Customer Reviews

NASCAR Thunder 2004

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well, I have to agree with the author that stated EA messed up what used to be a good game. I constantly play Nascar Thunder 2003 and thought that 2004 looked better. WRONG. Granted, the graphics are a lot better, but that's the only thing that has improved. The gameplay has been ruined - the graphics are so overdone that a white "wall" of what looked like smoke would appear every so often in the game. Personally, it looks like EA just used the code for the PS1 version of the game and beefed up the graphics. The sound is pathetic - doesn't even sound like a real car like 2003 does. It's also not compatible with the Logitch wheel. The same day I bought my copy I had it up for sale if that tells you anything.

i'll start off with the only complaint i can find thus far...the replay on the 2003 version was "cooler" because you could select the "reel" going forward or backward. This one is great in it's own right because you now have the option to select the camera angles right there!!. But(run on)on this version only going forward seems to be the "haps"!! Other than that...For the NASCAR Winston Cup Series fan (Nextel next year)...this is a super cool game!! Shifting was different for me as now it is a L1;R1 thing, but overall if you like the genre, this game is...Cool and Fun!!!...the alliances & grudges is super nice and mirrors today's current action....Ea really guessed great and it played out for them!! (whatta trend, brawls in da pits!!;P)Race clean and you'll be cool...bump and grind and they will find you!!! highly recommended for the NASCAR fan!!

I almost really enjoy this game. I'm on the fence here.

The Goods:

* Graphics have been improved. Despite some complaints about the smoke you'll find in corners (usually caused by your own car sliding the previous lap), the graphics have been greatly upgraded since the '03 version.

* More depth in the Career mode. Your sponsors now drop you for poor performance.

* More money earned from Sponsors. If you don't make your Sponsor's performance requirements, you still receive a per-race fee.

* The Rival system - More on this in the "Bad" section.

* EA Sports Bio - This feature is great. If only we could get EA to roll over saved Career, Dynasty, Franchise saves from one version to the next. It sucks to spend a year on a dynasty mode only to have to start from scratch when the next year's version comes out. Why hasn't more noise been made over this? I know, I'll write EA.

The Bads:

* The Rival system - I really, really like this idea. However, it was WAAAAAY overdone. You tend to piss people off during short tracks. This is a given. The problem is, you'll have rivals taking you, and themselves, out of a race out of hatred. How often have you seen a set of rivals take each other out on the first lap of Daytona in real life? Exactly. Fix this EA.

* Rival Icons - At least you can turn this visual off. When on, you have a heck of a time judging distance to turns, as the icons obscure your view.

* Qualifying - I constantly get dumped by my Secondary sponsor because I can't qualify worth a crap. It may just be me, I may suck at driving a clean line. But it shouldn't be this tough.

Other than the insanely intense hatred you apparently receive from Rivals on this game, it kicks. If EA tones down the Rival reactions (Like turning 90 degrees and t-boning you on the first lap on Daytona, for example) and allow you to carry-over Careers from previous versions, I'd crown EA the Gods of gameing. Until then....

Ah, I must admit, I'm 14, but I didn't really feel like going through the sign up just to review one game thing, since I ain't got any things to buy anythin' with, so ignore my age in the box.

Anyways, I give this game 5 stars. On a previous read review, something like this was said. "You can't spin out unless you turn your car to the loose side." Well, actually, it's very easy to spin out, I've done it with 1.5 Wedge. Only problem is, you cannot spin out in Career mode, since being sideways brings out a caution, (which I do a lot to help me). Also, on another previous read review, if you break your engine doing donuts, you're stupid. No offense meant. To many who read this and are confused on how to do a donut, go into practice anywhere, 'Dega is best to practice on, just hold the break down, then hold down accellerator, wait 5 seconds, then let break go. And just release and press again on the accell after every two spins, it's just that easy.

