 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
NASCAR 09
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
- Price: $49.99
- Genre: Racing
Common Sense Media says
A step in the right direction for the series.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the game is filled with corporate logos, from the decals on the drivers' cars and suits to the banner ads that are posted around the tracks – just like NASCAR is in real life. The game has an online component where players can race against each other over the Internet, which will expose children to online chat. Common Sense Media does not recommend online play for kids under the age of 12.
What's it about?
Fans who were disappointed by the lacklustre effort of NASCAR 08 will be happy to learn that NASCAR 09 is a significant improvement in terms of offering improved car handling, better quality production values, and several interesting modes. That said, the series still has a ways to go before it can be held in the same regard as flagship EA sports franchises like Madden.
Is it any good?
The decision to make Jeff Gordon not only the game's cover athlete but an in-game narrator and mentor as well goes a long way towards injecting some much-needed soul into the franchise. Also rewarding is the video footage of other popular drivers laying down challenges and giving advice about particular tracks in the Sprint Driver Challenge mode. The other three modes are a career mode where you create a character and fulfill contract and sponsor obligations to earn Reputation points; a Season mode where you can race a full, partial, or custom season as a NASCAR driver of your choice in either the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or Craftsman Truck series'; and a "Test and Tune" practice mode. Another new addition is the ability to switch between Normal mode for more skilled drivers, and Rookie mode for novices that enables automatic gear shifting and various assists to make the car more stable.
While NASCAR 09's updates inject some personality and excitement back into the franchise, there are still some things that could use further tweaking. For example, the other cars don't always behave as logically or dynamically as real drivers on the racetrack would, and load times are excessive and distracting.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about which type of track they like best and why. Do they like the long superspeedways or the road courses where they have to turn both left and right?
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AGE
Not Bad
I played the demo awesome game i hate they rate in the red but ok it is alot of comericialism.
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Kid, 12 years old
October 23, 2010
AGE
great game
i love this game and im wating for nascar 11 to come out in 2011. gunu be sick
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | June 10, 2008 |
| Price: | $49.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E |
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