NASCAR Heat Evolution News Post

NASCAR Heat Evolution Review (PS4/XB1)

04:39 PM - September 14, 2016 by RaychelSnr

It’s not an exaggeration to say NASCAR fans have been waiting for over a decade for the next great stock car simulation, and while patience is a virtue, it also has its limitations. So, fair or not, the amount of pressure that has been thrust upon the newest licensed NASCAR video game and its developer is already incredibly high because of the years of disappointment that fans of the sport have been forced to endure.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the developer that has taken on the somewhat monumental feat of creating the next great NASCAR game has been here before. Monster Games, the former developer of NASCAR Heat and NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona has thrown its hat into the ring again, this time with NASCAR Heat Evolution. Do they succeed in capturing the authenticity and excitement that their previous attempts did? Read on to find out.

Read More - NASCAR Heat Evolution Review

Game: NASCAR Heat EvolutionReader Score: 4.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 3 - View All

Member Comments

# 1 NYJin2011tm @ 09/14/16 04:49 PM

Seeing and hearing all these negative things about it had me leery. But after reading this review I'm sold. All I care about is gameplay/career mode. I don't play online/don't care about presentation all that much. So I'm going to get it. Thanks.

# 2 Stormyhog @ 09/14/16 05:25 PM

Yeah if you can look past the lack of presentation I think most could have fun with it. I may get it at some point just busy with so many other games. Plus F1 has my attention when it comes to driving games at the moment.

# 3 mdiggitydawg @ 09/14/16 05:51 PM

My question though is regarding some of the seemingly major issues/bugs people are citing in the Impressions thread, such as being able to blow away the AI on big tracks like Daytona, or not being able to touch the breaks without heading into the wall. I had it pre ordered, but haven't yet picked up...so on the fence because I love a good NASCAR game, but don't love spending $66.00 for something incomplete...How many hours did you get to play before writing this review? I guess 6.5 is a pretty honest rating though, which to me is usually not worth spending the money.

# 4 mdiggitydawg @ 09/14/16 05:57 PM

in fact, the biggest problem which is not mentioned in this review is the frame rate, or lack there of...

http://cheatcc.com/ps4/rev/nascarheatevolutionreview.html

anyone else seeing the same?

# 5 bluengold34_OS @ 09/14/16 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiggitydawg


	in fact, the biggest problem which is not mentioned in this review is the frame rate, or lack there of... http://cheatcc.com/ps4/rev/nascarhea...ionreview.html anyone else seeing the same?

FPS is listed in the "Cons" of the review

# 6 jway44 @ 09/14/16 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiggitydawg


	in fact, the biggest problem which is not mentioned in this review is the frame rate, or lack there of... http://cheatcc.com/ps4/rev/nascarhea...ionreview.html anyone else seeing the same?

At times, the whole game just freezes for 3-5 seconds. You can hear the race going on, but the screen is frozen. More times than not, when it comes back, you are either in the wall or up against a bother car. If they fix this, I can find a lot to like in the game, even though it is nowhere near the quality of F1. It could still be really fun if they clean up a few of these small things.

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# 7 bluengold34_OS @ 09/14/16 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jway44


	At times, the whole game just freezes for 3-5 seconds. You can hear the race going on, but the screen is frozen. More times than not, when it comes back, you are either in the wall or up against a bother car. If they fix this, I can find a lot to like in the game, even though it is nowhere near the quality of F1. It could still be really fun if they clean up a few of these small things. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Damn - I have not experienced anything like that on either the PS4 or PC version - just a small bit slow down when there is smoke or an accident

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# 8 Mo @ 09/14/16 07:06 PM

i havent either yet.(XB1)

# 9 Jason6017 @ 09/14/16 08:44 PM

Sounds like this will be a good pickup when it hits the 30 dollar price point.

# 10 jway44 @ 09/14/16 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	Damn - I have not experienced anything like that on either the PS4 or PC version - just a small bit slow down when there is smoke or an accident Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I'm on Xbox one. And when it happens it happens badly. I started a full season and after completing Daytona on 25 percent race length, I am hooked. The AIT and drafting was so much fun. Ended up finishing 7th after being caught in the pits during a yellow flag which caused me to restart in 25th place with about 5 laps to go. If they will please, please fix the stuttering of the frame rate. I am really starting to like this game the more I play it. I'm currently getting ready to qualify and then race at Atlanta. Wish me luck.

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# 11 bravesfan1984 @ 09/14/16 09:41 PM

Got to spend all evening unlocking tracks, etc. and have to say I'm having a blast! Still running arcade mode until I get my racing skills back up to par but the AI is incredible. That alone is worth the price. Slowly increasing the difficulty too. What is everyone else running as far as difficulty?

