NASCAR 2000
Reviewed by Zed
I wanted NASCAR 2000 for a long time after I saw its graphics and
its 30-dollar price tag, but after buying the game, I found I was more
than a little disappointed. Take a look if you're interested in this dinky game . . .
Graphics: 9 out of 10
NASCAR 2000 has some great graphics for the Game Boy Color, I must
say, although cars aren't greatly detailed. THQ has used only four or
five color schemes and planted them on cars that don't even look like
their respective driver's. However, the graphics are enough to make
you want to buy the game rather than cheesy old "NASCAR Challenge."
Yes, it beats NASCAR Challenge in all areas, obviously, but graphics
aren't the whole part of a game, you know. Read on.
Music and Sound: 7 out of 10
Well, the music at the title screen is pretty cool, but when you hit
"Start", it goes to a simply annoying tune. Maybe THQ wants you to think
of the lame Game Boy Color sound as if it was a slide guitar or something;
well it doesn't work at all. There's no music during actual racing, with
the exception of the clever tune at the beginning of the race, but that
immediately switches to the grunty engines of those stock cars. However,
the engines don't sound all that great either, unfortunately, but they do
set the mood about the game.
Game Challenge: 7.5 out of 10
The challenge in NASCAR 2000 is okay, but still, it's just nothing
when it comes to overall statistics. This won't save it either,
unfortunately. Hey, it's better than NASCAR Challenge!
Game Play-Fun: 6.5 out of 10
You might have fun with NASCAR 2000 for a few days, and it could be
good for a vacation trip, but I've had it for a while and haven't crashed
once. C'mon, man, crashes RULE! Well, not really, but they add to the
realism of the game. And realism makes it fun, doncha know. Hmm,
maybe I'm just too good a driver to crash.
Frustration
There are a few frustration points in this game. First off, I did a
race last night as Sterling Marlin. I lead the whole damned race
and finally have to come into the pits. So here I come, driving my
number 40 Sabco-owned Chevy, and it takes me to this little screen.
I click "fuel". Okay, I got that. "Tires". Hmm, okay... I don't want a
wedge adjustment. I hit "exit" and the game takes me back onto the
racetrack with no new tires, and worst of all, no new gas. I finish
dead freakin' last. How's that for frustration? Another point is the
AWFUL Artificial Intelligence. There isn't as much room on the racetrack
as there is in, say, NASCAR Racing 3 or NASCAR 2000 for N64. What
does the AI do? They block the crap out of you. You're battling for the
next-to-last position, they block you. The AI does nothing but BLOCK
you. And when they DO block you, if they're BEHIND you even, they'll
stay in front of you. This causes you to smash the wall or something,
lose valuable time and position, causes spasm/anger, and overall,
doesn't make you want to play the stupid thing again.
Game Value: 7 out of 10
NASCAR 2000 should really be toned down to about 20-25 bucks. 30
dollars is highway robbery when it comes to good video games. Heck,
I had more fun with Spy Hunter/Moon Patrol for GBC and that was 10
dollars at Bookman's Books & Software. How lame, man.
Overall: 6.5 out of 10
If you want a good racing game, I seriously recommend NASCAR
Racing 1999 Edition or NASCAR Racing 3, both for PC and by
Sierra/Papyrus. Those are GREAT NASCAR sims, and they both blow
this one away. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this thing,
because if you spend 30 dollars on it, you'll be taking it back to the
store the next day but they'll say "once it's opened, you can't return it."