NASCAR 09 (Sony Playstation 3, 2008)

Every year EA Sports releases a new NASCAR game, I always see mediocre and even poor reviews about it, all of which claim that the game is boring and/or featureless. The '09 game has received the worst of these complaints, and I really feel that these complaints don't merit a true example of the game itself. The first thing reviewers forget about this series is it's stock car racing, and if you don't enjoy stock car racing as a fan then you're not going to enjoy a stock car racing game, so quit whining. This year's NASCAR in my opinion is the greatest any NASCAR game has been, even for EA. People have in the past complained about the shift from a simulation style game to an arcade game, and I just don't see that. This year's game has a choice of either, both equally as useful depending on the player. Jeff Gordon teaches you about every feature in the game as you progress through it, and that's a great addition! Many people will dis that simply because it's Jeff Gordon. The features on it are relatively endless too, as you can race the truck series and the two main car series, sign team & sponsor contracts, race as either yourself (in custom cars) or as a real driver, break records, and track your career progress as you build a reputation around it. The two features that stick out most this year is the ability to race online with friends or in a public session for ratings (set up like Madden) and the fully custom paint shop for your cars. This is the first time they've allowed cars to be painted entirely by the user (sponsors included) on a computer and then transferred into the console. You can literally race any paint/sponsor scheme you can think of. The only downside I found to this game is the inability to race the different series (truck, Nationwide, etc) simultaneously. It only allows you to have contracts for one at a time, which is a step backwards for this game series (the '05 game allowed you to race up to four different schedules at a time and hire sub drivers as necessary when schedule conflicts arose). So, I give it a 4/5 because it's a great game with a few lost features but overall has many new ones replacing it. Great for stock car race fans!

There's no question that with all of the new features, NASCAR 09 is an improvement over previous installments in the series. The gameplay hasn't received much attention, but better presentation, the ability to completely customize your ride, and other minor enhancements make this a game that should please most fans of the sport.After you set up your new driver information, it's off to the garage to explore the robust new customization options. You start by selecting and designing your own number, and then lay down a base color for the body of your car. Racing stripes, waves, flames, and sponsorship decals are just some of the graphics that you can use to pimp your ride, though many of the sponsors won't be available until you earn them.Upon completing the design of your car, you'll be asked to sign with a sponsor. Each sponsor has a set of expectations that must be met to improve your reputation and, ultimately, move up to bigger sponsorship opportunities. Unfortunately, though it may be cool to raise your reputation and gain bigger sponsors, it actually does very little for you other than boost your ego. The real key to improving your skills in NASCAR 09 is to complete as many of the 77 different Sprint Driver Challenges as possible.different camera options when driving. The in-car perspective delivers the most exciting driving experience; every turn seems to be magnified and demands your utmost attention. NASCAR 09 offers two different driving styles in the game to go along with the different viewing options: normal and pro. Normal is the easier of the two styles in that it lets you be a little less precise when taking turns. Conversely, the pro driving style requires a more experienced driver with steadier hands to be successful. To master the driving controls, it certainly takes some precision behind the wheel at first.NASCAR 09's graphics are adequate but the crashes could use some work. The problem is that you rarely get huge collisions that result in cars flipping end over end. Most crashes result in one driver bumping another and spinning out of control until the yellow flag comes out. It's more realistic that huge crashes don't happen that often, but it would no doubt add to the excitement of the game. The graphics aren't stellar, but they still look pretty good considering the number of cars onscreen at any given time. All of the tracks are the same from a year ago and look nice, but it's difficult to notice any major graphical flaws when you're consistently driving more than 170 mph. The sounds within NASCAR 09 are a great complement to the game. The noise from all the crowds and the engines sounds lifelike throughout the game. Additionally, the spotter does a solid job of helping you navigate through the field by consistently letting you know if there's an opposing driver running down low or up high. The music on the soundtrack has a nice mix of hard-rock tunes featuring such bands as POD and AFI to help set the mood on race day. The bottom line is that NASCAR 09 is a good racer but doesn't provide the same level of excitement as the real thing. Regardless, it's at least a small improvement over last year's game in nearly every way. If you're willing to spend the time adjusting some of the settings, you'll find NASCAR 09 to be a fun and challenging game.

After not playing the series for a couple years, I've got mixed reaction to this game. The sport has definitely been Maddenized, and not in a good way. The complicated things they should have left simple. And quirks and bugs that showed up 3 years ago, make a valiant return, almost as if they'd never left. The pit crews haven't changed from the "everyone's the same" robots of yesteryear. You'd think with the power behind the PS3, they could come up with some original ideas for the pit crew.

The Jeff Gordon clips are gimmicky and the audio/video aren't synchronized very well. The controls, both the Pro and Normal, don't do a very good job of immersing me into the game, as I spend more time wondering if the car is supposed to be handling like this or if it is just the hit-or-miss controls.

Here's an odd thing to complain about, pausing isn't instant. During my first race, one of my kids started crying so I hit pause and ran to check on them. When I came back and unpaused, I found my truck had hit the wall because there was a delay between pressing the pause button and the game actually pausing.

But enough about what I don't like. I like the career mode. The Rep Point system is an improvement over previous attempts. I like the HUD and the amount of information it displays. And of course the stable of drivers is large as is expected.

Overall, the racing is a satisfying experience, it just takes a while to get there. For something as simple as pressing the accelerate button and turning left, the game just doesn't have that "pickup and play" feel to it.

I bought it because it was the new thing. It was Nascar to a whole new level. The intensity of the game makes it feel like your actually driving. One of the many great features is that you can create your own design of the car on your laptop! You can make any type you want. It could be netflix, halo, or one with your name. The Only bad feature is that it is locally 1 player. I wish it was two though. The best part is you get to race online.
Thats pretty much it!

A great step-up from '08. The thing that takes it that much highed is defiantly the new and improved career mode. The mentoring by Gordon is a great idea, and hopefully they keep it for future editions and cover-drivers. The repetation count is another cool addition, as it makes you work your way through the game, climbing your way from John Doe's Racing to Hendrick MoSports.

Having played every year since the series inception, I like how far theyve come along. Nascar 09 should be on every fans game rack, even if all you do is drive backwards and create massive wrecks. Two thumbs up for me!