IndyCar Series PS2

I spent some time playing an advance copy of IndyCar Series. If you love the IRL and simulation racing games, this is a solid game. All the IRL teams, drivers, cars, and tracks are in the game.

The graphics are good, when you consider it is on the PS2.

The physics are good. When you wreck the car playing Pro Mode, the car gets real damage and drives like it is damaged. For example, if the front tire hits the wall, it gets bent up. The car becomes tough to drive.

There is a career mode, quick race mode, and Indy 500. There is none of those arcade racer games such as car soccer or capture the flag.

One nice feature is the tune-up area. Beside being able to adjust almost every aspect of the car, there are three simple adjustment bars to help the less mechanically minded people. The three bars are grip, acceleration, and speed. As you adjust the speed bar, it changes the mechanicals to gain speed.

I found easy mode was not that much fun. Your car can get hit hard and never show damage. On top of that some of the IRL rules are not in affect. The game becomes like a NASCAR game because you can ram other cars. Serious racers will not find much value in easy mode.

I think the weakest aspect of the game is something that makes IRL racing kind of weak, there is nothing but circle tracks. They have just about every kind of circle track besides dirt tracks. I just get tired of turning left all of the time.

If you are really insane or into realism, you can run 500 laps just like the real races.

BOTTOM LINE, if you like realism and IRL racing, this is your game. If you like arcade racers like Need for Speed or GT, then stay away.