And yes, Career mode is challenging, but for anyone who wants to have some fun, have on your first year, the AI as rookie, and the race length as 25%, and 6, or even better, 9 races away from the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Super Speedway, if you are 9 races away, sell one body, one chassis, and one engine, and start building. But do from atleast 6. And if you're as good as me, you'll have minimal damage after the race, and a top 20 ATLEAST! (In my second year, I WON the EA Sports 500 just by pitting right, and a whole lotta prayer, but please, do not repeat what I did after the race. I grabbed a bottle of Rootbeer, ran outside, shook it up, and sprayed all over. I was just that excited ^.^) But yeah, have fun with that.

Sorry for turning this from a review to a help, but I'll bet this helped a lot of you people ^.-, plus Kansas Motor Speedway is after 'Dega, and I am Greatest at Kansas, no matter what condition my things are in.

So, overall, I think the only thing that needs improv....actually, I don't think anything needs improvment. Actually, to all you Nascar Fanatics out there, We CANNOT buy another Nascar game after this. New game = All that new points crap, and.....no.....No Rockingham! *Sniffle* It's just wrong to not have Rockingham on the list. Don't y'all agree?

I bought this game a couple of days ago and I have to say, it was worth 45 of those 50 dollars. The gameplay is so realistic, despite the fact that you can't spin out to save your life unless you rig your car on the loose side (i do that often). Another thing that sucks about this game is the career mode. What an aweful car you have! I cant help but use a provisional before every single race. But then again, there are some friggin awesome things about this game. When you tend to trade paint on the tracks, sparks come out. You can really see it during night races. Also, if you piss someone off on the track by giving him a little nudge during the race (or big nudge), he'll retaliate when he gets the chance by giving YOU a little nudge (or big nudge) back! I found that pretty awesome. The pits are so realistic. I like how you have a slight chance of making an error during a pit stop. It gives it a more realistic feel because as most of you know, not all pitstops are perfect. If one of them do make an error, it shows that very person who made the error so you can (if you want to that is) release that person and get another person, but you can only release team members in career mode. I'd say this game is four out of five stars. If your a huge Nascar fan, go to your nearest store and buy this game now! Even if your not, go and buy it. It's that good.

NASCAR Thunder 2004 for the PlayStation2 is an improvement over last year's NASCAR Thunder game. This year's version features the Ally and Rival which gives the game more of a realistic feel since there are drivers who hold a grudge against certain drivers (Jeff and Robby Gordon for example). Career Mode has definitely improved over last year's game since you have more to do towards things such as expanding your garage while at the same time your chasis, body, and engine.

PROS
+Improved Career Mode
+Being able to get 171/171 Thunder Plates (unlike last year's)
+All 23 tracks along with infield road courses, and fantasy tracks

CONS
-Rivals can be a pain, unless you can be good enough not to get them more mad then they already are
-Improve physics a bit more

EA Sports has done it again. First they take Madden to the top of the football world, now they have NASCAR Thunder at the top of the racing world. And maybe on top of all sports games period. To start, this game has amazingly flush graphics, although on the PS2 version they tend to chop a bit; but not too bad. The online mode for the PS2 was a great plus except it's only 2 human players and the rest all computer, if EA could develop that so that there could be quite a few more human players, then the online mode would be 5 stars. If you don't have online (being that's normally all I play) EA hasn't forgotten about you, there are quite a few race modes that are all highly addicting.

The quick race mode seems to be the favorite when racing with 2-4 players at your own crib, you know the drill, pick a driver, pick a track, and go. But the other two racing modes of Season and Career are so different that they are light years apart.

First, Season mode is dull and is why I only give this game 4 stars. It's too easy even on Legend difficulty. But Career mode is my favorite, it's very challenging even on the Rookie difficulty.

EA also added the "Grudges and Alliances" feature that really brings out the best in the game. Although some faults (ex. If you barely even nudge someone or they hit you while you're spinning out, the Rival meter skyrockets and it takes forever to get back to normal even.)

The total package is there though, I would recomend this game even to gamers who aren't hard core racing fans like me.

Once again Tiburon studios worked their butt off to put out a quality product. That can't be ignored. And once again they tried to up the ante with terrific fantasy track and grudges-alliances and tough opposition. Unfortunately it's the execution of the grudges-alliances that brings the series down from it's high of last year.

