NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

[Steve_OS]

Here we are in 2017 and fans of NASCAR are still waiting for a title that...

Written By: Robert Kollars

Click here to view the article.

[mike24forever]

I'm excited to try the truck series.   This was a great article and it highlights your love for NASCAR and how you want a game to simulate it.  Looking forward to this title in September.

[radney]

Looking at the screenshots from Homestead and Eldora, they have a late afternoon look to them. I'm hoping it fades into the early evening and into the night. 

[brandon27]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Nice write up.

Can any early indications be given at this point to what (if any) driver assists were added to the driving model? I think in the other thread with the video interview that was hard to hear it sounded like the 704 Games Rep mentioned addition of assists and such.

Early indications sound like they've done a lot of improving to the core game itself in addition to adding the NXS and CWTS. I'd have thought they'd be out there touting those additions already. I get it, release is a ways away but you have to think they know they hurt themselves pretty badly with last years release in the rough, limited shape it was. Sure, lots of potential, but a lot to be desired too. Better frame rates are a must as well, the game really struggled to keep up if you used the rearview mirror, or there was an on track incident. That's got to be improved too.

Just was wondering if there's any addition information that can be provided in regards to those items at this point since you spent time with it.

The talk about the AI being more aggressive concerns me a bit. I saw some indicents last year where the AI get pretty aggressive at driving underneath you if you leave the lane open, but they seem to do it at speeds and car control that seem to defy the physics of racing. Almost as if they were being aggressive just for the sake of making you pay for your mistake and they could do so with no repercussions. I'm all for better, harder racing AI, but I need their cars to be operating under the same sets of physics rules as mine still. There was nothing worse in last years game than getting a small tap from an AI driver and spinning wildly out of control, but when giving the same tap to an AI driver they're stuck to the track like a tank. It's the thing I think I love most about F1's AI... and F1 is obviously not a rubbin's racing kind of racing (lol) but if you have slight contact, the AI car is likely going around out of control, and taking damage just the same way yours is.

Other than that, it sounds promising, just have to be careful here because it sounded that way too last year, and I was pretty disappointed. Had fun with it once I accepted it for what it was, and learned to live with the fact I paid premium price, for a not so premium offering. There was fun to be had, you just had to be patient and overlook all of it's flaws. So I'm optimistic, yet cautious.

[bluengold34_OS]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Nice write up.

Can any early indications be given at this point to what (if any) driver assists were added to the driving model? I think in the other thread with the video interview that was hard to hear it sounded like the 704 Games Rep mentioned addition of assists and such.

Early indications sound like they've done a lot of improving to the core game itself in addition to adding the NXS and CWTS. I'd have thought they'd be out there touting those additions already. I get it, release is a ways away but you have to think they know they hurt themselves pretty badly with last years release in the rough, limited shape it was. Sure, lots of potential, but a lot to be desired too. Better frame rates are a must as well, the game really struggled to keep up if you used the rearview mirror, or there was an on track incident. That's got to be improved too.

Just was wondering if there's any addition information that can be provided in regards to those items at this point since you spent time with it.

The talk about the AI being more aggressive concerns me a bit. I saw some indicents last year where the AI get pretty aggressive at driving underneath you if you leave the lane open, but they seem to do it at speeds and car control that seem to defy the physics of racing. Almost as if they were being aggressive just for the sake of making you pay for your mistake and they could do so with no repercussions. I'm all for better, harder racing AI, but I need their cars to be operating under the same sets of physics rules as mine still. There was nothing worse in last years game than getting a small tap from an AI driver and spinning wildly out of control, but when giving the same tap to an AI driver they're stuck to the track like a tank. It's the thing I think I love most about F1's AI... and F1 is obviously not a rubbin's racing kind of racing (lol) but if you have slight contact, the AI car is likely going around out of control, and taking damage just the same way yours is.

Other than that, it sounds promising, just have to be careful here because it sounded that way too last year, and I was pretty disappointed. Had fun with it once I accepted it for what it was, and learned to live with the fact I paid premium price, for a not so premium offering. There was fun to be had, you just had to be patient and overlook all of it's flaws. So I'm optimistic, yet cautious.

Don't be scared by the word aggressive. It was only slightly, and mostly in the form of taking a spot that was open - as they would in real life racing. The AI was solid(again) in my time playing the game.

