NASCAR Thunder 2003

"I'm glad I bought it."

Racing games in the past have not really appealed to me. I'm not sure of the reason, they just never have. However, this game is an exception, and I'm very glad my friend talked me into it.

Gameplay: 10

You can't run out of things to do. Period. Alright, the game, in total, takes around 80 blocks of memory for you to do everything, but it's well worth it. Want to run the Winston Cup Season? Select your favorite driver, qualify and race with him through a NASCAR season with your choice of length. Earn points to win the championship.

Or perhaps you want to create your own driver, car, etc (aka Franchise Mode). You got it. Create your driver, create your own car from the engine to the chassis, hire and fire your own pit crew, sign sponsorships, everything. Nothing is overlooked, and everything is at your control. The franchise mode covers twenty seasons of NASCAR Racing, while you gain better sponsors, equipment, crew, and more money.

Wait, there's more. Get your Thunder License at every track. Select any NASCAR track, choose your favorite driver for a teacher, and let them teach you how to master each track on the Winston Cup circuit. A colored line shows you the groove of the track at first, but then later it's gone, and so are your stability and auto-braking features. It's a great way to get familiar with each track. Don't think, however, that all you do is learn. By getting fast enough times, you unlock Thunder Plates, which are enhancements to the game.

Then you have the Thunder Challenge. This mode puts you in the shoes of NASCAR drivers and the major events they've been in. You get the story from the drivers themselves, and they tell you about the incident, and what you must do. For example, get through an accident without a scratch. Pass two drivers with one lap left for the win. Sounds easy, but they're very difficult. Beating those gets you more Thunder Plates.

Graphics: 9

Nice. The cars look awesome, the tracks are professional looking and resemble the actual tracks in just about every way. The people, such as your pit crew, and the fans look a little blocky, but they're not really the main point, either.

Music/Sound: 10

Awesome. While the soundtrack is not very extensive, the songs are excellent, and get you in the mode to race. The sound effects are extremely realistic, catching the feeling that is NASCAR. From screeching tires, to the roar of the crowd, to even the flyby of jets before the race starts, it all sounds great.

Features: 9

During the course of the game, you will unlock Thunder Plates, which enhance the game (just like every EA Sports game, eh?). These Thunder Plates unlock drivers (like Richard Petty), cars, tracks, boosts, and different options for creating a car. There's a lot of Thunder Plates to get, so you won't collect all of them anytime soon.

Multi-player is up to four players, so that's all good. Just select a quick race, pick your drivers, track, and you're ready to go racing.

The options are extensive, and let you tweak the game to your liking, no matter how extensive they may be. Trust me, this game is very flexible on it's conditions and options.

For the icing on the cake, there are some trailers, special features, and your usual EA Sports junk they put on there, which is all worth a look.

Replay: 8

What can I say? It's a sports game. Once you do Career Mode, a season a or two, unlock all of the Thunder Plates, you'll still want to race with your friends around Pocono or Daytona. It does not get old fast!

The Final Word

Great multi-player, extensive options, hundreds of unlockables, many different modes, and some great tunes will keep you hooked on this game for months to come. Easily worth your fifty bucks. No question about it.

Final Score: 9
(Not an average)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/03/02, Updated 12/03/02