''NASCAR Challenge'' is a 1999 video game for the

Game Boy Color The (commonly abbreviated as GBC) is a handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on October 21, 1998 and to international markets that November. It is the successor to the Game Boy and is part of the Game ...

, developed by Morning Star Multimedia and published by

Hasbro Interactive Hasbro Interactive was an American video game developer, video game production and video game publisher, publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large game and toy company. Several of its studios were closed in early 2001 and most of its properties ...

. The game is a

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...

-licensed

racing video game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic rac ...

featuring three tracks from the

circuit. Upon release, the game received negative reviews, with publications critiquing the game's limited tracks, features, and poor attention to detail.

Gameplay

''NASCAR Challenge'' is an

arcade racing game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic rac ...

with two modes. In 'Practice Mode', players can select one of three

tracks, the Topeka Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, and 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 The is a removable device from Nintendo which provides force feedback while playing video games. Games that support the Rumble Pak cause it to vibrate in select situations, such as when firing a weapon or receiving damage, to immerse the player i ...

that vibrates when the player crashes. Players can also use a local

Game Link Cable The Nintendo Game Link Cable is an accessory for the Game Boy line of handheld video game systems, allowing players to connect Game Boys of all types for multiplayer gaming. Depending on the games, a Game Link Cable can be used to link two gam ...

to complete races with another player.

Development

announced the release of a licensed

game for the Game Boy Color in August 1999, with six tracks planned for the game, eventually limited to three upon release. The game has been observed to feature code from the 1992

Game Boy The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same ...

racing title '' Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge'', suggesting the game was modified from the title.

Reception

''NASCAR Challenge'' received a negative reception from reviewers upon release. Writing for ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

'', 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." Craig Harris of ''

IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...

'' 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. 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. ''Game Boy Xtreme'' described the game as "deathly dull", remarking "driving round in circles soon grates."

References

External links

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List of NASCAR video games NASCAR, the most popular motorsport in the United States, has worked with video game developers to design several video games. In 2003, EA Sports received an exclusive console license to produce NASCAR games, eliminating Papyrus and Hasbro Interac ...

{{NASCAR video games 1999 video games Game Boy Color games Game Boy Color-only games Morning Star Multimedia games Multiplayer and single-player video games NASCAR video games Racing simulators Racing video games