When you think of NASCAR, you probably think of one of two things: speed and
the men racing the cars. NASCAR Thunder 2003 has some changes in store for
you this year that will help bring more of each into the racing game.
The
first thing you'll notice about the 2003 version of the game is the upgrade of
the graphics and game physics. Many of these changes have been made to
convey a greater sense of speed to the player. Road surface blur, dynamic
shadows and reflections on the car bodies, and wall and fence effects are just
some of the things that will help to make you feel that you are actually driving
a car at over 200 MPH. The game physics now feature dynamic tire grip and
wear patterns, collision physics, and handling and suspension behavior. As
cars are damaged, you'll see sparks fly, tires shred, and car parts on the
track, and will have to compensate for the decrease in control. If this
all seems like too much simulation for you, you have no need to worry. The
game's adjustable difficulty controls will allow you to play the game as a fun
arcade racer, even showing you the driving lines and braking points on the track
if you want.
The NASCAR license means that you'll be able to race on all 23 Winston Cup
tracks - 14 of which support day and night racing. You'll also be racing
against the sport's famous drivers, and will be able to instantly recognize the
same cars that you see when you watch the races on TV - a total of 125 cars and
75 drivers in all. You'll even have the opportunity to race against some
of the legendary drivers of the game who have retired from active competition.
Richard Petty himself will tell you about the background of the tracks and teach
you the best way to drive them.
You'll also get the chance to hear from other drivers through the game's
Lightning Challenge mode. This mode provides over 30 scenarios drawn from
real race events. The driver involved will describe the situation and what
he did when it really happened. You'll then be transported into the same
situation and given a chance to relive the moment, seeing if you can recreate
history - or even improve on it.
The game will also feature an enhanced career mode that will take you through
20 racing seasons. You'll have the opportunity to manage all aspects of
your career including obtaining sponsorship, building a car, performing R&D, and
hiring and managing your pit team. Cut back too much on your pit crew, and
you'll see the results during races as the team drops bolts or makes other
mistakes, costing you precious seconds of race time.
NASCAR Thunder is due to be released on September 23, 2002.
