NASCAR Heat 5

How much can you expect out of a racing series these days? Fans of come to learn that when it comes to the world's largest supercar franchise, not much. It's safe to say there's not much expectation behind NASCAR Heat 5. It seemed to already have its day of innovation, with graphical overhauls and major mechanical tweaks that brought a complete racing experience into the home.

Then again, NASCAR Heat 5 could be a game-changer in the series after we play it. It might add a new dynamic to gameplay to make each race more exciting. However, from initial impressions, we believe that won't be the case. However, we can't judge a book by its cover, so we better give the famed racer franchise a try before we form any opinions.

Cars on Heat

So we all know what the series is about. It aims to bring the thrill of NASCAR track races to the home console, which it's successfully done with previous installments. However, the development of the franchise has become a yearly thing. There seems to be an inherent struggle for innovation. Let alone those attempted new tweaks have resulted in a plethora of mechanical issues.

By this point, fans seek resolutions to some of the more pressing issues in the previous offering. So let's not shoot for the moon here - we know that NASCAR Heat 5 will be much the same as the last game. But have they fixed the issues that hindered the fourth installment of the series? As it turns out, no, they haven't. It's rather frustrating to see that we almost have the same game.

The developers have focused solely on implementing the single-player track testing mode, a couple of pit stop tweaks, and some cosmetic adjustments for players. It's what we'd call adding a new dynamic to the game. The significant issues of subpar career modes and uninspired racing mechanics still plague gameplay, and it's a wonder why these weren't fixed, considering aggressive player feedback.

We won't take away from the fact that NASCAR Heat 5 is still a solid racing game. However, if you own the previous installment, there is no reason to invest in the fifth title. Nothing's changed, and it's almost insulting that there's been such a lackluster effort to fix problems from the last game.

Much the Same

Players now feel that the NASCAR game franchise is like the Far Cry of racing. They know they will get the same game with all the stereotypical mechanics featured in each entry. However, NASCAR Heat 5 does not attempt to be different, and adding new irrelevant features is hardly the improvement we're looking for.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Solid racing mechanics that adequately deliver the NASCAR experience
• Immersive races that bring the intensity of the sport
• Relatively fluid and responsive car driving

Cons:

• Not much different from the previous entry
• DLC for cars doesn't add anything and is expensive
• New features aren't fascinating