Review: Nascar Kart Racing

NASCAR is an American subculture that rarely gets the love or respect it deserves. These weekend warriors put their lives on the line in the never-ending pursuit of the perfect left turn. Up until this point, most of the attempts to make the “NASCAR experience” into a video game have resulted in an over-complicated simulation with an obscenely high barrier to entry. Fortunately for the casual crowd, NASCAR Kart Racing has zoomed into the picture, turning the genre on its ear.

Ladies and Gentleman, START YOUR ENGINES

What is it about go-karts that can transform a sport as hardcore as auto racing, into an activity that appeals to all generations? Regardless of what this mystical combination is, it has been casting its spell on the Nintendo Wii in numerous forms. Among the more notable Kart Racing games on the console include M&M’s Kart Racing, Mario Kart Wii, and now NASCAR Kart Racing. It would appear that NASCAR has learned a lot from it’s predecessors, while still trying to tread new ground.

In sharp contrast to traditional racing games, a kart racer is not as much about the cars as it is about the personality of those driving it. Never one to be outdone, the game delivers fourteen of the best known names in auto racing including the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, and everyone’s favorite brawler, Tony Stewart. Each character has their own unique caricature and car characteristics, all roughly tied to their real life racing style. To go along with the cast of NASCAR superstars, EA has also created 10 additional animated characters that fill every stereotype associated with professional racing. Whether you are a fan of the flamboyant Frenchman, overbearing dominatrix, or beer swigging redneck, you won’t be disappointed.

The Keys to Victory

Once a character has been selected, the next key to victory is selecting the proper teammate. NASCAR Kart Racing brings a unique new concept to the genre called driving “In The Zone.” When your character and their teammate are in close proximity to each other, they start to build up a boost meter. This boost can be used to provide a quick burst of speed that if managed properly, can be a difference maker in most races. Under normal circumstances, as long as your dastardly duo can stick together, you are almost guaranteed a victory. The “In The Zone,” mechanic is a breath of fresh air into a title that would have otherwise been considered quite derivative and stale.

As the races progresses, it will become apparent that almost all of the power-ups bear a startling similarity to objects found in the Mario Kart franchise. Among the most notable items “borrowed” include a heat seeking rocket that hits the next competitor ahead of you, oil slicks that cause the recipient to lose control of their vehicle and gasoline cans that allow for the temporary use of unlimited speed bursts. Though the selection of these power-ups are supposedly random, there would seem that some items tend to go in favor of those losing the race, in a concept otherwise known as rubberband AI.

Faltering on the Backstretch

Perhaps where the game falters the most is in the limited number of tracks. Once the entire campaign is complete, there are twelve different tracks that are available. Despite the fact that the tracks can be played both backwards and forwards, there is not enough variety to keep players coming back after the initial campaign is complete. Making matters even worse, less than half of the tracks are available at the start of the game, further limiting the options of new players, trying to have a quick race.

The most frustrating issue plaguing the game is the inconsistent difficulty levels. An experienced gamer should be able to breeze through most challenges and scenarios without any snags, but there are the occasional special events – both time trials and distance challenges – that will stall even the best racers. Some of these are so difficult that it makes one wonder if most people would have the patience to attempt the same event repeatedly. Another instance of inconsistent difficulty becomes very obvious in the latter stages of the game. No matter how large of a lead you think you may have, the closer to the end of the race you come, the cheaper the AI plays. Withing the last minute of a race more power-ups will be performed then the entire rest of the race combined. Witnessing these events can leave you feeling targeted, frustrated, and even cheated.

A Strong Finish

It is amazing how a game with an initially flawed single player experience can be validated by a strong multiplayer component. Featuring up to four player split screen racing, drivers can either choose to pair up with each other, or select their own AI controlled teammate. Kart racing takes on a life of its own once couch play is involved. This is fun for the entire family.

NASCAR Kart Racing is a game that takes all of the components of classic kart racing games, and combines it into one, all encompassing title. Unfortunately, this lack of originality makes the game feel both dated and derivative. With a price tag of $40.00, it is hard to justify the price, but would make a perfect rental for a family weekend at home.

Score: 7.0

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