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How Metascores Are Calculated
69
1942: Joint Strike
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
The road to victory begins with Jeff Gordon as he guides you through an all-new "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" Career Mode on a completely-revamped 3D menu interface. With Jeff's help you can sign big-time contracts, build your reputation and earn valuable performance points by dominating in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Two new and entirely distinct handling models let you play NASCAR 09 at your speed. Forgiving "Normal" mode is perfect for getting a handle on the game, while "Pro" mode delivers the authentic, white-knuckle NASCAR racing experience. Own the Track lets you compete against your friends and other gamers at all of hte Sprint Cup Series venues. Every racer's stats are compiled and the best driver at each track is named for the ultimate in bragging rights. [Electronic Arts]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 80
Game Informer
Despite the improvements made to this year’s title – including a noticeable bump in graphical quality – it still doesn’t have all the corners dialed in yet. AI cars take better racing lines than in 08, but they still don’t show near enough variety or smarts to pit at different times, take rim-riding race lines, or avoid plowing into each other during a caution.
 80
Cheat Code Central
It has plenty of star power and lots of different ways to play. However, it doesn't really have much in the way of innovative automotive gameplay, which really hinders it from being a must-own title.
80
G4 TV
Players who were burned by last year's NASCAR game should feel quite a bit better with 09. Although I personally miss the "Total Team Control" feature from a couple of years back, the new Rep and Career mode is compelling enough to keep you coming back for more. Solid graphics, solid racing, solid features.
79
GameTrailers
Yes, there are still some big licensing issues, and the AI still makes the same odd, boneheaded moves, but overall, NASCAR 09 is extremely playable, and should satisfy console gear heads looking to climb the ranks and make the chase.
79
GameZone
Very similar to the other games in the series, albeit with more polish. If you wanted more of the series’ past experiences, NASCAR 09 delivers that and then some – but not with the same level of amazement the series once had.
78
PSX Extreme
NASCAR 09 may not be an extremely pretty game to look at, but it's certainly not ugly. What it lacks in eye-candy, it makes up for a solid NASCAR experience that enthusiasts of the sport should really enjoy.
76
GameFocus
NASCAR 09 is far better game than last year’s...but it still a long, long way from what we’ve seen in "NASCAR 06," which I still think was and still the best NASCAR game ever.
73
Worth Playing
NASCAR 09 adds some notable additions such as Rep points and the Sprint Driver Challenge mode, but the core gameplay has not changed much at all.
70
Playstation Universe
NASCAR 09 is a step in the right direction, but it’ll still be another year or so until the NASCAR franchise becomes a must-own to those other than diehard fans.
70
GameSpot
NASCAR 09 isn't a tremendous step forward for the series, but it's a solid effort.
70
GameDaily
NASCAR 09 doesn't change the pace of the popular motor sport racing series. However, EA Sports deserves praise for the inclusion of two handling styles, Pro and Normal, which make the game more playable than previous releases.
67
Gaming Age
While it is an improvement in almost every aspect from controls to options, it still isn't close to what fans of stock cars want to see from their beloved franchise.
63
Game Chronicles
Yes there are a lot of features that really make this game fun and interesting but there are a lot of other racing games that will hold your interest longer and are more entertaining.
63
Console Monster
Overall I enjoyed NASCAR 09 for a fair few hours, but I got bored after around 6-8 hours of play.
60
VideoGamer
It's hard to recommend the PS3 version though. With its slow frame rate and other graphical glitches it's nowhere near as polished as the Xbox 360 game, making this yet another port that hasn't been given enough care and attention.
60
Video Game Talk
I hate to break it to fans of the sport but NASCAR 09 is not the be-all and end-all video game experience. This year's edition is decent but it doesn't stand out in any way and it doesn't really raise the bar of expectations.
60
GameSpy
There's no denying that serious stock car fans that own an Xbox 360 or PS3 will enjoy hitting the track with this racer; it's just a shame it doesn't crackle with the personality the real sport has been known for.
60
DarkZero
For the most part NASCAR 09 seems like a solid racer, and I guess it does a good job of simulating the real life product. It is rather boring though, as even if you are a petrol head at heart you can only have so much fun going around, and around and around.
59
IGN
There’s nothing special about this one. NASCAR 09 comes across less as a tribute to the drama, intensity and flair of one of America’s favorite sports, and more as a delivery system for advertising.
55
PALGN
NASCAR 09 is a competent shot at an enjoyable NASCAR videogame experience. Unfortunately, it falls short in too many ways and fails to develop over previous instalments in any meaningful manner.
50
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
Admittedly, NASCAR 09 packs enough performance to avoid outright embarrassment, but you'll need the blind devotion of a diehard NASCAR fan to overlook the game's disappointing lack of polish. [Aug 2008, p.73]
30
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Another below-par racer that makes turning left every five seconds exactly as exhilarating as it sounds. [Sept 2008, p.103]
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