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Released by Papyrus Design, NASCAR 4 is the latest installment of racing simulations created exclusively for the PC by developer Dave Kaemmer and team. Having previously released NASCAR 1, 2, and 3, it was only natural to utilize the fast paced PC hardware market to create a sim with all the eye candy and realism the latest CPU can handle. A lot was expected from this sim, as it was based on the physics engine from the world renowned sim " Grand Prix Legends ", widely regarded as the best driving simulation ever produced. I will admit that I am not a huge NASCAR fan. AT ALL. I find watching all those cars just driving around and around in a circle very boring. However, I was willing to give this sim a try as it was raved about on several newsgroups and I was getting bored with my current F1 sim. But most of all, Papyrus has an excellent multi-player code, making internet racing the major draw. After spending several hours with this sim, I have come to realize that they NEED WIDER TIRES! These cars do not take to rough handling very well at all. You must be smooth, very smooth. Thankfully, the garage option allows you to tweak every aspect of car performance in order to suit your personal style and the current facility.
The sim loaded easily and the install screen came right up. After selecting a full install, it was done loading in about 2 minutes. I re-started my PC, plugged in my wheel and pressed start. After watching the opening movie showing NASCAR action, I arrived at the main option screen. This sim includes all 21 tracks from the circuit, plus 76 real drivers and cars - names, paint jobs, everything. You are allowed to tweak the graphics, sound and controller to cover just about every type of PC out there. I calibrate my Logitec wheel, crank up all graphics to full and choose 42 cars to race at Daytona. You can select either a full pace lap, starting from pit road or a half lap staring from the back straight. As you approach the flag, the Pontiac Grand Prix pace car shoots off and your spotter lets you know. Then, you see the green flag waving and you're off! Drafting is the name of the game here at Daytona, and it is exhilarating. Lose the draft, and your dead. Daytona in real life is a track that mandates restrictor plates, and in the game the cars cannot rev over 7000 RPM's here, or at Talladega. The racing is good and tight with the right set-up, which can be tweaked. You are allowed test sessions at any track in the set-up screen to help perfect your car. You are also given the option of just running one race, or the entire Winston Cup Championship.
It is this tight racing that can cause problems, though. And it is here that I have a serious complaint. The AI in this game can be tweaked for its skill and aggressiveness, but it is not very clever. You are often times bumped and taken out for no good reason. With the AI car often going with you. It is here that you also get to sample the questionable damage physics. The cars will show damage, and you can destroy the engine by an impact or overheating. However, I have been hit broadside, or was tossed and tumbles at 190MPH down the track. But once I landed on my wheels I was able to drive away. I was slower, and the car was banged up, but I was still able to run. A trip to the pits - Watch your speed! says your spotter by radio - and you pull into your stall and get to watch a very cool animated pit crew. You can here talking, air wrenches, and hammers banging out dents. After a while - depending on damage - you can re-join the race. You do have a spotter. He tells you what 's going on, such as " Crash in the Tri-Oval!, Stay low!, Three wide! " and such. However, he is often late! By rotating your in car views, you can often see a car on the side that he isn't talking about. Is he busy or something? You do have several car views to choose from, including a fully detailed interior. Personally, I find it very restrictive and use the " top of the hood " view. All gauges are displayed with any out of car view. Watch the gauges, as the show the two most important ones - tachometer and temperature. You also see oil pressure, fuel pressure and voltage. Also, you can have a digital speedometer and gauge selector shown. Using your F1-F12 keys, a variety of car and race info can be shown, from lap times, your position in the race, tire temperature and tape.
It was time to try the multi-player code. Just click on the " Multi-Player " tag and you go to another screen. Click on the Sierra logo and you are asked for a user name and password. You must register if you do not have one. Once done, you are taken to the Arena's. Then, just find a race you want to enter and join. If you can. Many hosts require passwords to enter, as Racing Leagues have formed around N4, or you might not have a high enough rating. Yes, a rating. Your finishes have a direct result upon your rating for certain tracks. Rated from zero to ten - zero being rookie or just plain bad - and many hosts now try to rate in order to get the guys out who cannot race. I know, life is tough. However, you can usually find a race to suit you. And here is where a fast connection comes in. DO NOT USE 28.8! Stop being cheap and get DSL or cable. It pays off. The quality of your ping is directly related to you and your hosts connection. The faster the better. Once this is solved, you will find the N4 truly shines when racing against real people. You see different styles, lines and how set-up is VERY important. But, you also see drivers not being as Banzai as the AI was in single player. " To finish first, first you must finish " really comes into play. Contact is a serious no-no, as these cars are always on the traction limit. I have had some incredible races on-line with some very good drivers. From the Super Speedways like Daytona, to Speedways like Dover, to Short Speedways like Bristol to Road Courses like Watkins Glen, this sim gave me a new found respect for the real life drivers and what they do. My best race on-line was one of my first. At Bristol, a 1/2 mile bowl in Tennessee, 43 cars lined up to race. With full damage on it was a race to remember. One word - CARNAGE. We all knew it and made the most of it. Cars on top of each other, on the roof, etc. I was crying I was laughing so hard! It was a blast. Try that at Daytona, however, and you will be booted from the game. Overall, I liked this game very much and would recommend it. The minimum PC power recommended by Papyrus is a P-266, but I would not use anything under a P3-500 with at least 200megs of RAM. You should use a wheel, too. Keyboard can be used, but it will hurt you. A good 3D card is a given, with at least 16mgs of ram. You won't need a Cray, but then it wouldn't hurt. With everything on, this game looks gorgeous. I race on-line usually nights a week and also belong to a League. I'm in the Boston lobby and I use my name - Dave Pawlikowski. I run the #99 Pontiac in West colors. Stop by and say hello, but just don't hit me on the track! POSITIVES - Excellent physics, Excellent graphics, Excellent Internet Multi-Player NEGATIVES - Poor sound, Big System needed for max potential, Poor single player AI OVERALL - 90% Dave Links: (screens shots by Dave and Gamespot)
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