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PS2 | Driving | NASCAR 06: Total Team Control

Boxart for NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control 18 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.0
  • SOUND: 3.5
  • CONTROL: 3.5
  • FUN FACTOR 3.5
  • AVG USER SCORE 3.8
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.0

Review: NASCAR 06: Total Team Control

Review by FOUREYEDDRAGON | 10/25/2005 | 15:45:35 PM PST

It was worth trying, but the addition of team gameplay dynamics in this year's NASCAR game didn't fully make you feel like you're playing as a team.

EA works hard at tuning up its NASCAR series every season in a continuing bid to compete against itself and to woo the hearts and minds of fans of the sport. While this year's new dynamic team gameplay is surely innovative, NASCAR 06 still doesn't take the pole; it's even slipped a few positions, too.

NASCAR's Rainbow Six
Just as the title says, this game is about team collaboration. Now you can enlist the aid of teammates in real time to draft together, block opponents, and even pit at the same time. You can also swap into a teammate's car for continuous race action even if you crash. The idea makes sense, but the execution needs polish. Inexplicably at times, a teammate won't be able to work with you, while a second later, he can. Things get even more complicated when there are two teammates directly in front of you, but only one is willing to help your cause.

Other questionable features from previous NASCAR games return intact, too. Although creating rivalries is important for authenticity, is there really a need to press a button every time you want to draft? In real racing, you automatically draft if you're on the same line. Moreover, the "intimidator" button is fun for a while, but is it necessary to aggravate every driver in front of you, especially when a slight bump from behind is good enough?

Pass the Gas
The most apparent blemish in NASCAR 06 is the visual downgrade. While the new fantasy tracks and the car models look sharp, the game's frame rate suffers all too frequently. Much more prominent in the PlayStation 2 version, the frame rate is inconsistent and sometimes unmanageable when all 43 cars are in view. The background environments are also bland with little detail--there's sadly more to see on the actual pavement (cracks, skid marks, etc.) than anywhere else.

Not everything in NASCAR 06 gets a yellow flag. Once again, the robust single player Fight to the Top mode exemplifies a compelling career in the world of racing. You start as a rookie in the Whelen Modified Series and work your way up through the Craftsman Truck and NASCAR Busch series until you become a prestigious NASCAR driver--and ultimately a team owner, too. Being able to create and use a team of drivers adds another dimension to your career, too, giving you the chance to rub paint on the circuit while challenging you to spend money wisely in the world of management.

Caught in Dirty Air
Fight to the Top mode certainly carries NASCAR 06: Total Team Control to a decent FunFactor. But clearly, the new team feature needs to be better tuned as do the disappointing visuals. The NASCAR 06 pit crew needs to keep working at it, but this remains a game that's more than race worthy.