It’s not very common for a racing game to grip my attention in the way NASCAR Heat 5 has done. It’s a simple game that knows what it is and does everything to do well in that regard. NASCAR Heat 5, by developer 704Games and publisher Motorsport Games, isn’t flashy in its graphics. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre. It is, at its heart, a NASCAR racing game designed with hardcore fans in mind and does an excellent job making itself available for newer fans as well.
Story
We’re all familiar with franchised sports games at this point: You take control of a new career in this year’s circuit where your main goal is to move yourself and your team to the top of the charts. NASCAR Heat 5 does not deviate from this path. You select a racer and either join a real world team or establish your own as you race across 34 authentic tracks across the country.
From the jump, you are given all the official teams, cars and drivers from the NASCAR Cup series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series, and my personal favorite, Xtreme Dirt Series. You are also, and I loved this part, able to create your own brand new racer and customize your vehicle in order to live out your racing fantasy full-throttle. Throughout your career, you will be able to respond to your fellow racers, reply to messages they send, and foster relations with them that will open you and your team to more opportunities.
Gameplay & Mechanics
704Games does an amazing job at making NASCAR Heat 5 as accessible to new players as it is rewarding to current fans of the series. From the beginning, they allow you to tune the game’s difficulty to your preferred comfort level. While Easy difficulty does as much as possible to not punish players for not being professional drivers, it still makes the gameplay challenging enough where victory is an extremely rewarding sensation. The higher difficulties are designed to make even the professionals feel like they have total control over a real world vehicle.
The gameplay follows a familiar loop: You can jump right into single player races, split screen races, even 40-player online multiplayer events, or you can start your own career where you climb through the ranks and become the fiercest driver on the track. I especially enjoyed the small touches 704Games added when interacting with other racers. If you run a smooth, clean race, they will compliment you and become more friendly. If you slam into them and try to bury them in the dirt, they will return the favor both on and off the track.
Aesthetics & Sound
NASCAR Heat 5 isn’t a flashy game. It is simple and minimalistic in a way that allows even someone unfamiliar with the franchise to not feel overwhelmed. 704Games took their time breaking down the information over and over again into its simplest form to ensure all that was left was all that was needed. The cars and character models are decent, and 704Games put just enough detail into the official tracks to satisfy NASCAR fans enjoying the game. They did everything they needed to do, and they did it well.
The sound work was well orchestrated within the game and I felt good with the audible responses from the cars drifting across the dirt scratching against the walls, and scraping against other cars. The game also had a good selection of music that fit the NASCAR vibe. Nothing seemed out of place or over the top.
Summary
I enjoyed my time with NASCAR Heat 5. 704Games did a great job making an enjoyable experience that newcomers and veterans alike will enjoy. While it isn’t the flashiest game of 2020, its minimalistic approach is appealing and makes room for the overall experience. NASCAR Heat 5 is a fun, thrilling, and enjoyable glimpse into the world of professional racing.
7.5/10
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PlayStation 4 Review
As the (self-proclaimed) King of Casuals, I'm always seeking out new titles to play and experience across all platforms. Eventually, I have ambitions to take the many different styles of this medium to create titles that will wow the masses in fresh, innovative ways.
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