NASCAR 08

NASCAR 08
Box art
Developer(s)	EA Tiburon, Exient Entertainment (PS2)
Publisher(s)	EA Sports
Series	EA Sports NASCAR series
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date(s)	NA July 23, 2007 EU July 26, 2007 AUS November 15, 2007
Genre(s)	Racing, Sports, Simulation, Arcade
Mode(s)	Single-player Online Split Screen Multiplayer (PS2 Only)
Rating(s)	ESRB: E
Media/distribution	Optical disc (all systems)

NASCAR 08 is the eleventh installment of the EA Sports NASCAR series. It was developed by EA Tiburon and released for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This is the earliest that EA has released a NASCAR game. It also marks the first time the original Xbox has been excluded from the NASCAR lineup since NASCAR 2001.

Tony Stewart is on the cover marking his third appearance on the cover of an EA Sports NASCAR game. The cover in the PAL region features Juan Pablo Montoya. NASCAR’s new Car of Tomorrow as well as the current car are present in the game, although the Car of Tomorrow is generic (no separate manufacturers). ESPN's NASCAR coverage is also integrated into the game. Crew chief dialogue for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game was recorded by Chad Knaus. The Whelen Modified Tour is not included in PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, but is still present in the PlayStation 2 version.

Critical reception

Critical reception of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version of the game has been average to negative. GameSpot gave the Xbox 360 version a 6.0 rating ^[1] and a 6.0 for the PlayStation 3 version. ^[2] The closing comments of the IGN Xbox 360 review:

“

NASCAR 08 is bare-bones, unpolished and uninspired. When you don't even have any sort of ending wrap-up screen for the Season mode, you know you're in trouble. Hardcore NASCAR fans will no-doubt rally behind the title and say that the reviews are wrong and that we just don't understand the sport, but there's very little to the package. And believe it or not, it doesn't even turn left very well.[3]

”

Critical reception of the PlayStation 2 version was better when compared to the previous years NASCAR 07, but still faired average to negative. The closing comments of the Strategy Informer review:

“

Overall NASCAR 08 is a solid game, but not one that has received a lot of love and attention since last year. The changes that have been made are an attempt to widen the appeal to a less hard-core audience. The problem with this is that the majority of the fans of the series are those very hard-core gamers that they are ignoring. The end result is a game that has little to offer you if you have the previous edition. This game best serves those of us who are either new to the series or are hardened fans of NASCAR proper. Maybe a game to pick up once the price falls in a month or two.[4]

”

References

1. ^ NASCAR 08 Xbox 360 at GameSpot
2. ^ NASCAR 08 PlayStation 3 at GameSpot
3. ^ IGN.com NASCAR 08 Xbox 360 Review
4. ^ Strategy Informer NASCAR 08 PlayStation 2 Review

External links

Previous game: NASCAR 07

EA Sports NASCAR Series

Next game: NASCAR 09