NASCAR Challenge

{{Short description|1999 video game}} {{distinguish|Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge}} {{Infobox video game |title = NASCAR Challenge |genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]] |image = Nascar Challenge GBC.png |platform = [[Game Boy Color]] |publisher= [[Hasbro|Hasbro Interactive]] |developer = Morning Star Multimedia |released = 15 November 1999 |modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] }}

'''''NASCAR Challenge''''' is a 1999 video game for the [[Game Boy Color]], developed by Morning Star Multimedia and published by [[Hasbro|Hasbro Interactive]]. The game is a [[NASCAR]]-licensed [[racing video game]] featuring three tracks from the [[NASCAR]] circuit. Upon release, the game received negative reviews, with publications criticizing the game's limited tracks, features, and poor attention to detail.

==Gameplay==

[[Image:NASCAR Challenge Screenshot.png|thumb|left|A screenshot of ''NASCAR Challenge''.]]

''NASCAR Challenge'' is an [[arcade racing game]] with two modes. In 'Practice Mode', players can select one of three tracks, the [[Heartland Motorsports Park|Topeka Raceway]], [[Sonoma Raceway]], and [[Watkins Glen International|Seneca Raceway]], and choose to race one to six laps in automatic and manual transmission. In 'Race Mode', players complete a qualifying run and complete races against nine opponents, with a display depicting a speedometer, clock, lap counter, race position, gear and tire gauge. Players are required to complete a pit stop to replace their tyres to avoid reduced speed and handling. The game's cartridge features a built-in [[Rumble Pak]] that vibrates when the player crashes. Players can also use a local [[Game Link Cable]] to complete races with another player.<ref name=AG/>

== Development ==

[[Hasbro|Hasbro Interactive]] announced the release of a licensed [[NASCAR]] game for the Game Boy Color in August 1999, with six tracks planned for the game, eventually limited to three upon release.<ref>{{cite web|website=IGN|title=Hasbro Waves the Green Flag|date=7 August 1999|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/07/hasbro-waves-the-green-flag}}</ref>

== Reception ==

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name=AG>{{cite web|website=Allgame|last=Cook|first=Brad|title=NASCAR Challenge|date=1999|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20347&tab=review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115040907/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20347&tab=review |archive-date=2014-11-15 }}</ref>

| GSpot = 5/10<ref name=GS>{{cite web|website=GameSpot|last=Trueman|first=Doug|title=NASCAR Challenge Review|date=28 April 2000|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-challenge-review/1900-2536197/|access-date=30 June 2023|archive-date=30 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630071335/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-challenge-review/1900-2536197/|url-status=live}}</ref>

| IGN = 2/10<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|website=IGN|title=NASCAR Challenge|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=5 January 2000|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/05/nascar-challenge-2}}</ref>

| rev1 = ''Game Boy Xtreme'' | rev1Score = 38%<ref name=GBX>{{cite magazine|magazine=Game Boy Xtreme|title=Directory|pages=62|issue=2|date=August 2001|url=https://archive.org/details/GBX-Magazine-Print-Collection/02%20GBX%20August%202001/page/n61}}</ref>

}}

''NASCAR Challenge'' received a negative reception from reviewers upon release. Writing for ''[[GameSpot]]'', Doug Trueman described the game as "dull" and "monotonous", finding the number of laps "much too long for a racer since there is little to do", and remarking that the "track is just too narrow" and the handling experiences "extreme deceleration when moving at anything less than top speed."<ref name=GS/> Craig Harris of ''[[IGN]]'' dismissed the game as a "straight cash-in for name recognition only", observing the tracks feature a lack of detail with "not much variety" and a "plain and generic" graphics engine.<ref name=IGN/> Brad Cook of ''Allgame'' critiqued the lack of detail and depth, writing "there are a lot of little things that aren't done well in this game", citing problems with the game's interface, including the race position and speedometer. Cook stated "there isn't much potential for long-term play", noting the limited number of tracks in the championship and limited detail of the competing racers.<ref name=AG/> ''Game Boy Xtreme'' described the game as "deathly dull", remarking "driving round in circles soon grates."<ref name=GBX/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{MobyGames|id=/173715/nascar-challenge/}}

*[[List of NASCAR video games]]

[[Category:1999 video games]] [[Category:Game Boy Color games]] [[Category:Game Boy Color-only games]] [[Category:Morning Star Multimedia games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Racing simulators]] [[Category:Racing video games]]