Nascar 09EA Sports
Xbox 360
Review by Hayden Meikle
It shocked me to learn this was the eighth game in the Nascar series for Microsoft hardware, as my first experience of big-time oval racing on the console was only last year.
Nascar's popularity continues to surge, mainly in the United States, where its blend of big engines and even bigger egos make for compelling viewing every Sunday.
The key for EA Sports has been capturing the spirit of the event but also making it playable to appeal to a global market.
And by and large they've done a great job.
Nascar 09 features star Jeff Gordon on the cover and as a key character through the game.
Gordon acts as a guide - almost a mentor - to the rookie driver, and his tutorial segments are flashed up and are a nice addition to the game.
In terms of gameplay, nothing much has changed from 08.
That's not a bad thing, because the big rigs look sharp, the racing is intense and tactics like blocking and draughting are still a key feature.
The game features two clearly defined difficulty levels: a basic one where you jump in and drive and can start winning almost immediately, and a more professional grade that forces you to be a bit more judicious with your use of the throttle and brake.
Off the track, the game has been souped up, particularly in the area of car customisation.
I don't get too excited about that sort of thing normally, but the options in Nascar, and the ease with which they can be accessed, are staggering.
Building a successful Nascar team uses a system called Reputation, where you slowly increase your money and skills through your results and on-track decisions.
The best way to level up is through sprint driver challenges - more than 75 of them - which are nice, intense challenges that unlock performance points to improve your car.
Online racing is available for up to 13 human drivers at once.
It will be a long time before I have the patience to sit down and watch a Nascar race from start to finish.
As a substitute, a few hours on Nascar 09 is extremely enjoyable.
