Best NASCAR console games

[Turbojugend]

I've been on a bit of a NASCAR gaming kick lately. It sounds like the best games are all on the PC, but since I don't have have a gaming PC, I was wondering what everyone's favorite console NASCAR games are.

So far my favorite is NASCAR Thunder 2003 (Xbox original via XBox 360). As a newcomer to the sport, I really appreciate the way the game teaches you about the tracks, drivers, history, etc. Plus the Lightning Challenges and Thunder Plates are just plain fun to play around with, there are enough classic drivers and alternate tracks to unlock to keep to me entertained for hours.

The only other console game I've spent a decent amount of time with is NASCAR '14. It looks and plays well enough, even if it feels a bit soulless compared to the earlier games.

I have NASCAR 06: Total Team Control (Xbox) on order and I'm looking forward to that. Are there any other console games worth playing?

[ILuvMN81]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Nascar Dirt to Daytona is my favorite console nascar game. Still enjoy it to this day.

Dirt to Daytona was far and away the best, no doubt. I wish it had the then Busch (now Xfinity) series but other than that, rock solid. The title tells it all and it lived up to it.

Bonus points to it for the Minnesota references

I liked EA's Thunder titles and tolerated the series until 2006. I tried 09 for 360 since I found it for $5 and yeah, seems like EA had completely lost interest in the series by then. The Jeff Gordon mentoring scenes were cool.

Any more news on NASCAR '15?

[SilentYetViolent]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

^^^Agreed. Dirt to Daytona and Thunder 2004 are my favorites. Last couple of NASCAR games have been disappointing to say the least.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Any more news on NASCAR '15?

Nothing since the first press release, where they said it was basically going to be a skin update with some bug fixes. And it will be budget-priced.

[ILuvMN81]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Figured as much, ah well.

I'm a little disappointed they're being tight-lipped, but that's today's gaming industry for you. I get that there are a lot of people to please with licenses, a lot of various types of work to do, etc but that press release was almost two months ago now and nothing since.

I'm fine with it being budget priced, especially if the bugs from last year are at least contained.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

NASCAR 06 showed up in the mail the other day and I have to say, it's already my favorite of the bunch. It's basically an improved version of the Thunder series with a hugely expanded Career Mode that starts you off in the lower leagues of NASCAR, which I understand is a lot of the appeal behind Dirt to Daytona. There's also an interesting Team Control feature that allows you to give commands to other drivers on your team, which they may or not comply with depending on the situation. But my favorite new feature is Hero/Villain, which lets you help/intimidate other drivers, building allies/rivals throughout the course of the race. It's probably not great for those who are into pure racing, but I think it adds a lot of the character that is missing from NASCAR games.

NASCAR 06 is Xbox 360-compatible and I'd definitely recommend it for the current asking price (sub-$5).

[DRN73]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

'06, Thunder 2004, and Dirt to Daytona are the best you're going to get on console for immersion and overall greatness.

NASCAR '09, while it isn't very in depth or anything, handles well enough and looks good. It can provide some challenge, and the AI isn't nearly as stupid as the Eutechnyx games.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Bumping this very old thread as I've recently picked up some older NASCAR games. Starting with some PS1 throwbacks, I found NASCAR 99, NASCAR 2001 and NASCAR Rumble at the local swap meet. No one is going to confuse any of these games with the tech-heavy titles of this generation, but they are all a ton of fun to play. Especially Rumble, an arcade racer with some interesting fictional tracks and legends to unlock.

The other game I bought was NASCAR 09, now I think I can see why some people were dissatisfied with the ETX titles. The visuals compare favorably with 15: VE, the A.I. seems smarter, the day/night transitions are amazing, and the Sprint Driver Challenges add a lot to the game, teaching you how to play while throwing some decent incentives at you. Best of all, Career Mode features the top three NASCAR leagues, which adds a ton of depth.

At this point, I can't decide if I prefer 09 or 15: VE. Neither game is perfect but EA's NASCAR swan song does seem like the more polished product.

[LSX]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Was NASCAR '99 the one where music constantly played during the races? I have fond memories playing that game, running hundreds of laps at Bristol while listening to "Flirtin With Disaster". That was a great game for it's time. Not on par with the Papyrus/Sierra PC games, but definitely a solid console game. Thunder 03 & 04 weren't bad either.

I have a feeling the new Heat Revolution game will easily be the best console game since Dirt To Daytona. The Eutechnyx games the last several years were total garbage.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Was NASCAR '99 the one where music constantly played during the races? I have fond memories playing that game, running hundreds of laps at Bristol while listening to "Flirtin With Disaster".

I'm not sure, the first thing I usually do is mute the music on races. But if "Flirtin' With Disaster" is on there I may have to switch it back on. I will check it out tonight.

I've been playing a lot of NASCAR 2001 (PS1) on my PS3 the past couple of days, it's actually taking time away from my Madden 17 franchise! There's something so simple yet so fun about these games, there's just enough customization to where you can do your track setups without worrying about screwing something up (I'm still a NASCAR novice). Not to mention you have so many legends in the game.

Speaking of, classic drivers and tracks something I wish DMR would introduce eventually, although it's probably not high on their priority list. Imagine a current-gen game with Richard Petty vs. Cale Yarborough on a vintage Daytona track. Wow.

[LameGamer]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

One of my reasons for starting to save up for a ps2 is because I want to play NT2004 and NASCAR 06 again, I remember those two were my favorite nascar games as a kid and I had every nascar game from NT2002 to NASCAR 09. Might also pick up Dirt to Daytona if I ever have the money, never have played that game despite the praise it gets.

I'm looking forward to Heat Evolution and hope it's good, though I will probably wait to get it until I read some reviews on it. Despite not being perfect games by any means, I have Inside Line and NASCAR 15: VE to satisfy me until I get my hands on it.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

One of my reasons for starting to save up for a ps2 is because I want to play NT2004 and NASCAR 06 again

Those are both great NASCAR games, two of my favorites. If you have an Xbox 360, the Xbox versions are backwards-compatible on that console. You can find 04 and 06 for less than five bucks apiece nowadays.

I checked the soundtracks last night, 98 was the one with "Flirtin'". But 99 has Stevie Ray Vaughan and you gotta love that.

[Elever]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Anyone know of a playable NASCAR game on the PS3 with a dualshock where you can control the car rather than just bumping into cars like crazy which happens on all the videos I looked up?

The reviews for all of them look bad so it's a bit hard to decide but I'm guessing it's one of Nascar 09, Inside Line, or 15 VE?

[pk500]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

EA's NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup was outstanding. Harvick was on the cover. Decent driving and racing model. The career mode, which started in Whelen modifieds, moved to Truck, XFINITY and then Cup, was OUTSTANDING. Hell, this game even had GRAND-AM prototypes!

I thought last year's NASCAR Heat Evolution had a decent driving model and the best AI I've seen in a NASCAR console game. Too bad it had last-gen graphics, a terrible framerate and a pathetic excuse of a career mode.

[Turbojugend]

Re: Best NASCAR console games

Anyone know of a playable NASCAR game on the PS3 with a dualshock where you can control the car rather than just bumping into cars like crazy which happens on all the videos I looked up?

The reviews for all of them look bad so it's a bit hard to decide but I'm guessing it's one of Nascar 09, Inside Line, or 15 VE?

15 VE isn't bad in my opinion. If you're looking into a PS3 game it's probably your best bet, but don't forget you can play PS1 games on your PS3 and there are a few decent NASCAR games on that console.