NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup

"I'm left utterly disappointed."

After Nascar Thunder 2004, I was thinking that the franchise couldn't get any better. EA showed me that I was right. I'm still playing NT2004 for some reasons, but in some areas CFTC is a step up...

Graphics
Same as last year. And the year before. And the year before. As much as I like the body panels tearing off like they do, unlike NR2003 and Nascar HEAT, they all tear apart in the same way. Even if you slam the car into a concrete wall at 200+ mph, you are still going to end up with minimal damage at best.

Sound
Everyone can shut up about EA Trax. Yes, I liked NT2004's overall soundtrack better, but this isn't half bad. The spotter has become less of a cynical jerk screaming in your radio. But the engines....same-ish. Yawn. Bill Weber replacing the guys at MRN, IMO, is a total injustice.

Control
Sometimes you want to spin a guy out real bad but can't. Sometimes you don't wanna spin but do anyway. The control is a mixed bag-they make it so you can't drive on the apron at all, even worse, it's impossible not to run into somebody!

Features
Mixed feelings. Part of me likes the inclusion of the Busch-um, NNS, Truck and Modified Series and Production Cars. Part of me wants to know why the hell Jeremy Mayfield, who is in the real-life Chase for the Cup, is not licensed in the freaking game. Also, there's more: #4,23,49, and field filler cars; Pocono Raceway is somehow MIA, and half the Truck and National fields are fake drivers.

Presentation
I personally liked when you could get the National Anthem, Start Engines command, Fly-over and rundown of the Starting Grid. They took it out for some reason. WHY?!?!?!

Overall
Drive NR2003. It's not that old, you can get mods for non-existant drivers, and the handling doesn't feel like driving on ice. Chase for the Cup is OK, but only if you want features. And they are marginal at best.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 09/22/04