# 12 tha620hawk @ 09/14/16 10:19 PM

I'm wondering how this handles with a controller. Past games have pretty much forced you to use a wheel unless you want a jerky car

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# 13 jway44 @ 09/14/16 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravesfan1984


	Got to spend all evening unlocking tracks, etc. and have to say I'm having a blast! Still running arcade mode until I get my racing skills back up to par but the AI is incredible. That alone is worth the price. Slowly increasing the difficulty too. What is everyone else running as far as difficulty?

I'm at +2 and finding the racing very competitive. Just finished 81 laps at Atlanta and finished 12th after running out of gas on the last lap while in 7th place. What an exciting race. Loving this the more I play. It is pretty darn good, minus the frame rate issues.

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# 14 jway44 @ 09/14/16 10:31 PM

Also have completed 5 of the challenges and each one is more fun. Holy cow, Bristol. That's all I can say about that. 😎😎

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# 15 Turbojugend @ 09/15/16 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tha620hawk


	I'm wondering how this handles with a controller. Past games have pretty much forced you to use a wheel unless you want a jerky car

It actually handles well with a controller, maybe a little too well. It's fairly difficult to under/oversteer and you can practically race full throttle (full trigger?) on tracks like Atlanta and Autoclub.

# 16 rcp225 @ 09/15/16 10:35 AM

I have no idea what game other people are playin', but I have both PS4 and XB1 versions and to me the graphics are beautiful and the framerate is smooth as glass. Ya want nicer graphics and 64 fps, then go spend your big bucks on a power-house pc. And BTW, most framerate issues I'm hearin' are on the pc version, not the consoles. Now here's something I really don't get - a lot of people like me have said their favorite console nascar game was Nascar: Dirt to Daytona. Why was it (IMO) the best? Because for once the AI drivers were competent and competitive. NHE does it one better. You take the wrong line going into a turn at Kansas and your toast...the AI drivers will fly right by. You lose the draft going down a straightaway at Daytona or Talladega
and (depending on the difficulty mode your playin' on), you're probably not gonna catch the pack up ahead.
Nascar 15 was a joke. You start the race at the back of the pack, and in 2 or 3 laps you zoom past everyone. No blocking, no real drafting and most of all, you were never really punished for every little mistake. Most other nascar console games were sadly the same. For once, here's a game that got it right, or at the very least is headed in the right direction (no pun intended). That very fact should be celebrated. The rest of the bells and whistles that we'd all love to see will come. While I agree for the most part with this review, he mentions the AI drivers like it was a side note. A 6.5...really? The AI is not just an integral part of a nascar game, it's everything.
I believe Monster Games wants to get it right. I believe they will strive to improve the game in every way possible. As usual and as with most game releases. there are gamers out who literally can't wait to prove their manhood by trashin' the game. These same gearheads, mind you, have never sat in or drove a real nascar at 190 mph. Yet, somehow they're the ulimate expert on car physics. A quote will go something like this, "This game sucks. I Race sim mode on the highest difficulty setting and win every race by 10 seconds". Yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it, you're the 2nd coming of Richard Petty. It is absolutely nausiating.

# 17 jway44 @ 09/15/16 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcp225


	I have no idea what game other people are playin', but I have both PS4 and XB1 versions and to me the graphics are beautiful and the framerate is smooth as glass. Ya want nicer graphics and 64 fps, then go spend your big bucks on a power-house pc. And BTW, most framerate issues I'm hearin' are on the pc version, not the consoles. Now here's something I really don't get - a lot of people like me have said their favorite console nascar game was Nascar: Dirt to Daytona. Why was it (IMO) the best? Because for once the AI drivers were competent and competitive. NHE does it one better. You take the wrong line going into a turn at Kansas and your toast...the AI drivers will fly right by. You lose the draft going down a straightaway at Daytona or Talladega and (depending on the difficulty mode your playin' on), you're probably not gonna catch the pack up ahead. Nascar 15 was a joke. You start the race at the back of the pack, and in 2 or 3 laps you zoom past everyone. No blocking, no real drafting and most of all, you were never really punished for every little mistake. Most other nascar console games were sadly the same. For once, here's a game that got it right, or at the very least is headed in the right direction (no pun intended). That very fact should be celebrated. The rest of the bells and whistles that we'd all love to see will come. While I agree for the most part with this review, he mentions the AI drivers like it was a side note. A 6.5...really? The AI is not just an integral part of a nascar game, it's everything. I believe Monster Games wants to get it right. I believe they will strive to improve the game in every way possible. As usual and as with most game releases. there are gamers out who literally can't wait to prove their manhood by trashin' the game. These same gearheads, mind you, have never sat in or drove a real nascar at 190 mph. Yet, somehow they're the ulimate expert on car physics. A quote will go something like this, "This game sucks. I Race sim mode on the highest difficulty setting and win every race by 10 seconds". Yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it, you're the 2nd coming of Richard Petty. It is absolutely nausiating.

