NASCAR Thunder 2002 (PlayStation)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.8 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 01/24/2002
• Released on: 10/02/2001
• Originally published on GameSpot: NASCAR Thunder 2002 (PlayStation) Review

In marketing, there is a general rule of thumb: "If you can't improve upon something, copy it." That's exactly what EA Sports has done with NASCAR Thunder 2002 for the PlayStation, which is a near duplicate of last year's NASCAR 2001. In terms of visuals, audio, overall features, and general gameplay, the two games are nearly indistinguishable. Upon closer inspection, however, a number of unfortunate gameplay adjustments overshadow the few welcome additions found in this year's release.

On the positive side, the game includes all 23 actual NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks, from Daytona to Sears Point, and even that atrocious course in Laconia, New Hampshire. Thirteen fantasy courses fill out the terrain, giving the player 36 venues with which to race day or night. A healthy stable of 36 actual drivers are at your disposal, while the create-a-driver feature enables you to insert custom drivers (or old favorites) into the rotation. The single-player race and career modes offer full- and half-season challenges, a road course challenge, a speedway shootout, and a short track competition. Most races include practice, qualifying, and happy hour events as well. New to NASCAR Thunder 2002, the thunder cards system lets you earn trading cards during races (or in 30 special challenges) to unlock new tracks and a ton of vehicle power-ups. The career mode is also slightly different from the one in NASCAR 2001, as you can follow a single driver through multiple seasons--a sort of NASCAR franchise mode.

In keeping with EA's typical NASCAR design, NASCAR Thunder 2002 features adjustable difficulty levels and damage ratios. General handling varies from driver to driver, but car handling is also adjustable in 10 categories. For statistics buffs, the game tracks roughly 30 different driver stats across its various gameplay modes.

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