NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup

GameZone

There are a ton of new options that have been added in too, from intimidating to sharing the draft, friendships and rivalries, and overall the game seems much more realistic than any previous version.

Nintendojo

As it stands, the depth and longevity of the Race to the Top mode and the excellent play mechanics all add to the overall value of this game.

Gaming Age

This game is a big step up in visuals compared to the Thunder series of old, which gives even more hope for future titles to come.

Play Magazine

Thankfully, they took it upon themselves to overhaul the game and create a NASCAR racing experience unlike any other before it. [Oct 2004, p.88]

IGN

It's a game for the masses, to be sure, but it offers more than enough the way of career, offline, and online depth to warrant a purchase for the enthusiast fan, for the diehard "Thunder" lover, and most importantly, for the person who passed up previous console efforts simply because they were not up to par.

Game Over Online

There’s plenty to do in the career mode, and players will truly enjoy the ability to define their game based on their personal driving style.

GameSpot

It re-creates the NASCAR experience in spectacular fashion, and all of the included modes, series options, and extras provide an excellent amount of value for the cost.

Game Informer

EA Tiburon has gone far beyond a simple roster expansion. By making its career mode even more complex, it has succeeded in giving players of all stripes quite a bit to chew on. [Sept 2004, p.102]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

There are some potholes - the graphics get choppy at times, and the retail-car challenges seem tacked on - but the sheer variety is something that even non-NASCAR fans will find addictive. [Oct 2004, p.98]

GamingWorld X

The online play is a nice addition for PS2 and Xbox owners, but it would’ve been even better if a fuller field of human players was included.

BonusStage

The game delivers on everything possible, which should make for some happy Southern boys. All of your favorite racers are in tow, but working through your own career really plays out better than expected.

Nintendo Power

A great feeling of speed and incredible feature depth make Chase for the Cup the best NASCAR game yet. [Nov 2004, p.130]

Stuff

Instead of going with a standard driver, we created a homicidal redneck with the Create-a-Driver option. Well, all we really did was rebuild Dale Jarrett with his old mustache. He just didn't look right without it.

G4 TV

There’s a real sensation of extreme speed, and even with a large number of cars on-screen, there’s only rarely a hint of stuttering or slowdown.

Yahoo! Games

Sure, the graphics and physics haven't changed, and this year's release beats you over the head with in-game advertising, but the enhanced career mode, online play, and other additions are more than worth the price of admission.

GamePro

A pack that responds to each race's events is an outstanding concept that should elevate the gameplay, but NASCAR 2005's execution of it is too unbalanced to create the hoped-for effect. [Nov 2004, p.142]