Boogity, boogity, boogity! Let’s go racing!
Developer: Firebrand Games
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Score: 1.2/ 5
How about we go for a drink instead? I was excited when I got the opportunity to review the newly released NASCAR Unleashed game. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met in any way. This game is supposed to attract non-NASCAR fans and kids to the sport as well as current stock car fans. Well they nailed the “kids” part. You may as well have called this game Hot Wheels Unleashed as the stock cars, unlocks, and tracks scream it.
The game offers three solo modes; Championship, Time Trial, and Quick Race. There is also a multiplayer mode which offers additional menu options including a co-op Championship and a Versus Quick Race. I will admit that the first few races of the championship mode I did enjoy, but after a while it got old. The races seem to encourage smashing into cars as well as completing in-game challenges to fill up a speed boost meter which in turn, makes your car go faster.
The tracks are designed to, in certain areas, make turns on the side of a building. I thought this feature was cool when I first read about it but, alas, I am left unimpressed. The biggest downfall of this feature is the poor steering. The sensitivity level of the analog stick is set way too low with no option to change it. When I used the D-pad to steer it only helped minorly. I also found the maps to be a little on loud side.
As you play the game on Championship mode, you are given challenge races which offers cosmetic unlocks for your custom car or the cars of most of the NASCAR drivers. The car designs are tacky but, again, this game is targeted for kids. This game does not have the selection of NASCAR drivers I’ve seen in other games, so my only thought (and hope) on this is they ran out of time. The choice of styles used is poor, which is frustrating because you are unlocking cosmetic options for the cars. At least make the cars look good from the start.
After the first Championship Season, the game becomes increasingly difficult. Each race has a primary goal you must achieve in order to advance to the next stage of the championship as well as some secondary goals you do not have to achieve. To advance however, you must finish these goals to unlock the challenge races that give you the cosmetic unlocks. Unfortunately the secondary goals were simplier to complete than the primary goals, which are the real bane of the game. After a while in the Championship mode, your primary goal becomes placing in top five or higher to advance. The AI drivers makes this goal nearly impossible though, regardless if they are your rivals or not.
After spending almost an hour trying to place top five in one of three races I looked for a difficulty setting to lower the aggressiveness of the AI. Nope! That’s right, there’s no option to adjust the difficulty level in Championship mode. You are stuck ramming your head in to a wall while you try to get past the cars to place fifth. The only modes I saw where you are able to adjust the difficulty level is Quick Race and Versus Quick Race.
In the Time Trial mode, the times were very unforgiving for the difficulty of the tracks. You are given three times to shoot for to advance; Gold, Silver, and Bronze. As you pass through check points, your time is increased and your speed boost meter is filled, which you would think would help you, but not exactly. When you use the speed boost the screen goes a little blurry to simulate going ludicrous speed. On top of that, most turns come up so suddenly that even “drifting” will not save you from smacking into the wall.
This game is a steaming pile of cow manure, baking in a brown paper bag on a hot summer day. Kids may love it but I doubt seriously anyone over the age of 12 will.
Activision provided a copy of this title for review purposes.