We did speak about all the assists and options that were added for the user in-game, but I will let them flesh that out when they are ready.

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

This all sounds great so far. I was an early adopter of last year's game and while I did end up getting my money's worth, there were definitely areas that needed improvement.

I'm wondering about the technical aspects of HEAT 2, mainly the inconsistent frame rate that plagued last year's version. I realize there's only so much they can do in a year, but if 704 manages to squeeze all of this new content in and get closer to the 60fps mark, we could have a really great NASCAR game in the making.

[Godgers12]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Has anything been done with the physics and wreck/damage detail? Seeing cars flying 30' in the air after a collision is a huge eye sore. And if a car gets T-boned at 200 MPH neither car should be recognizable.

[bluengold34_OS]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Has anything been done with the physics and wreck/damage detail? Seeing cars flying 30' in the air after a collision is a huge eye sore. And if a car gets T-boned at 200 MPH neither car should be recognizable.

Yes - from what I was told that damage physics/model has been redone with results that they described as "much better" implementation and results. Now that had not been implemented yet in the version I played, but I will def report back on it when I visit in late July -

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Yes - from what I was told that damage physics/model has been redone with results that they described as "much better" implementation and results. Now that had not been implemented yet in the version I played, but I will def report back on it when I visit in late July -

Thanks for the updates. I think we have some fairly critical but diehard NASCAR gamers on this board, I'm definitely one of them. 704 seems like they're doing the best with what they've got, as long as they continue to move the series forward in significant ways they'll have my purchase.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Great article, Bob, thank you

I like what I'm hearing so far, but I'd like to see more about how the game is coming together technically. I've been getting quite spoiled by the F1 series for smooth gameplay, presentation and graphics, and this game, frankly, needs to hang with that to get my wallet open. If it can do everything else well but can't stay solid and smooth, I'm not in.

HDR/4k is not even a demand I have for this series; just a smooth steady frame rate and graphics at least ALMOST as good as F1 2016. Hopefully presentation values overall in that arena as well with sound, broadcast style replays, etc.

I am figuring you are holding off commenting on the graphics, in all fairness, until you play a later build and I'm fully understanding of that. I will await further word on my concerns with your future articles on this.

Thanks again, Bob. Like I said...a lot to like so far but my biggest boxes still need to be checked.

[Godgers12]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Any chance that there will be some sort of online career mode?

[cjacks17]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Really hoping for an engaging career mode. Probably the only way I'd buy it. Back in the day they used to do career mode quite well where you had to earn your way up through the ranks.

I really enjoy individual sports for career modes (i.e. boxing, nascar, tennis, etc.). You can make them really expansive. Kinda like Fight Night Champion. It was cinematic, but fun because it foused on YOU. Would love that in Nascar. Having things like rivals, sponsorships, etc.

[bluengold34_OS]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Great article, Bob, thank you

I like what I'm hearing so far, but I'd like to see more about how the game is coming together technically. I've been getting quite spoiled by the F1 series for smooth gameplay, presentation and graphics, and this game, frankly, needs to hang with that to get my wallet open. If it can do everything else well but can't stay solid and smooth, I'm not in.

HDR/4k is not even a demand I have for this series; just a smooth steady frame rate and graphics at least ALMOST as good as F1 2016. Hopefully presentation values overall in that arena as well with sound, broadcast style replays, etc.

I am figuring you are holding off commenting on the graphics, in all fairness, until you play a later build and I'm fully understanding of that. I will await further word on my concerns with your future articles on this.

Thanks again, Bob. Like I said...a lot to like so far but my biggest boxes still need to be checked.

Appreciate it Dan - holding off on quite a bit until I play that final build. Like I mentioned, so much is trending in the right direction -- just need to see where it's at when it crosses the finish line. I'll have one more article out with a final preview before retail drops -

[OPDriver]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Really high hopes for this years game. Hope the physics and damage are better as Bob said.

[bluengold34_OS]

Re: NASCAR HEAT 2 Hands-On Preview, Coming to Consoles this Fall

Really high hopes for this years game. Hope the physics and damage are better as Bob said.

I think you will appreciate all the upgrades in this years title quite a bit. Like I mentioned before, when I go to the office again in July, I'll write up the last preview before the review - it will be much more extensive in detail.