Demo Review (unscientific)

Well, I downloaded the demo (easily and first time at the metrixx (?) site and installed it. Right off, I notice the graphics are even cripser and clearer a bit than ICR2 (my imagination and anticipation probably). The Atlanta track now looks like the Atlanta track as it appears (anyone confirm this?) that the banking is a little closer to reality than the original Nascar. The physical attributes of the track (the condo tower, the new front straight grandstand (which is actually on the current back straight) and a more complete infield make it more realistic. Playable though? YES. I don't have a super computer, but it's no paperweight either (P150, 16 meg, 2 meg PCI vid card) and the graphics were smooth in the game. Replays dragged a bit and were quite choppy as you could actually watch the game DRAW the track in 200 foot sections in front of the car and pull it up behind the car. The sound is exactly the same. Engine, thunks into the wall, tire skidding, etc. One thing that is welcomed is the "good ol' boy" spotter you have on the "radio" which is pretty well done. He doesn't talk your ear off but lets you look straight ahead while he watches the traffic next to you high or low. He even gives encouragement like "Bring it home now...you're the man...." One thing I didn't see (or at least it didn't appear with the settings and I looked) were the tire marks on "the line" around the track. Those nice black smudges you follow around the track and keep some semblence of a line to take. Did I miss something? Anyway, MY report card on the demo: Graphics: A Graphics Speed: A- Graphics Speed in Replay: B Sound: C (no difference, maybe release will have slight upgrades?) Realism: A (track environment more realistic, even uses PCX photo) Artistics: A (between race screens, photo PCX instead of graphic PCX) Overall: A (Solid upgrade from the original, worth the money) I'd give it a rating of about 140-50% over NASCAR. Not twice as nice, but it did add things that were really needed and eliminated the shortcomings of the old engine.

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> Well, I downloaded the demo (easily and first time at the metrixx (?) > site and installed it. Right off, I notice the graphics are even > cripser and clearer a bit than ICR2 (my imagination and anticipation > probably). The Atlanta track now looks like the Atlanta track as it > appears (anyone confirm this?) that the banking is a little closer to > reality than the original Nascar. The physical attributes of the > track (the condo tower, the new front straight grandstand (which is > actually on the current back straight) and a more complete infield > make it more realistic. Playable though? YES. I don't have a super > computer, but it's no paperweight either (P150, 16 meg, 2 meg PCI vid > card) and the graphics were smooth in the game. Replays dragged a bit > and were quite choppy as you could actually watch the game DRAW the > track in 200 foot sections in front of the car and pull it up behind > the car. The sound is exactly the same. Engine, thunks into the > wall, tire skidding, etc. One thing that is welcomed is the "good ol' > boy" spotter you have on the "radio" which is pretty well done. He > doesn't talk your ear off but lets you look straight ahead while he > watches the traffic next to you high or low. He even gives > encouragement like "Bring it home now...you're the man...." One thing > I didn't see (or at least it didn't appear with the settings and I > looked) were the tire marks on "the line" around the track. Those > nice black smudges you follow around the track and keep some semblence > of a line to take. Did I miss something? Anyway, MY report card on > the demo: > Graphics: A > Graphics Speed: A- Graphics Speed in Replay: B > Sound: C (no difference, maybe release will have slight upgrades?) > Realism: A (track environment more realistic, even uses PCX photo) > Artistics: A (between race screens, photo PCX instead of graphic PCX) > Overall: A (Solid upgrade from the original, worth the money) > I'd give it a rating of about 140-50% over NASCAR. Not twice as > nice, but it did add things that were really needed and eliminated the > shortcomings of the old engine.

If you read the text that came with it, it says that the final version may not not as steep requirements and will be more refined. It runs smooth on my P5-90 with 16 megs of ram with all graphic options on. The original Nascar does not run good on a P5=90 with all graphic options. Can't wait for the full version of N2!!!!!!!!!

Yes the Atlanta track did look like this when I attended last falls race. Atlanta is going to be redone for next falls race. The start finish line will be moving from where it is now to the Back stretch. Does this mean a new TRACK PACK.