- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Eutechnyx
- ESRB Rating: “E" for Everyone
- Genre: Racing
- Pros: Nice visuals; good handling cars
- Cons: 2010 info at launch instead of 2011; drafting is brutally difficult while every other race is too easy; glitches; spotter comments; no Nationwide or Trucks series
The title of the game may be NASCAR 2011, but at launch time this game is stuck squarely in 2010, which is just disappointing. The career mode point system is not the new one introduced this year, but the old system. The race schedule is the 2010 schedule, not 2011. The cars - the most important selling point of the entire game - are the 2010 version that still have the splitter on the front end. Drivers aren't all on their correct teams with the right numbers. Sponsors are either wrong or just plain nonexistent. There is no Nationwide series or Craftsman Trucks series. And just what the heck are Danica Patrick and Jennifer Jo Cobb - two Nationwide drivers - even doing in this game?
An update is planned to come out at some point that will bring the game up to date with the new point system, new car, 2011 schedule, and new paint schemes. We can only review the game we have in our hands, though, and what was shipped is out of date and disappointing as far as these details go.
Modes include single races, a Career mode, special events like eliminator races and drafting challenges, a livery editor, as well as the expected online multiplayer modes we've come to expect. The career mode is pretty bare bones - just qualifying and racing - but can be fun.
Gameplay
Activision
On the other extreme, you have every other track in the game where you rely on horsepower and driver skill instead of needing to use teamwork and can easily pull away from the A.I. drivers and win with ease. It is just too easy. If you start on the pole you'll pull out to a several second lead on the first lap. Even if you start 43rd (which I started doing halfway through career because I got bored of qualifying), you can pass everyone and win even in the shortest possible distances for each race. I will say, though, that working your way through the entire field is pretty darn fun.
That isn't to say it can't be fun. The cars handle really surprisingly nicely. They just feel good to drive. Also, as frustrating as Daytona and Talladega can be, actually driving well there is really, really satisfying. And like I said, starting in the back at other tracks and passing everyone is a fun challenge. It also has to be noted that running longer races usually makes them more fun. If you just run the minimum laps, the cars pretty much just stay bunched together. If you run, say, 50 laps or more, though, and have to make a pit stop or two, things get a lot more interesting and play out a lot more realistically. Still too easy, but interesting.
One additional issue with the gameplay is that the yellow caution flags are completely broken. They either come out way too late or sometimes not at all even if half the field is wadded up in a wreck. Bad times.
Activision
Visually, the game is pretty nice looking. The cars look good, even if they aren't 2011 accurate. The lighting is great for both day and night races. Sadly, there is no day to night transition. The tracks are decently detailed, including off track backgrounds, and really look good. Crash damage is okay, but it seems odd to scrape the wall on the right but end up with only the front of your car dinged up.
Sound
Sound is both a strong and weak point here. Strong because the engine sounds are awesome and near-perfect and the crunching of metal and squealing of tires in wrecks is great. On the other hand, the chatter from your spotter is absolutely terrible. They have the same handful of comments they say every ... single ... race and it is just stupid. They also aren't all that helpful in their actual spotting duties. An onscreen indicator at the bottom of the screen that shows your car and any other cars around you is much more useful.
Bottom Line
In the end, NASCAR 2011: The Game is a letdown for NASCAR fans. As of this review it uses 2010 info. It only includes the Sprint Cup and not the other NASCAR series. The gameplay, while occasionally fun, struggles to find a balance between too easy or too difficult. Load times are a bit lengthy, even just between areas of the menu. With all of that said, though, it isn't a bad game. Just a game that needed a lot more polish. Next year's game (and we have to assume there will be one), should be great if all of these issues are taken care of. For this, year, however, NASCAR 2011 is best as a weekend rental.
