NASCAR's visuals have more downs than up's and could've been a lot more with the power of the PlayStation 2. I'm not talking about the tracks here, which are actually pretty good. Not much draw in can be found, which is nice. First, we have the presentation, which is weak to say the least. Pixilated, drab and lifeless menus greet you to let you know you're in for a bumpy ride. The car models are done very well, giving off real time damage and reflecting real time light. Also, the special effects are cool as well. Smoke flies up and blinds you, crashes are well detailed, and debris effects are well distributed. What hurts this game mostly is the bad dropping frame rate. When more than five cars surround you, things creep, crawl, and for some weird reason lose resolution. I honestly don't get this. NASCAR tracks aren't big, so why the sudden lack of memory? I've seen other racing games, including those on the Dreamcast, handle this feat much better. Not to mention the sense of speed is absurd. I never believe for one minute I'm going 190mph, it seems half that. The PlayStation version felt faster, and if this is what 128-bit racing is like on the PS2, I'll go back in time. With a few months of tweaking this game could've been a real winner, but with it's unbalanced appearance, I'll make a pit stop, thank you.

Game play is the mark that keeps this from the "stay away" level, as the game plays terrific. Gone is the sloppy control of old. You can handle your cars accurately though turns, and obviously loose your control in crashes. It seems that more attention was paid to the control issues, than the overall engine. Why is it not possible to get both?

Audio is pretty good as well. Your in car guide keeps you up to date on who's high and low on the track, and the announce team lets you know where you stand, but that's about it. Music is fine and dandy if Southern Rock is your taste, but it's not for me.

Options are as bare bones as they come in auto racers. 12 tracks and 37 drivers is all you have to choose from. There's a create-a-driver option, but it's basic (enter name and pick generic car). You get the choice of Quick Race, one or two player Championship Season, and Single Races. That's it. You can also alter your car for each track, but it's also on the shallow side. Where are the extras I've come to know and love from my EA Sports crew? First generation or not, this is unacceptable in my book.

Overall, you have to be a NASCAR diehard fan to want to live though this game. It may be one of the few real racing titles on the system, but honestly I'd rather play the PSone. It's just not that exciting, even with the graphical update. Next year take your time guys, we don't mind the wait!