I like the fact that other drivers have minds of their own, but to tap a guy after he's already wrecked and have him come at you with a vengence is unrealistic. And to win points with your competitors you need to draft with them in a very arcadey draft feature. With this you must draft an opponent by clicking the R2 button when your behind him. Then a sound affect clicks on (sounding like a automatic car wash) and sucks you right up to the bumper. You can even do this at half mile tracks where in reality a draft is non-existent.

I would suggest the grudges-alliances feature be a selectable option for next year. Another unfortuate aspect of the game is the handling, but this is due more to the PS2 controller than the game. The range of motion on the analog buttons doesn't allow for precise braking and acceleration that you find on trigger buttons for the gamecube or xbox controller. Slowing down a 3,500 pound, 750 horsepower car on average size tires is not easy, but it would have been nice if EA could have made the handling more "user friendly" similar to the terrific controls of "Grand Prix Challenge". Since the game is far from a simulation (try Sierra's PC NASCAR game if you want pure simulation brilliance), a little more leeway with the controller would have been nice. A wheel is a definite necessity for this game.

Another flaw is the spotter. He seems to be a split second behind in his calls. That hasn't happened before in this series and it does affect racing.

I also don't like the HUD system. This is probably just my personal pet peeve and not a flaw, but their is so much clutter on the screen when you are racing. I prefer the cockpit view so I can race at a realistic perspective, and all the pop up information is distracting. I would like it if the HUD could be modified to allow you to minimize the info if neccessary. However, this probably isn't a big deal for most.

Everything else is typical Tiburon studios excellence. Graphics, sound, framerate(impressive considering there are 42 other racers and a rear view mirror), presentation and multiple game modes. If you love on-line play then get this game, but if not stick with the 2003 edition.

They just keep making these games better and better each year. While I suppose this one is now dated, as it is no longer 2004, this is still a fun and entertaining game. If you are wanting a good NASCAR game you have found in this or any other one made by EA.

Nascar Thunder 2004 PC version

Overall, I like the concepts this game tried to bring in. But there are SO MANY SCREW UPs, that I can rarely get through a race. So I have made a list....

1. Viewing Replays during a Race
- If you view a replay during a race, and you exit the replay while the part you are replaying is a previous pit stop, you come out of the replay on the track, wherever you stopped racing to start your replay, then suddenly, it says "Black Flag - Speeding down pit road". Even though you were just reviewing a pit stop, it saw your speed when you went back to the race and busts you.

2. Auto Caution Laps Driving
- If you enable this function, prepare to get upset. If you pit and the field gets the one to go while your pitting, you will exit the pit lane and go only about 90mph. At tracks like michigan, daytona etc. This is no where near enough to catch up with the end of the field and you start at the green a 1/2 a lap down.

3. Driving too slowly penalty
- This penalty happens sometimes so quickly that you dont have a chance. You get ahead of a car you are supposed to be behind and the computer tells you. You wait for it, he blows by, then you get the Driving to slowly warning. At some tracks you about have to wreck yourself to not get black flagged.

4. Ahead of a car your supposed to be following penalty
- I have had several instances where I am behind the car I am supposed to be following, and on the correct lap, and it still tells me to get behind that car. The green flag waves, I get black flagged.

5. Caution Laps
- 1 mile tracks and up... way too many caution laps.
- Shorts Tracks.. not enough. If you are in the middle to back of the pack at martinsville, and you try to pit. By the time you get in the pit, they get the 1 to go and by the time you are on your way out, the green had dropped.

Bottom line is...
This game has a lot of fun stuff on it... but if you really want to do a career mode seriously.. it will drive you insane.
EA Sports has not yet been able to produce a Nascar game that is even in the same league as Papyrus Nascar Racing Season 2003. With that series of games gone now... I look to EA Sports and I am thoroughly disapointed. I Hear that there are big changes for the PC version of Nascar Thunder 2005. I can only Hope.