The game plays very well, has plenty of tracks and options, a fully fledged career mode, and adjustable A.I. that will allow you to play as realistic as you care to.
NASCAR 2011: The Game lays an excellent foundation for future iterations in the series. The arcade-style racing is engaging and the sense of speed is executed beautifully. However, the all-too-simple Career mode and somewhat broken online play hold the game back from what could have been, and what hopefully will be in the near future. I can recommend this game to NASCAR and racing fans that follow the sport. For casual racing fans, rent or borrow it first to see if you've got to have it.
Feels kind of like a $30 title in a $60 dollar package. While the gameplay is solid, the shallow modes, disappointing lack of polish, and overall mediocrity really prevent the game from reaching the high quality of previous NASCAR games.
The racing gameplay at its core is fantastic and entertaining. People unfamiliar with NASCAR will find that the assists let them get behind the wheel easily, but both novices and veterans alike will find a lot of fault with just how uneven and broken the bugs can make the proceedings. Ultimately, while there is a good game in there, it comes complete with so much baggage that it's impossible to fully recommend.
I really wanted to like NASCAR 2011: The Game; but while the core racing can be pretty interesting (especially on the short tracks), the overall game is held back by paper-thin career mode, unformed gameplay features, and unfriendly difficulty. I'm not a follower of NASCAR, but I hoped NASCAR 2011: The game would make want to. I didn't.