This game surpasses NT 2002 in all catagories except one... fun factor. The learning curve is way too high for those who just want to race. Setting up your car should have not be a long drawn out process like in real racing. This is a game. On-line would have been a nice addition too, but EA Sports is just too d*** lazy to add this option to their titles for the XBox. If you have to have the option of using Dale Earnhardt(like I do) as your racer, then pick this one up. If not, then rent it first.

This game is well just good. I liked the 2002 version a lot better, but thats only for the graphics part of it. I have never played nay of the heat games so i can not tell you if this one is like that in any way. The graphics for this game seem just the same, but they worked on the roads a little bit, but in my opinion the roads look worse. Alos in my opinion this game just seems worse, how do i put that, well i guess it just seems like when your racing the game lags, but it doesn't, ahhh here we go.. it skips.. just a little. So i say 3.5 for the graphics. The sound for the game, well to me i like it they've always done a good job with the music, though the guys who talk to you when your racing they say the same things once again. Just a few other new words. So 4.0 for the sound. The controls to me they seem to work. They feel comfortable and they are responsive. S0 4.5 for the controls. I think this game is fun, but i do have to say they should of taken a little more time and opinions of their game. So really if you are a racing fan this game you should atleast check out. If you are no racing fan at all well thn atleast give it a try, hey it's something new isn't it. Also i forgot, there are occations of crashes and they do look pretty awesome. So really to me that is the only reason why i think this game is a little bit better. Lets just say those crashes bring up the grade a .5. so i hope you like/liked this game more than i did. But give it a try.

I find this years version to be tremendously better. The cars handle well but takes some getting use to because they are sensitive a bit. I would like to say that Nascar heat was a better game last year. It handled better and looked better. Can gamepro actually say it looks worse this year than Thunder. If so, lets see some screen shots.