Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

[mcavner]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Yes, been playing fine with a controller. Have had to turn stability assists on to stop from spinning out, but it still plays great

Yeah, I need the stability assist on any of the smaller tracks. Actually, on most of the tracks. Unfortunately, I need to go and tinker in setup to qualify in a decent spot. Kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation - because I can't qualify with stability off and then run the race with stability on.

My solution at present is to run longer races to give me time to work my way up from the poor qualifying position because with short races I inevitably just run out of laps. But I kinda am getting tired of always starting last and working my way into the mix. Too predictable (as opposed to the predictable that is me spinning out somewhere along the line if stability is off).

So, to mix analogies, I want my cake and want to eat it too. At my present skill level I need stability as a slider option rather than as a game mode, as it were.

[mcavner]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

And to the question "is this game fun?" Well, I rearranged my entire rec room and positioned my chair directly in front of the TV, and now the couches are along the sides and everyone else's view of the TV is compromised... because screw you family... I'm racing.

[StoneCalf]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Is the game worth it for a offline career racer? races okay with controller?

I'm giving it a "yes" as well. I just finished the "Intro season" in career mode, where you participate via Hot Seats.

I am racing on "hard", 25% race length, stability off, single stage with normal wear. This equates to races that are like sprints, meaning that fuel will carry you through without a pit being required for fuel. I suck at pitting, and that fact coupled with some shoddy AI behavior sometimes on pitting made me want to just approach the game (for now anyway) this way. At 25%, truck races take anywhere from about 17-25 minutes, which is commensurate with my duration of interest and focus ability.

To my knowledge, you cannot see any truck ratings, as in performance stats or graphs, so the only way you can gauge a truck is by the star rating of the team. On "hard" in career, a 3 star truck/team is *perfect* for my skill level, in that I have to scratch, claw and concentrate to work my way up toward mid pack. However in my latter Hot Seat opportunities, I got to drive some 5 star trucks, and it was way too easy (I qualified 3rd at Michigan, and gapped 2nd place by 19 seconds en route to an easy win).

So, for my first full season, I elected to start out with a 3 star team and go from there. I'm pretty sure you can adjust difficulty during a career if I'm not mistaken.

Since there is no upgrade nor research & development system, I think the advancements and improvements you can make on your current ride will be solely mechanical adjustments. I can live with that for now, but I'm hoping they can build on it for NH3 and get a system in place with more depth and give the in game currency a purpose.

As far as racing with a controller, in my opinion this is the best handling and feeling control I've ever experienced with a Nascar game (includes Dirt to Daytona, Thunder 2004, Nascar the Game & Inside Line games, and EA's Nascar 09). I'm poor at racing on short tracks and road courses, but that's a me problem. In past games, I would be hesitant to press the issue in get in too many 2 and 3 wide situations, it was often a white-knuckle experience whereby there would be a fair chance that I would cause a caution. In NH2, if I don't force my way too aggressively, I can realistically mix it up with the AI, hold my line, and compete the way I've always wanted to.

I can't comment on the rival system yet, cause I don't think it starts until your first full season, but I'm curious as to how much contact I can get away with. I was reading some others' thoughts on the rival system, and while some were critical of it, saying that now that they've roughed up a bunch of drivers, it's hard to get through a race without being wrecked, but another commented that the system means that you have to race smart, not bulldozing and punting other cars, and that he really liked that aspect (I'm thinking and hoping this will be my sentiment as well)

[Turbojugend]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

The game is fun and a definite step up from last year, worst thing I can say about it is the lousy release timing. With all of the sports games coming out this month, I'm squeezed for playing time and NH2 is getting bumped to the back of the gaming pile. (Can we get ever get a Daytona release... please?)

Oh well, first world problems I guess.

[mcavner]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Finished my first 'hot seat' mini-season with a surprising win, and I've just completed my first full season as a team racer. I signed with 4 star AM Racing and drove the #22 truck - which was also the truck I won with as a hot seat driver.

I'm playing on easy and throughout the season I switched between stability on and off as I struggled to figure out if my truck was too slow or my driving just stunk. Some races I raced at, I think 4%, and slowly the length has crept up, now I'm staying at, I think, the 17%... something like that. Basically it gives me time to work my way up if I qualify poorly. Also, I think I'm going to go the whole second season with stability on.

