The American Muscle Car series uses Dodge Vipers for the basic circuit, and you can race on Nextel Cup series tracks or the fantasy road courses provided with the basic series. It would have been nice if a player could start out using any of the musclecars featured in the game-you have to qualify to use cars like the Ford GT and others. For those of us who don't have 10 hours to put into a video game to achieve qualified status, it is a small frustration.
The graphics and sound are even better than the great effects found in previous entries, and NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup updates the cars and drivers for realistic play. The on-screen car condition graphics are informative. My only problem was finding the pit lane, especially in two player mode,
It takes a high level of focus to keep the cars on the track, and they react very realistically when overcorrected or if you happen to hit the infield grass (which was common in my case). The Hero and Villain feature, whereby you create allies and rivals, is an interesting concept and one requiring experience to really utilize. For the novice, you'll create a great number of enemies well before you starting building friends to draft with. But that is all part of the attempt at realism. Where else can you tag competitors in one round of racing and then come back 10 races later and have one of them return the favor just as you head for the finish line? Great fun.
This is a great game for the NASCAR-savvy and those just looking to drive fast. -Cam Benty.
Quote of the MonthWinner of the MonthDale Earnhardt Jr.
Performance: 428ci/335hp Torino Cobra 0-60: 5.5 seconds11/44-mile: 14.4 seconds @ 101 mph