NASCAR fans all over the world have been waiting desperately for a video game that would depict as closely as possible the popular stock car circuit. Well fans, rejoice as developer Monster Games Inc. and publisher Infogrames have finally put together a very solid NASCAR experience. Gamers with the need for speed are in for a real treat. MGI has prepared the most exhilarating, thrill-ride action ever created by a stock car racing title.

Graphics
The graphics are extremely clean and put EA's effort to shame. Frame rates are consistent throughout the ride at an almost 60 frames per second refresh rate. This high frame rate is very important in a game of this nature. Slip the view into first person and you will experience the true speed of NASCAR. Daytona is incredibly fast and furious. This is further impressive due to the fact that there can be anywhere from one to twenty cars on the track at one time with no slowdown whatsoever. Draw in is non-existent and pop-up happens on rare occasions but does not effect the gameplay at all. The 19 NASCAR Winston Cup tracks present have been meticulously re-created. Players will actually feel like they are driving different tracks like they are supposed to compared to the similar feeling all of the tracks had in EA's NASCAR effort.
The car designs are perfect replicas of their real-life counterparts. More than 3000 polygons were used for each car. Twenty-five drivers and their cars are present in the game although the rosters are not entirely up to date due to some mid-season driver changes. Unlike other racing games even the great GT3, cars in Heat 2002 are subject the real-time damage models and physics. When accidents occur, they are sometimes spectacular with cars flying, flipping and rolling into the air complete with smoke and spark effects. It is even possible to blow your engine and drive around with fire bursting out of your engine block. The attention to detail in terms of NASCAR competition is well conveyed in the visuals.
My only issue with the visuals has to do with the replay mode. Some of the camera angles make the cars appear to be moving slower than they really are. In addition, there is no free control mechanism for players to move the camera on their own free will or the ability to fast forward or rewind to critical points in the race. Not a big deal, but something that could be remedied for Heat 2003.

Sound
The aural experience in terms of the soundtrack is pretty generic for racing games but the voice talent and sound effects are top notch. Your Spotter offers great guidance during the intense races while the roar of the engines blast through your speakers at all times. Each car has its own unique engine sound thus you can virtually hear when other drivers are closing in on your position. Again, it is this attention to detail that pushes Heat 2002 to greatness.

Gameplay
Controlling the cars in Heat 2002 is a breeze thanks to MGI making the car physics realistic yet approachable. Since the options allow either arcade racing or simulation racing, you will have the option in simulation to tweak all aspects of your car. As some games add this option and sometimes it does not make a difference in gameplay, we decided to play around with the car settings. We were pleasantly surprised to discover it makes a major difference in how your car will perform. For example, when the gear ratio was set inappropriately, our engine exploded within seconds of starting the race. Alternatively, we sent the camber at odd positions only to find our cars sliding all over the track. Therefore, it takes some precision in order to tweak your car to get the perfect performance out of it. Not to worry, for those new to the mumble jumble of NASCAR racing, the manual does a wonderful job of outlining everything and providing some advice to assist you along the way.
What impresses me most about Heat is how real-life NASCAR strategy has been deeply rooted into the game. To win the Winston Cup series and other challenges that are present in the game, players are going to have to master real-life driving techniques rather than simply driving fast and bouncing off walls and opponents. This holds especially true for mastering "the line" or the fastest and most efficient path around a track. Do not be fooled, the line is usually not the shortest path, especially when racing ovals.

Value
MGI has packed Heat with a lot of goodies to keep you busy and entranced with the game. Game modes include Single Race, Championships, Head to Head 2 player fun, Race the Pro and Beat the Heat. Perhaps one of the most innovative features to ever grace a racing game has to be the Beat the Heat challenges. Arranged in 6 sets, these challenges will push you to the limit with more than 36 real life NASCAR scenarios to pass. Pass each challenge and you will be awarded a gold, silver or bronze trophy for your skill and will advance to the next scenario. These challenges are brilliant thanks in part to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s and Bobby Labonte's involvement in Beat the Heat. The game's variable difficulty settings allows beginners and pros alike to pick up the game and have a great door to door racing experience.

Final Word
While there is room for some improvement and refinement, Infogrames has got something going with the NASCAR Heat franchise. This game is a must for NASCAR fans and highly recommended for racing fans in general. Heat kicks EA in the pants and has brought much needed respect for NASCAR racing games.