This is the first installment of EA’s NASCAR Thunder series, and it allows players to select from a pool of sixty different drivers, some of which are Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, and Dale Jarrett, to mention just a few. There is a mode called Quick Race in which players can compete against the game’s computer or against up to three of their friends. Players can change their settings, such as whether or not yellow flags are displayed, how realistic the damage is, and how long the races last.
In addition, a 20-season Career Mode allows players to construct their cars from the ground up by picking their number, paint scheme, and up to four different sponsors. The player can utilize the money they earn from races to acquire better components to modify their car and potentially gain more prominent sponsors, depending on whether or not the player accomplishes the goals set forth by their sponsor. This allows the player to progress through their career.
Depending on the course the player chooses to compete on, other options allow them to customize their vehicle to their desire. These options will enable them to adjust the air pressure in their tires, the gear ratios, and the angle of their spoiler, among other things. There are currently 23 real-life circuits available, featuring the likes of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International Speedway, and even the illustrious Daytona Speedway, which hosts the Daytona 500. If the player can win eight season titles, another feature allows them to race against the icon, Richard Petty.
