EA Sports has really stepped up to the plate this year by all but forgetting the console market, and tending to the wounds of the die-hard PC fans with NASCAR Sim Racing. This NASCAR title has everything a fan would want or need; from the races, to the drivers, to the modes, NASCAR Sim Racing has it all. Not only did they get the features in order, the game looks and sounds better than any NASCAR title before it, especially if you have the means to run the game as intended. The rest of this review is just for instance, as this is a must buy for NASCAR fans, end of story.

Visually NASCAR Sim Racing is a stunner. Presented in High Def, if you have it, or just as beautiful with out, you will get your fill of so much eye candy that you will get a cavity. Car models are spot on perfect from every angle. Crafted by NASCAR veterans, it is no mistake at how intricately detailed the vehicles are. The tracks are just as accurate and stunning will fully detailed environments, sidelines, and pit stops that are remodeled straight from the blueprints. The TV style presentation helps to add flavor to the slick engine by giving gamers an easy to use interface, while still making an impact visually. What is most impressive is that the game will look fantastic on most computers out there, whether you have a 1.6 GHz or something over 3.0 GHz, as the engine is optimized to run on most any system. How much extra eye goodies you get depend on your system, but everyone should have no issues running this beauty and keeping a steady frame rate too boot.

Audio is also fantastic, roaring by in Dolby Pro Logic II. You can feel the low hum of the motors through your subwoofer, and the high screeching of your tires in your tweeters as EA's sound guys did a remarkable job of bringing the atmosphere to life. Even more impressive is the way the use of Surround Sound was executed. If you are in the lead or ahead of another driver, you can hear other racers at your side, or closing in on you even before you have checked your mirrors. The pit crews also provide informative info for you allowing you to keep your eyes straight ahead, instead of micromanaging gauges all day. Even with the commentary before each race to set things up, I still feel that someone needs to give racers the option for TV Style commentary during the races. Otherwise, the sounds are unmistakably NASCAR.

Game play is a godsend for fans of the Cup, as NASCAR Sim Racing is exactly what it states…it is sim racing. While some newbies to the sport or gamers who prefer arcade style action may be turned off by the relentless realism, I say it is better to sacrifice the weaker links in favor of the hardcore fans that make this sport what it is today. Everything from the cliché over use of left turns, to drifting, to drafting, to even oversteering has been replicated perfectly here. For novices, there are pre-designed car setups, but those who know the game can analyze their cars, lap times, and will be able to hone their car into a winning beast. The A.I. is no dummy either and is as unpredictable as the real races. In the 30 or so races I have endured, I have yet had the feeling of the game feeling scripted or the A.I. being cheap, this is a good thing as it better prepares me for human opponents online. It is better to have a wheel or joypad over a keyboard to play this game, but it still plays rather well out of the box with no peripherals too. The controls are very responsive and fans who know how a stock car should handle will become familiar with the game's physics in short order.

EA did not skimp on the options either. You have over 60 drivers to choose from including the Gordon's, the Jr's, and the rest of the bunch who give the sport its personality. It is easy to enjoy a NASCAR title when they give you a variety of venues to enjoy, and Sim Racing provides 28 highly detailed tracks including Daytona, Bristol, Indy, and even exclusive fantasy tracks designed by EA and NASCAR. You can race in an exhibition, take on the best in a Career mode, or go online and show the world that you are online with up to 42 other drivers. Obviously, Career mode is the meat of the game and will provide gamers with enough hours behind the wheel that they will be ready for anyone. You venture through 3 series of racing, Craftsmen Trucks, National Series, and the NEXTEL Cup complete with point system vying to make the field of the top 10 drivers in the league. Online allows you to race the best the world has to offer, and you can even trash talk a bit online with the use of a microphone. Online you can compete in Hot Lap leagues and Tournaments and compare your results with others you have raced before in the online rankings. Heck, if you know that someone is gunning for your top spot, you can see how they race in spectator's mode to get to know the driver better. Overall, NASCAR Sim Racing fills every void with flawless execution.

Not only did it take time and many complaint letters from fans for EA to get it right, but also they have done it this year as good as, if not better in some spots, than mighty Papyrus. Let's hope the game does well enough for EA to take the same gamble on fans next year. There is no doubt if you are a NASCAR fans, you must own this title.