

2115|R1N270BKDVODTU;2115|R2AALIFUKPNJMS;2115|RORWZLNT7OP3O;