That changes this fall whenNASCAR Unleashedcrashes its way onto store shelves.
NASCAR Unleashed(PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [Previewed], Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS)Developer:Firebrand GamesPublisher: ActivisionRelease: June 29, 2025
At it’s heartNASCAR Unleashedis about fast fun-filled racing, that encompasses the soul of NASCAR — bumping and rubbing — and the white-knuckle action of turbo boosting and car checking that made theBurnoutseries what it is today. It doesn’t need to get caught up in the semantics of car specs and customization to be a fully enjoyable racer, which is indicative by the games graphics. The car design feels slightly Pixar-esque and the bright and wild course designs will have fans who were expecting all left turns in for a treat.
The key to winning is aggression and slipstreaming which builds turbo boosts for the all important tactical advantage. Drafting opponents is the safest way to acquire turbo, but the more tenacious will prefer slamming opponents off the track in the attempts to take the checkered flag. Checking the opposition comes with risks though. The rough bumping and rubbing will eventually accumulate damage on both you and your enemies, leading to one’s momentary demise and the release of some slick hazardous oil.
Spinning out of control from a wrecked racer is probably the lesser of two evils that comes from the dastardly defense. When the smoke clears the returned racer becomes your rival with desire to even the score. It’s sometime unavoidable to not create a few rivals during a race, with the aggressive nature of the A.I. and the often congested nature of the tracks.NASCAR Unleashedkeeps the racing tight throughout do to some rubber banding. While I’m not a fan of this sort of design, I will say it keeps things interesting when you may go from first to last and vice versa all on the final lap.
Beyond the excitement of the race,NASCAR Unleashedkeeps its virtual drivers busy with a progressive award system. Each race completed earns points that overtime unlock different aesthetic enhancements for each driver and car combo in the game. The higher placed finish, amount of drafting, and rivals created all add the points accumulated at the end of each race. There are also in-race challenges such as smashing a certain amount of road obstacles or completing “x” amount of drifts that further enhance ones score. It’s a nice dynamic that helps keep makes each race a little more than just finishing first.
The lack of online multiplayer is perhaps my biggest concern forNASCAR Unleashed. The game will be budgeted at $40, but I’m not quite sure if that is cheap enough. My time was not long enough to pass final judgement on the game, but from what I gatheredNASCAR Unleashedmay be better served as a PSN and XBLA title. I’ll let the reviewers make the final call, because regardless of priceNASCAR Unleashedis a fast and energetic ride that both hardcore and casual fans can like.