We can definitely agree that the AI is awesome. However, the Xbox one graphic stuttering is atrocious. And you can see many videos that attest to such. Frame rate is the biggest complaint with this game. At times, it is ok. Other times, it freezes to a complete halt. If the game moved at a steady playable frame rate, I could get past the issues of it being a bare bones experience. I love the AI, and I love running long events with pit stops and all flags on. They did a decent job with a first effort game and we need to support the developer, but don't try to ignore the fact that the graphics are very subpar for this generation of consoles.

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# 18 themetallikid @ 09/15/16 11:29 AM

Is there something in the settings that can be turned off to improve the framerate issues? I would rather have a smooth experience than whatever bell or whistle is causing the slow down.

I know sometimes you can turn something off to fix that. My copy shows up today or tomorrow...so just thinking out loud...well...thinking via typing.

# 19 rcp225 @ 09/15/16 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jway44


	We can definitely agree that the AI is awesome. However, the Xbox one graphic stuttering is atrocious. And you can see many videos that attest to such. Frame rate is the biggest complaint with this game. At times, it is ok. Other times, it freezes to a complete halt. If the game moved at a steady playable frame rate, I could get past the issues of it being a bare bones experience. I love the AI, and I love running long events with pit stops and all flags on. They did a decent job with a first effort game and we need to support the developer, but don't try to ignore the fact that the graphics are very subpar for this generation of consoles. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

As far as the graphics go, let's just agree to disagree. For every Youtube video or review I've seen, it's probably 50-50. Some are saying the graphics are great, while others are saying it's disappointing. As for me, I don't really play a lot of racing games on PS4 or XB1, so I don't have much to compare it to. But, I'll give ya this - compared to project cars, and some of the other racers, I would agree, the cars and surroundings are not nearly as stunning...and I can understand some of the disappointment. As far as XB1 framerates, I have been playing nonstop and so far I haven't had any issues like slowdown or freeze-ups. I don't know why but I'm being honest here. But, from one gamer to another, I know you're not making it up either. So I guess sooner or later, I'll see the framerate issues you're talkin' about. Let's just hope the developers support the game and continue to make improvements. One thing is for sure, I love the actual racing so far, but there are definitely several areas that could use some work. I heard the online racing is horrific. Have you tried it yet?

# 20 jway44 @ 09/15/16 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcp225


	As far as the graphics go, let's just agree to disagree. For every Youtube video or review I've seen, it's probably 50-50. Some are saying the graphics are great, while others are saying it's disappointing. As for me, I don't really play a lot of racing games on PS4 or XB1, so I don't have much to compare it to. But, I'll give ya this - compared to project cars, and some of the other racers, I would agree, the cars and surroundings are not nearly as stunning...and I can understand some of the disappointment. As far as XB1 framerates, I have been playing nonstop and so far I haven't had any issues like slowdown or freeze-ups. I don't know why but I'm being honest here. But, from one gamer to another, I know you're not making it up either. So I guess sooner or later, I'll see the framerate issues you're talkin' about. Let's just hope the developers support the game and continue to make improvements. One thing is for sure, I love the actual racing so far, but there are definitely several areas that could use some work. I heard the online racing is horrific. Have you tried it yet?

I tried one room of online racing yesterday. It was at Martinsville, and there were 15 people competing. As soon as the green flag dropped, guys were running into each other, turning around and driving the wrong way, etc. It was ridiculous. I only tried that one time, and immediately went back to my season mode.
That being said, I have had some real fun in season mode. I've been running with the AI at +2%, and I've qualified for both races in mid pack. Ran 81 laps at Atlanta and loved every second of it. I also run at gas/tire wear at +3%, so in an 81 lap race I had to stop 3 times for fuel and came up one 1/4 lap short and ran out of gas. Was running 7th and coasted to a 12th place finish. I wasn't even mad. It was that good. And, there were 3 cautions during the race all caused by the AI. This game has SO much potential. Hopefully they will continue to support it going forward. I really have been waiting all generation of this console to get some NASCAR racing going, and I'd like for it to continue with solid support.

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