NASCAR Thunder 2003

Roll With The Thunder

NA release: 19th September 2002
EU release: N/A
JP release: N/A
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA Sports
NGC Magazine Score: N/A
Mods Used: None

NASCAR games are kind of their own beast, with almost yearly releases dating back form the mid 90s. EA had the main license at this time, although most of them skipped the GameCube, with only 2003 and 2005 getting released. It’s a game that’s kind of limited by its own setting: driving around very simple tracks for hours and hours. That said, NASCAR Thunder 2003 seems to be trying to do as much as possible with the concept.

There’s a ton of customisation in how you can play the game: you can go all in on simulation or make handling really easily. With the more arcade-like settings, driving was quite a bit of fun. There’s an immensely long challenge mode, but also a challenge mode which lets you play out events from actual NASCAR races. You can even customise your own car slightly by picking through different designs, colours and sponsors.

It’s really only the dull nature of the tracks and immensely long races that get in the way. If EA had taken the gameplay and applied it to one with more unique tracks, it would have been a good competitor to Gran Turismo. The cars also look nice, with good deformation. There are only four songs in the game, but who needs anything else when you have Zefram Cochrane’s favourite song, Magic Carpet Ride?

Fun

For NASCAR fans, it’s all about the drivers personalities, and NASCAR Thunder 2003 delivers them in a big way. The pre-race intros in pit lane are worth watching again and again, and cool videos of drivers pop up all over the place. In the new Lightning mode, everyone from Dale Jr. to Tony Stewart introduces you to a famous race moment, then puts you behind the wheel to try to duplicate their feat.
Air Hendrix, GamePro

Remake or remaster?

These games are still being made.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get NASCAR Thunder 2003.