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Nascar 2001
Score: 78%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: EA Sports
Media: CD/1
Players: 1 - 2
Genre: Racing

Graphics & Sound:
EA Sports dropped the ball here, folks. NASCAR 2001's somewhat blocky graphics just aren't up to par with what the PlayStation 2 is capable of. Not only are the graphics blocky, but the game is extremely choppy, especially when the rear-view mirror is enabled. It seems that there is too much going on within the game (although it doesn't seem like it), making overall performance slow.

The music and sound fx are actually pretty decent, however. Squealing tires and scraping cars have a realistic sound quality. Also included are an announcer and pit crew chief who give up to the second information ranging from current standings to letting you know who's trying to pass on your high side.


Gameplay:
As a strong supporter of EA, I can honestly say I was disappointed with NASCAR 2001. No matter which raceway you choose, the game slows down and gets choppy whenever you have your mirror enabled and also whenever you seem to drive by the grandstands. This is almost as annoying as the yellow caution flags that get waved in your face for multiple laps. Thankfully, you have the option to turn off caution flags, because leaving them on makes for a very boring time where you cannot control your car and are forced to wait it out.

NASCAR 2001 actually really only offers two modes of play: Season and Exhibition. The cool thing is that you and a bud can actually play a season together. In Season Mode, you will have the option to play a full 20-race season, a 12-race season, or you can choose from any one of three different 4-race quick seasons. Then within each race you will have the option to race all laps or a percent of them to shorten the race time. If you're into racing, you'll be happy to know that included in NASCAR 2001 are 37 real-life drivers, 12 real tracks (including Daytona, Darlington, etc.), and real teams, announcers, manufacturers, and sponsors.

Despite my criticism, there are some nice effects in the game. NASCAR 2001 does a pretty good job of true-to-life simulation of physics, and you will have to constantly get used to changing conditions (mostly from tire wear) in order to be king of the road. Other cool effects include car damage, debris, oil fires, sparks, and engine breakdowns. My personal favorite is driving through the smoke caused by cars ahead of you. In a true Days of Thunder sort of way, you will be driving blind through the possible wreckage ahead.


Difficulty:
Computer AI (artificial intelligence) is pretty good. Even at the Rookie Setting, NASCAR 2001 will be a bit of a challenge. One of the biggest challenges is learning how to maneuver your car around the track in the best manner possible. If you don't, you will waste fuel, damage your car, and wear down your tires. As this happens, steering will actually become more difficult until you hit the pits to fix your car.

Game Mechanics:
NASCAR 2001 is pretty straightforward without surprise. You will pretty much use only two buttons, to accelerate and brake, and the D-pad or analog stick to steer. Learning how to drive is the key to taking your victory lap. It is essential to learn the angles and speed of cornering, as well as mastering drafting your fellow racers. As this could be a fun game for some, I just can't recommend NASCAR 2001 to many people. Hopefully the next in the series will offer a few more options and, more importantly, smoother gameplay.

-Woody, GameVortex Communications
AKA Shane Wodele

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