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NASCAR Heat 4 Review

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  • Steve_OS
    Editor-in-Chief
    • Jul 2002
    • 33265

    #1

    NASCAR Heat 4 Review



    After seeing the NASCAR license taken in multiple directions over the last decade, 704 Games has...

    Written By: Robert Kollars

    Click here to view the article.
    Steve Noah
    Editor-in-Chief
    http://www.operationsports.com
    Follow me on Twitter
  • Fredette
    Rookie
    • Sep 2015
    • 305

    #2
    Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

    Graphics, Physics, AI and Career mode looks very good for a non-AAA Nascar title.

    It's on my list Glad to see a Nascar PC release.

    Comment

    • oldmanonsilvercreek
      Rookie
      • Mar 2018
      • 109

      #3
      Re: NASCAR Review

      Will continue to play 3 until they implement 4k HDR

      Comment

      • Turbojugend
        MVP
        • Sep 2013
        • 2242

        #4
        Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

        Thanks for the great review Robert! I'm holding off for for now (how many sports games are we getting this month?!?), but a lot of what you mentioned does sound promising.
        www.heyimbill.com | sports poster art and other cool stuff

        Comment

        • Richzilla
          MVP
          • Sep 2004
          • 1163

          #5
          Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

          With the flood of new sports games out I will wait for a price drop.
          PSN:EVH_4_EVER

          Comment

          • brandon27
            MVP
            • Aug 2008
            • 1978

            #6
            Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

            Against my better judgement, I bought it... with the intent of trying it for the 2 hours MS gives you and still allows you to return.

            Here's my thoughts after having a few quick races for a about an hour this morning. Take it with a grain of salt if you wish as I've only spent about 45 minutes with it.

            Let me list a few positives:
            - Sounds of engines are improved. Sounds good. Much better.

            - You can feel the difference in physics. It's smoother, but still jerky though.

            - Nice to have some driver difficulty controls. From how easy it is to get the AI loose, their recoverability, to actually having driver assists. It's still not where I'd like it to be, but the fact it's there is nice. It just seems odd how different they do it from every other title, it makes me wonder if Unity is the issue. It is nice though to be able to adjust each assist category in 5% increments. You can really dial in your own feel.

            - you can scroll the race/qualifying results, but stats are still pretty weak. Not sure on career mode though.

            - I'll compliment the physics system again as mentioned in the review. My race at Atlanta, I had the AI too easy. I started 3rd, blew their doors off and cruised for the first two laps. I was being aggressive to push the game to get a feel for the handling. By the 3rd lap, I couldn't run the same line, the same way. I was struggling, couldn't figure it out until I cycled through the car info and got to tire wear. Yup. Atlanta eats tires, and yup, you'll notice it in game. Nice job there.

            The not so nice:
            - Visuals. Improved? Yeah, they are. There's way too much motion blur for my liking though. It's still not where it needs to be IMO for a title this generation. Is it better than NH3? Yes, it's better, but not knock your socks off better. If visuals won't bother you, you'll be fine. I may be being a bit harsh here because my eyes are used to the beauty that is F12019, so I just fired up NH4 at Daytona, followed quickly by NH3 there. Yeah, it's a pretty big jump actually, but it's still lagging behind.


            - Sticking with visuals... the frame rate does seem more stable, but it's still sluggish and long ways from 60 most of the time. There is an option to adjust the visuals for Quality, or Performance (playing on XB1X anyways). I have it set to Quality now to experience what I've written above. When I change it to performance, it looks smoother with a higher frame rate, but the visuals seem to look more like NH3 again, but still a bit better.

            - You're still referred to as your gamertag in the game. Come on... Give me a break.

            - Presentation... flat out stinks. It's boring. Just like the last few versions of the game.


            - Replay mode is still bare. No race rewind feature either


            On the Fence:
            - Career. I can't comment. Didn't get into it. However from what I've seen, I dont see anything huge. I thought they'd build it out alot more than it sounds like they have.

            - AI - I didn't get enough time with it so far. If the controls and customization options they give you when it comes to the AI actually work, I think that could be a big step forward.

            - Visuals. I'll put them here too. They're just ok. It's not close to F1 2019's level, or Forza, etc. etc. It's not bad either though. It's better, but it's still not good.

            - Paint booth. Seemed largely the same. No real new schemes to work with. Color options seem more limited than last year unless I haven't figure out how to customize them, but right now it looks like you've got about 25 colors that's it. Some nice new sponsor additions though.

            Overall:
            I'd say if you're expecting something different, or some huge improvement, you're going to be let down IMO. If you've enjoyed the last few, and these upgrades are worth it to you you'll be fine. That's kind of where I'm at with it. I played alot of NH3 despite it's flaws. Probably close to 400 races. I think I'll enjoy this one the same way, despite it's flaws. It's just so frustrating to me that's it's flaws are the same flaws it's always had.

            Overall to me, I need to decide if I keep it now, or request return/refund. Refund is the direction I'm leaning at this point with the intent of picking it up again on sale. It's just not enough for me to warrant it's price point. It needs to be around the 39.99 or 49.99 price point not 63.99 for the standard edition, or 89.99 for the gold edition here in Canada.