The first season I finished 11th, won 2 of the last 3 races, and finished the season with 5 rivals... and most of the field angry with me. Sorry fellas - it wasn't always on purpose. I got momentum near the end of the season - can't recall if it was before my first win of the season or not. Anyway - it made a big difference. I seemed to do best on shorter to medium tracks - on the super speedways and the like I actually felt more comfortable and felt like I was finding my line and maxing my speed, but I never really had enough truck to finish in the top fifteen if I didn't take stability off and set-up the car according to various set-ups youtubers shared.

I know it seems ridiculous, but I really could use a stability ON with set-up tweaks option... that'd be ideal for my 'modest' (read: pathetic) gamer level.

EDIT: also worth mentioning that your rivals carry over to the next season - looks like everyone cools off by one 'tick' (maybe 2?) so guys who were your rival enter the next season 'mad' at you - so that's pretty cool.

[Hunkerdown]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Concern is, not very sim you avoid pitting? Very important in NASCAR as well as other racing sims

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[StoneCalf]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Concern is, not very sim you avoid pitting? Very important in NASCAR as well as other racing sims

I agree, pitting is an important part, but because there are some issues with AI pitting, I'm choosing to play the game with out it until they get it addressed, assuming they will.

From what I've read, some of the greatest issues occur on stage racing, and the player can easily outsmart whatever flawed pitting logic the AI uses.

Something else I have experienced is sometimes the field really bogs on restarts after a caution, resulting with either me taking damage or being an undeserved beneficiary by gaining a big chunk of positions.

[cusefan74]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

The game is not bad, but there are a few issues.

1.Where the heck are the caution flags when someone spins? I got turned around facing the other way stuck against the wall and no caution.

2.Tire wear, where is it? I can run the same lap times on lap 20 as I can on lap 1, hello that don't make sense.

3.AI pitting logic is messed up it seems, of course that has been a problem in every NASCAR game I have ever seen.

The racing itself is pretty good and fun so far. For me there is nothing that is killing the game for me so far. Overall I'm liking the game, I just hope they will address a few things and it would be a great game.

[hawkeyekid]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Haven't played a racing game for probably 4 years. What would you guys suggest as far as settings?

I was thinking 50%, full flags, full damage, on the 2nd to hardest level with Stability Help off. Is that trying to do too much while trying to get back into the game?

[Gritblitzer]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

The game is not bad, but there are a few issues.

1.Where the heck are the caution flags when someone spins? I got turned around facing the other way stuck against the wall and no caution.

2.Tire wear, where is it? I can run the same lap times on lap 20 as I can on lap 1, hello that don't make sense.

3.AI pitting logic is messed up it seems, of course that has been a problem in every NASCAR game I have ever seen.

The racing itself is pretty good and fun so far. For me there is nothing that is killing the game for me so far. Overall I'm liking the game, I just hope they will address a few things and it would be a great game.

Pit logic isn't "screwed up" so to speak. So what's happening is that the pit logic was made for the stage racing I believe. Even when the stages are off they'll still try to short pit their fuel window.

So in stage racing though, they come in BEFORE the end of the stage even if they can make it to the end of the stage and pit under caution because the strategy is that of "ok I can pit now right before, come out and not have to pit under caution". This works at some tracks, but not all. I guess the messed up part is that every AI car on track seems to have the same strategy, which is why it kind of stinks.

[DarthRambo]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

All of a sudden the button to go into garage is missing. I am stuck racing with default setups and no way to change it.

I tried playing career, quick race, even season race. No option there. It WAS there before, now missing. Any help!?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Operation Sports mobile app

[mercalnd]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

You need to use one of the bumpers to move to a custom setup. Once you do, the button for the garage appears.

[DarthRambo]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

You need to use one of the bumpers to move to a custom setup. Once you do, the button for the garage appears.

What bumpers? Sorry I am new to this game.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Operation Sports mobile app

[DarthRambo]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

On PS4, I believe you press L1/R1 to select the custom setup which will allow you enter the garage to make changes. This can be done while you're sitting in the car prior to a session (practice, qualifying, race).

I tried every button and nothing happens. I know what you're saying now, but when I hit the LB/RB buttons (xbox) nothing happens. Frustrating...almost want to delete game data and re-download.

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[DarthRambo]

Re: Nascar Heat 2 Impressions.....

Check the options, maybe you selected 'assists' which won't allow you to change the setups.

The only assist is stability which on or off I don't have the garage option. This is frustrating me to say the least. It was there and now it's gone and I didn t change any options except race length and wear multiplier.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Operation Sports mobile app