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| NASCAR Racing 2002 Season |
Reviewed by Staff |
NASCAR Racing 2002 Season
(PC CD-ROM)
Used & New from $12.50
|
Developer: Papyrus Racing
Games
Publisher: Sierra
Download
Demo
Release Date: 12/05/00
Now let me see, people say that folks that like stockcar racing are rednecks.
Well I guess you can call me a redneck now. Now I've been a fan of the series
since Nascar 3 but with this release I'm now a hardcore fan. Thank you Papyrus
for my newest gaming addiction! Nascar 2002 is the 7th release in this series
of the famous NASCAR simulation. Many have tried but nobody comes close to the
releases that Papyrus and Sierra come up with. EA tried but let's face it, there
were no cigars found. It's quite amazing how one company, Papyrus, can release
one product that just keeps getting better and better and keeps that company in
the forefront of the racing sim genre. Well let's get down to the titty gritty!
What's New
 With
this version, Papyrus was able to get the license to add all 24 tracks from the
true to life NASCAR series. From the 43-car pileup known as Bristol to the ultra
fast and furious speed lane known as Talladega. One track that has been included,
all be it fictional, that should make the serious speed demons out there happy
is the huge, 3mile oval of Coca Cola Superspeedway. This track is an unrestricted
track so your car will easily reach speeds in excess of 230mph. And let me tell
you, a track like that is tough beast to tame. Papyrus definitely had their minds
eye on the newbie or rookie drivers out there. One thing that they added was the
ability to have a Driving Lesson of each and every track in the game. And these
tours are a turn-by-turn run through narrated by NASCAR legend Darryl Waltrip.
Mr. Waltrip will tell you where to run the "perfect" line, where to
start your turns, braking points to full throttle. It is a definite must use for
those of us who aren't too experienced with the NASCAR experience yet can still
be helpful for the veterans out there also.
 There
are some other odds and ends that they have added but one of the coolest is an
option in the driver's aids section to show what called the "perfect line".
This line is the invisible line on the track that the NASCAR series drivers generally
abide by to get around the track in the quickest time. Well Papyrus has added
this as an option to turn on so that while you are running your laps around the
track you can follow this line and hit your turns perfectly. The "perfect
line" is a multicolored dashed line, which circles the track. On a straightaway
the line will be a bright green, as you enter a turn at say a track like Texas
Motorspeedway, the line will change to a gradual orange which tells you to lift
off the gas to slow a bit, then as you come out of the turn it will gradually
go back to green telling you to put the pedal to the metal. If you are racing
at Bristol, the tight 1/2mile oval, the short straightaway will be green and as
you enter the turn, it will be a bright red, alerting you to put some pressure
on the brake, then to orange and then to green. Of course you'll repeat as needed.
Of course don't forget to stop by the Driving Lessons first so that Daryl can
tell you just how much to brake or how quickly to get back on the gas. I use the
"perfect line" at all times.
Sights and Sounds
 Graphically
NASCAR Racing 2002 Season is absolutely gorgeous. The track graphics are the
slickest I have yet seen in a racing simulator. The details they have added
are nice, cracks in the asphalt with grass between them. Cars that lock their
brakes and skid, leave a nice long black tire mark. Rub the wall the wrong way,
the next time you go around, if you happen to survive the rub, you will see
your mark on the wall. Reminding you not to do that again. The in car graphics
are much nicer than NASCAR 4, the dull shine of the dashboard and general grittiness
of the inside. The whole game interface has been redone, creating a nice smooth
interface. Everything from NASCAR 4's menu system is still intact, some new
options here and there but overall it's still the same just prettier. Although,
with all these new upgrades and enhancements in graphics lower end machines
do take a hit in framerates compaired to NASCAR 4.
Ok, now here's the sweetness; the sound! What did they do to the car sound,
this is the burliest most balls to the wall engine sound I have heard in the
NASCAR series. I mean as soon as the engine starts my walls are shaking from
the output of my subwoofer. The sounds all around have been beefed up. Making
it an incredible atmosphere.
Multiplayer
 Multiplayer
is probably one of the biggest things for the NASCAR series. Racing online with
other living persons is a blast. The AI in NASCAR 2002 is very good but it just
can't compare to being out there with 18 other human drivers all vying for a
better position. The multiplayer portion of NASCAR 2002 is very solid, and very
much like NASCAR 4. So if you're familiar with NASCAR 4 you will feel at home
in the multiplayer settings of NASCAR 2002. If you want a quick fix online race,
there are hundreds of N2002 based servers out there to run some laps. Papyrus
has six or seven looped servers running all different tracks. Be forewarned
that the Papy looped servers contain some of the craziest racing I've experienced.
Some folks just haven't gotten used to the idea of always turning left, if you
know what I mean.
Like you have in the FPS community there are "virtual" racing teams
and racing leagues. Both are a great addition to the online play of NASCAR 2002.
You will find the quality of drivers in the leagues to be varied; some drivers
are smooth and very clean, while others are down right scary. But it's a great
way to compete in an organized race. If you give NASCAR 2002 a go, definately
check out the leagues and teams out there.
Final Thoughts
 Well
folks.. all I can say is, if you want to burn some rubber and love to rough
it up on a round about then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of NASCAR
Racing 2002 Season. I can't say that enough it's that good. Once you get your
hands on this puppy, hit the multiplayer servers and do some online racing.
You'll like it.
 Pros:
- Great gameplay.
- Excellent Graphics
- Tough AI
Cons:
- Slight framerate decrease for lower end machines
 Overall:
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| Storyline: |
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| Gameplay: |
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| Sound: |
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| Value: |
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| Total: |
9.4 |
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