Right from the bat you're faced with the challenge of passing 10 "License" challenges in six different categories. Once you've worked your way through those, you need to complete six groups of "contract" races in order to "win" cars that are able to be raced in the "real" racing season. While you don't have to complete all of the races, you'll be limited to just one car to choose from once you get to the "owner" mode, if you don't.
Of course, to be able to race all the races in a given season, you're going to have to complete all of the required license challenges, or you'll just be spinning your wheels and doing a whole lot of nothing at all.
Once you are able to race, the game soars. Despite having to seriously pay attention to whatever moment you're in — whether in relation to your track position, car setup, car performance, crew chief suggestions, etc. — insanely cool moments exist in every race where you just find yourself watching the scenery fly by your car as you smile.
Never has something so challenging been so fun. The closest I can compare it to would be the first (and only) moment when I solved a Rubik's cube without cheating. Sure, it took a lot of practice and concentration, but when those colors locked into place it was a sublime feeling of accomplishment.
It echoes nicely with the warm fuzzy feeling I got the first time I cracked the top ten on a race in this game. Of course, that fuzzy feeling is all wiped away every time that I think I'm finally a kick-ass NASCAR driver and take my "skills" online against 11 other players… only to have my ass handed back to me on a silver platter that looks a lot like a hubcap.
I almost forgot to mention how cool it was to have a game where I'm able to take the Car of Tomorrow out for a spin or 500! It's amazing the way that you can feel the difference in how it handles from the other cars… and this is just in a game. I can't imagine the thrill it must be to be able to actually strap yourself in one of those things.
Article comments
1 - ZuDfunck
Great review
Makes me want to try it out
over the years my kids and I have tried the game renting it through the years and since they disabled the multiplayer aspect stayed away from it
As you say it takes work
But great post, be proud
I will repost and linkback to it soon...
ZuD