Nascar Thunder 2002 Review

I’m so dizzy, my head is spinning…

Alright, enough with the roundabout jokes. I’m sure you NASCAR fans are just

tired of it. So what do we have here? How about a nice little game by the name

of NASCAR Thunder 2002? EA’s latest in stock car racing brings some nifty

features to the good ol’ oval, resulting in a game that will add a little thunder

to your NASCAR lovin’ heart.

Compared to past NASCAR games, Thunder 2002 has improved by leaps and

bounds. The maximum number of cars on the track has been bumped up to the full

field of 43 with 23 tracks from the NASCAR Winston Cup. Some of the tracks even

have, dare I say it” RIGHT TURNS! It must be my lucky day.

Thunder 2002 opens to the rhythms of Sweet Home Alabama, giving

the game a touch of atmospheric country twang and setting the tone for the rest

of the game. Get used to it, because it will be heard through most menu screens

(though it can be replaced with an edgier and out of place rock beat in the

Options). To say the least, Alabama was a much better choice than, say, Cotton

Eyed Joe. Or even worse, what if they opted for The Dixie Chicks? I shudder

at the thought.

The control is easy and manageable, with optional computer-aided assists to

make it even easier. Now all you need to concentrate on is outmaneuvering the

competition.

There’s a Season mode that allows you to race with a balanced car through

the different tracks, but the real fun is found in the Career mode. Career mode

places you in the boots of a real NASCAR driver as you climb the ranks and establish

your penchant for speed. You can choose from some 50 drivers from the 2001 season

or just create your own. When you’ve chosen your driver and are all ready to

go, try creating a custom car from several templates and color schemes.

But what would a stock car be like without all of those ads liberally strewn

over the surface? One of the cool features in Thunder 2002 is the advertising

that can be solicited and smacked across your car for cash. Just place an ad

logo across different areas of the car and meet challenges to score some big

advertising bucks. Do well, and your ever growing stockpile of cash goes towards

upgrading your car, which starts the snowball effect of more wins, more advertising

dollars, and more upgrades.

At first I was deeply unimpressed by the impacts and collisions, but like

the Good and Evil Switch on a Krusty

Toy Doll, I discovered the damage modeling switch in the Options that transformed

a watered down “Limited” damage feature into a decidedly tastier slam and bam

fest.

With this little option turned on, cars can be struck with enough force to

send them flying. Parts fly off at a greater rate and scratch marks streak across

the side of your ride. There are still a few little physics problems that can

be seen here and there in replays, but I’m just happy the possibility for destruction

is now there.

Strangely enough, Thunder 2002‘s announcer is taciturn. For once, I

found it really weird not having some obnoxious freak bellowing out comments.

The only downside of this guy is that he doesn’t have anything particularly

interesting to say. Where oh where is that happy middle ground?

Graphically, Thunder 2002 has both good and bad. While the cars are

sharp and clean, the backgrounds have anti-aliasing issues along with the fact

that they are just plain boring. All the bleachers look the same. There’s also

an annoying sun glare, but at least it’s offset by a beautiful sky in the nighttime

stages. The colors in this version aren’t as vibrant as the Xbox one, but the

backgrounds are noticeably better.

NASCAR Thunder 2002 won’t magically transform anyone into a NASCAR fan,

but the for the tried and true NASCAR fans out there, this game should mark

the beginning of good things to come. The attention to detail, from the realization

of 43 cars to the breadth of 23 tracks, should make any NASCAR nut proud.