Some sports just can’t work as games… fact! Even the most die-hard curling fan must realise that their beloved sport is always going to feature as a dodgy addition to an Olympics title and nothing more. Sure, in theory it would be great if ‘Colossal Curling ’10’ was in the works, but it isn’t, and on the off chance that it actually is, we can only hope it never sees the light of day.

Although this idea is logical and highly unlikely to stir much controversy, the equivalent is staring you in the face. NASCAR’s already a pastime that enjoys a very niche following in this country, and even the majority of Americans (where it is far more popular) consider it to be somewhat dull. Still, we’re all individuals and if that’s what gets you going then more power to you. However, regardless of how much passion you have for a group of cars that continually race round a circular track, surely even you can appreciate that the concept is always going to struggle as a videogame. Say hello to NASCAR 08’s biggest problem.

As hard as it tries to make the gameplay interesting and challenging, it just isn’t. Each of the cars are so fiddly and delicate that the slightest exaggeration with the left analogue stick sends your car into an irrecoverable spin. Okay, the argument that the actual NASCAR vehicles behave in this manner is valid, but that doesn’t make for an entertaining videogame. If truth be told, the result is the exact opposite of that. If it wasn’t for the soothing words from the rest of the Play team, things could and would have been broken! We’re not violent men by any stretch of the imagination, but holding a lead for ten laps until the slightest of twitches offsets our steering and forces us into a wall that leads to our retirement from the race is just frustrating and poorly designed – we racked our brains for hours and there’s really nothing more we could have done. The whole premise behind the gameplay mechanic is to find the perfect spot on the stick and then hold it completely still. After five minutes it starts to get tiresome, and after ten it’s downright boring.

The real disappointment is the poor presentation and visual style brought to the table by EA. Without doubt, one of the top developers/publishers this year, Electronic Arts has been on fire, particularly within the next generation of consoles. To be blunt, though, its effort with NASCAR 08 is atrocious. The graphics are beyond shocking to the point where you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 1993 and you were whiling away the hours on Daytona USA. None of the expected elegance or production values that we’ve come to expect from one of the world’s biggest videogame companies are apparent and it’s just not good enough.

To its credit, the American developer has tried to expand upon the very linear and basic premise of NASCAR. Petrolheads who want nothing more than to race around their spherical courses can do just that, but those who need a more varied challenge can compete in ‘The Chase’. There’s no denying that it’s merely a series of tasks that revolve around the sport, but it does add a smidgen of depth to what would otherwise be a very shallow and short-lived experience. Unfortunately, having to avoid huge wrecks or ‘slingshotting’ around a specific number of cars aren’t strong enough reasons to raise NASCAR up from the depths of utter despair. Other modes within Chase, such as Licenses, are far too similar, and Owners is essentially nothing more than a normal season, which can be played from the moment you turn the PS3 on anyway – it’s almost baffling. This idea of ineffectuality is a theme that runs constantly underneath NASCAR 08’s surface. Adding an HUD that shows your car’s telemetry or being able to fine-tune a vehicle is pointless because each one controls in the same way: they either have little to no grip or drive as if all four wheels have been coated in grease. After a relatively short period of time, you’ll think you’ve seen everything on offer and it pains us to say you’re not wrong. The sport of NASCAR is boring in game form, and no amount of awkward options or modes can change that.

Quite why NASCAR 08 has found its way across the pond is a mystery – we like to think of ourselves as popular folk and we don’t know anyone who likes NASCAR. Of course, that’s no reason for EA to block the move, but when it’s this bad you start to think that maybe it should’ve done. In EA’s glorious year this will come across as nothing more than a blip, but it is sad to see just how poor NASCAR 08 turned out. If you hate NASCAR you’re going to steer clear of this anyway, but if you’re one of the few who is a fan, this isn’t going to satisfy your desires. Put on NASCAR – The IMAX Experience instead. It’s got Keifer Sutherland in it for Pete’s sake!

Simon Miller