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NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 9 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon
Genre(s): Racing, Driving
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: August 30, 2005
Summary
As the first console racing game to use voice-recognition technology, you have the edge. Call out to teammates for help, talk to your crew chief for real-time info on track conditions, as well as activate in-game menu options. New Dynamic Car Swapping: Using the right analog stick, take control of your teammate's car during a race and bring him to the front. New Interactive Crew Chief: With eight new controller commands such as Pitting With Teammates and Blocking and Holding Position, you will feel what it's like to race as a team and move to the front of the pack. Every driver has his own personality and performance characteristics matching their real-life counterparts. Create your character and work your way up the NASCAR ranks, building-up the ultimate team. Take the helm of your own racing organization and position yourself to out-perform real-world NASCAR teams, or even own them. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup NASCAR Thunder 2002 NASCAR Thunder 2003 NASCAR Thunder 2004
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Xbox Solution
The team control aspect does get addicting and hard to put down. The fact that the game can be adjusted for each level of experience is also an added bonus.
Read Full Review >GameZone
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control isn’t able to surpass the overall greatness of last year’s game but with all the new additions this is one is downright enjoyable and a step in the right direction for the series.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
The Total Team Controls add a new level of depth to the series that makes things much more interesting.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
A must-buy for both the NASCAR Nation and "casual" car-racing gamers alike.
Read Full Review >Stuff
With tons of modes, cars, unlockables, plus online play, this disc should keep you busy until your next mullet trim.
Read Full Review >IGN
Tiburon did an excellent job of adding substance to a classically narrow genre without butchering the underlying fundamentals of NASCAR racing. But even if team control is great, it will not enhance the casual player's experience on short runs.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
The feel of racing in a huge pack is much more dynamic and compelling, and the terrific Flight to the Top Mode is suddenly worth playing. So is NASCAR 06. [Oct 2005, p.111]
GameSpot
If the team concept and voice command features appeal to you, you know what you must do. If not, stick to NASCAR 2005.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
If you consider yourself a series NASCAR fan, you must own NASCAR 06. This is the game you have been waiting for and offers more game play options than you can handle. Casual racing fans may be confused by the concept and might want to consider this a rental at best.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
EA has touched on most of the elements of NASCAR. Now it needs to draw them all together and blow the whole thing out. [Oct 2005, p.119]
GameShark
Unlike many racing games, it doesn’t feel repetitive. It feels as though you’re always doing something new.
Read Full Review >Team Xbox
The relationship dynamics could have felt a bit more natural, especially when opponents overreact to the slightest bump and teammates take the offensive when they claim to be working together.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It may not be the prettiest game to look at, but in its third year of being the exclusive holder of the NASCAR license, EA Sports and Tiburon refuse to rest on past successes.
Read Full Review >DarkStation
EA rejuvenates the genre with the brilliant execution of team play via voice recognition, and rounding it off with a solid Xbox Live support.
Read Full Review >Maxim Online
Electronic Arts is keying on the sport's blocking, defensive strategy, and teamwork with NASCAR 06—the closest to "Madden" car racing can get.
Read Full Review >Operation Sports
I can't tell a true die-hard racing fan if the car setups will provide the depth and accuracy that they are looking for. But I can tell gaming fans that NASCAR 06 is very good title. I think the depth and replay ability alone are worth a look.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
Add countless career options, tournaments and Xbox Live multiplayer, which features an entire field of AI drivers, and you've got a complete racer. Not to everyone's tastes, but still a great drive. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
Read Full Review >Detroit Free Press
While this year's model shows improvement, it could still be better. The graphics are a bit ragged and online play is still limited to four players in a race. But, as NASCAR gaming goes, it doesn't get any better.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Team chemistry and prestige are just as important as your personal points standing in NASCAR 06, which makes the whole experience much deeper. [Oct 2005, p.113]
Worth Playing
In addition to solid racing, there’s just enough extras in this game from the hilarious agent, to the off-track drama and persona building that make this worth investing some time in.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Cearly, the new team feature needs to be better tuned as do the disappointing visuals. [Oct 2005, p.100]
Read Full Review >Xbox Evolved
Not only can you command them with your controller, but with your Xbox Live headset as well. Besides that, nothing much here has changed from last year’s game.
Read Full Review >Talk Xbox
A solid game when viewed by itself, but the fact that "NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup" is identical except for a few new features is really disappointing.
Read Full Review >1UP
It's clogged up with new features and ideas that simply seem gratuitous. The emphasis on driving skill seems to have been diminished, and in its place the Tiburon team appears to have spent the last year asking "what more can we do to add something new to this thing?"
Read Full Review >G4 TV
The visuals are in need of an upgrade. It could be that EA is just phoning the graphics in until the next-gen systems arrive, and that’s a shame. EA Trax is just as annoying as ever. Please stop it.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
James H. gave it a10:
This Is a great, and wonderful game. Im a die-hard nascar fan, so any thing that will let me enjoy the one thing that i love...Its a 10 for me!
Paul S. gave it a1:
The biggest wreck isn't on the track in NASCAR 06 Total Team Control, it's what EA did to this once great series. The graphics are lousy, unless you like jaggies. The voice recognition does not work, and swapping cars is the most absurd feature that EA could have added to the series. And to totally ruin the game, the cars steering is way too over-sensitive. If you like pure racing then get NASCAR Thunder 2004. If online is important then get last years version but avoid this dismal failure at all costs. I gave the game a score of 1 because the cockpit view is back this year. That is the only aspect of the game that EA got right this year. BY the way EA, next year give us the option to turn the silly cartoon bubble off that appears over other cars.
Jeff A. gave it a3:
With the all new voice recognition you can turn the rearview mirron on, hud on, ask you pit crew who the leader is, ask for fuel at your next pit stop, etc. The problem is that all this is happening when you are not speaking into your communicator. The voice recognition does not work properly. The graphics are worse than previous versions. The shine of the cars metal has been replaced by jaggies, and swapping cars during a race is the most unrealistic feature that EA could have added. I traded the game for NASCAR Thunder 2004 (luckily found it new) which is a pure racing game. Quite simply, EA ruined this years version. This game is not even worth renting.
Flip gave it a5:
!I felt let down after realizing I'll be playing nascar thunder 2004 (a game I've bought twice sense the release two years ago. I bought 2005 the day it came out. I sold to my little brother the next day. I'm a die-hard nascar NEXTELcup fan i like busch and truck racing but I think the quality of nascar 2004 was much better with just the nextel cup not to mention a decent in car view witch is in 2006 this year but lacks a bit in the graphics. I'm from alabama and I go to talladega twice a year and God willing someone fome EA sports will see this, there aint nothing like drafting and the pack at talladega on sunday that may sound corny to some but common sense fella's when you go the race take in on what see on sunday and make a game. /PS with a good wide in car view!!
[Anonymous] gave it a7:
I'm a sim racing fan, and I just have to say this game is disappointing. I love nascar sim racing, but this game is way too arcady. The total team control is great for me, because I usually race long races, but if you just like to race shorter races, there is no use for it, making no difference from last year's version.
Blue Falcon gave it a5:
Team control is not a feature I would have asked for in my precious nascar series. Either are most of the additions here - they are truly gratuitous. There's a new mode called 'fight for the cup' in place of career and it's ridiculous. They start you out w/ an underperforming car and some overperforming opposition. The result is several hrs of humble pie while you work your way up. I'm all for working your way up the ranks and having some tough opposition, but it's not cool when you can't even come close to sticking w/ the pack even when having perfect laps. Other modes have a more balanced difficulty, but fight for the cup is the most important mode and somewhat ruined. Last years version is the better game.