            If you've enjoyed the previous, you'll enjoy it no doubt. If you didn't, the new stuff, especially the AI might be enough to change your mind, I do believe that right now, but if you're looking for it to blow you away and feel current gen, I think that will be a letdown still.

            Do take this with a grain of salt though, as I've only spent about 40 minutes or so playing.
            Last edited by brandon27; 09-10-2019, 11:10 PM.
            Miami Dolphins - Detroit Red Wings - Toronto Blue Jays - Michigan Wolverines - CANADA

            Comment

            • bluengold34_OS
              Content Creator
              • Nov 2004
              • 7346

              #7
              Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

              Originally posted by Turbojugend
              Thanks for the great review Robert! I'm holding off for for now (how many sports games are we getting this month?!?), but a lot of what you mentioned does sound promising.


              Appreciate it Turbo - I’ve had the game for about a month now...so I felt pretty confident in what I wrote.


              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
              Twitch - bluengold34_os

              Comment

              • Charvalos
                Rookie
                • Oct 2016
                • 310

                #8
                Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                What about DQ ? Is still the same system where even if you wreck at Daytona, you can repair and race again ?

                Comment

                • FatboyIKE
                  Just started!
                  • Sep 2019
                  • 1

                  #9
                  Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                  Robert, great review and write up, thank you!

                  For me, the most difficult part to wrestle down with NH4 is the lack of 4k support. I'd understand better if it was 2017, but 4k gaming developer packages have been out for well over 3 years now, and the console hardware is well established. There's just no excuse honestly.

                  If anyone also plays the F1 product and switches back and forth to play both racing sports (like I do), it's like eating a steak at Ruth Chris and then a steak at Golden Corral lol. Regardless, I'll continue to support 704Games and the NH product because I want them to succeed and I know that team does care about it's client base.

                  Comment

                  • mercalnd
                    MVP
                    • Oct 2004
                    • 4259

                    #10
                    Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                    Originally posted by bluengold34_OS
                    Appreciate it Turbo - I’ve had the game for about a month now...so I felt pretty confident in what I wrote.
                    Thanks for the review.

                    They promoted the fact that you can now race any series on any track. Can this be done in Championship mode?

                    I figure they may have added new schedule options for each series to race on every track or, even better, given us the option of a custom schedule.

                    Comment

                    • TCrouch
                      MVP
                      • Jul 2002
                      • 4819

                      #11
                      Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                      Bob, nice write up.

                      Did you try it with a wheel or just the controller? The force feedback on my wheel (XBox version) is notchy and chattery. It isn't smooth and natural. Wondering if that was something you ran into, or if you stuck mostly with the controller.

                      Comment

                      • bluengold34_OS
                        Content Creator
                        • Nov 2004
                        • 7346

                        #12
                        Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                        Originally posted by FatboyIKE
                        Robert, great review and write up, thank you!



                        For me, the most difficult part to wrestle down with NH4 is the lack of 4k support. I'd understand better if it was 2017, but 4k gaming developer packages have been out for well over 3 years now, and the console hardware is well established. There's just no excuse honestly.



                        If anyone also plays the F1 product and switches back and forth to play both racing sports (like I do), it's like eating a steak at Ruth Chris and then a steak at Golden Corral lol. Regardless, I'll continue to support 704Games and the NH product because I want them to succeed and I know that team does care about it's client base.


                        Appreciate it Ike[emoji106][emoji106]


                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
                        Twitch - bluengold34_os

                        Comment

                        • bluengold34_OS
                          Content Creator
                          • Nov 2004
                          • 7346

                          #13
                          Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                          Originally posted by TCrouch
                          Bob, nice write up.



                          Did you try it with a wheel or just the controller? The force feedback on my wheel (XBox version) is notchy and chattery. It isn't smooth and natural. Wondering if that was something you ran into, or if you stuck mostly with the controller.


                          I tried to secure a PC copy to test it out on my racing chassis...but they were traveling back from Indy - so just PS4 and controller (thanks for the kind words also)


                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
                          Twitch - bluengold34_os

                          Comment

                          • bluengold34_OS
                            Content Creator
                            • Nov 2004
                            • 7346

                            #14
                            Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                            Originally posted by mercalnd
                            Thanks for the review.



                            They promoted the fact that you can now race any series on any track. Can this be done in Championship mode?



                            I figure they may have added new schedule options for each series to race on every track or, even better, given us the option of a custom schedule.


                            I have made it to season 5 of my career now and have seen no option to change the career mode schedule...and not sure about championship mode) sadly I am on the road and won’t be home for a week to check


                            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
                            Twitch - bluengold34_os

                            Comment

                            • mercalnd
                              MVP
                              • Oct 2004
                              • 4259

                              #15
                              Re: NASCAR Heat 4 Review

                              Originally posted by Proof21
                              I believe we aren't able to customize our own schedules, it is basically presets that we can choose from for Championship Mode..I can verify later this evening.
                              I expect it is still a choice between preset schedules. I just hope they adde some presets to run on all tracks in any of the 3 series.

                              Comment

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