The Best NASCAR Game Ever Made (NASCAR Thunder 2004)

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[@joshuak8335]

Still better drafting, damage, and side drafting than Heat 4.

[@TeenWithACarrotIDK]

It also looks way more beautiful, not going to lie, better than any other nascar game in 2020 and earlier.

[@j9vlikz683]

@@TeenWithACarrotIDK kinda going to have to disagree with you there heat 4s graphics are not that bad damage is alright collision physics could use a little work and bug fixes could be a good factor other than that heat 4 isn't that bad of a game just those tweaks in nascar 21 then I'll be satisfied

[@monarch7446]

Agreed. I have a ps2 with HDMI setup and wireless controller. Far better than the new games. 2004 is the best. Last game of the Winston cup format. 2005 is good too with the featherlight modifieds and Busch grand national. But 2004 has best driving and physics

[@ritaweatherly708]

@@TeenWithACarrotIDK cooper

[@FoxiFyer]

These games were chock full of content, shame today that this would all be DLC

[@penguinbrony2415]

Yeah, it was certainly a different era when this game came out in late 2003. That's part of the fun and replayability of Thunder 04, unlocking all those thunder plates for the create-a-car sponsors, new paint schemes, tracks, and other goodies.

[@Waddle_Dee_With_Internet]

It's also that the F1 game series is in total danger after EA bought Codemasters.

[@j9vlikz683]

@@penguinbrony2415 same thing with thunder 03 im still busy collect thunder plates for all the paint schems lol

[@SUPERSOLDIER97x]

This makes me sad to a degree. Games back then were feature complete and were worth spending the $60 on. If a sports game of this scale came out today it would be $60 plus $500 for all of the paint schemes.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yeah back then NASCAR was a top priority to many networks in America. Now it barely break that barrier between being mainstream and partially recognized by there partners.

[@motorcityoctane6713]

They should just open a complete paint booth, at least with games like Forza there's 1,000's of amazing schemes that painters create for free. A real "dlc" would be some LM's, K&N cars, etc.

[@jc1424]

Not true tbh NASCAR Heat 2, NASCAR Heat 3, and NASCAR Heat 4 all added it up to about $100 each.

[@SUPERSOLDIER97x]

@@jc1424 I'm saying if EA was still running it

[@svech37]

nah every race would cost 1 dollar to race in career mode

[@agnomymous]

Jeff Gordon's rainbow Dupont scheme is my favorite of all time. Growing up, that's what I associated NASCAR with. Wish the NASCAR games today were like this one.

[@ericfriendzoned1303]

Same

[@whogavehimafork]

Me too, the rainbow dupont car is what I think of when I think of Jeff Gordon. Tony Stewart drove the home depot car, Earnhardt Jr. drove the budweiser 8 car, Sr's death was still recent and the number 3 car was pulled, Bobby Labonte drove the 43.

[@Dr.Strangmeme]

I was never much of a Gordon fan, but that rainbow car was awesome, I hate they changed it.

[@bobertkallahan4392]

Same

[@carrsllccarrillo6507]

What's so great about this game is the actual day night transition during the game play! That gives this game that sense of actual realism and more dept then current games! Plus we get a track PA announcer and MRN radio commentary from the late Barney HalI and I believe the other guy is Winston Kelly. I use to play alot with 3 other guys on my xbox and it was great fun with when played mind games with pit strategy. Career mode was awesome too.

[@Waddle_Dee_With_Internet]

It's a pretty good detail because this is also featured in NASCAR 98 N64 game.

[@streetskater9421]

really its like the developers got extremely lazy

[@j9vlikz683]

but are we like not gonna talk about how Barney Hall and Winston Kelly are commentating while driving? lol

[@spencer4514]

To this day. I will never stop playing this amazing game

[@maxtwentynine5968]

Do you play it online still ?

[@spencer4514]

@@maxtwentynine5968 Never have. I dont know how to hook it up

[@81casperflip]

Yep lol. Graphics and gameplay still hold up on Xbox

[@monarch7446]

Agreed definitely the best Nascar game. Lots of content well thought out game. Wish they could do a remake on it

[@khynedi]

DEKU

[@logicalapple_3274]

Back in the day when most game developers made games out of passion than money

[@retr0cat866]

Well they made the games for money but they had passion behind it

[@bhiracing5794]

Anyone else notice how The Trophy said "April 15, 2020" but today is April 14 3:48

[@ShibbyRL]

the emulator was probably set time wrong idk lol

[@ajmotofan1197]

No I think he pre recorded

[@chickenfoundation9323]

AJ MotoFan11 it’s prerecorded 1 day into the future 🤔

[@squidwardshouse5431]

*laughs in NR2003* ... *sobs in NR2003* In all seriousness what ever happened to the real-ish physics in NASCAR games?

[@williambowen1771]

I'm a 4 time full season full race length champ on thunder 4. Still own it one time champ on every nascar game

[@nunyafockler5650]

Game is 100% straight up a rare gem

[@rp2819]

3:47 Hold up. Radman is a time traveler.

[@ajmotofan1197]

He pre recorded I think

[@rp2819]

@@ajmotofan1197 No. The trophy said April 15 and the upload date was April 14.

[@ajmotofan1197]

Oh then I don’t how he did I that

[@heijac2998]

20:22 I’m not the only one who has PTSD right here right?

[@thewildice7144]

Nope. As soon as he crashed liked that, the first thing I thought was the wreck.

[@flamingofumi2305]

Exactly

[@JoeyKlender]

I still play this almost every day, I have for nearly 17 years. There have been a few years it's sat in a cabinet or box, but when I see it, it immediately comes out and I pop it into the PS2. No game in the past 10 years has come close.

[@natman527]

I’m still playing this game on my PS2 21 years later bc it came out in late 03

[@briancromartie3149]

Doesn't see how Jeff Gordon & Robby Gordon are rivals. Circa 2001. New Hampshire race

[@YoSuey]

Was gonna say that lol. Still don't think they've ever made up.

[@gavintodd2]

this gave me a flashback to the beginning of your channel and the NT2004 Career. Crazy how fast time flies, doesn’t seem like it has been that long

[@Artimae19]

The nostalgia is palpable, especially once I saw Rusty Wallace's car. Never was much a fan of his, but when I started my career mode back on release day, I struggled quite a lot, only winning races sporadically, and barely getting enough money to scrape by. Then, after a number of in-game years, it said Rusty retired, and his ride offered the packaged sponsorship to me, and I rode that #2 straight into history. Turned my entire career around, and I was with that team for a couple of (real-life) years, breaking all of the records (over 200 wins, 8+ championships).

[@gamerofwar_]

I miss how the race intro was 8:23

[@nunyafockler5650]

Bro I literally just searched this up you literally stole the words right out of my mouth and you're exactly right Best NASCAR game of all time hands down 💯💙💙💙💙💙

[@mindofmyown333]

I taught myself how to revive dead OG Xboxes so I could keep playing this after mine died. I could use an emulator, but I love using classic equipment

[@hdfreekicker2341]

tell me how, because mines broken and I miss playing on it😭😭😭😭

[@ThaTruFily]

A ps2 or ps1 can get you out of the cravings for more original hardware running this classic

[@SergeantRoosters]

@@ThaTruFily jailbroken ps3 slim ftw

[@ThaTruFily]

@@SergeantRoosters You're bragging? 😹

[@ThaTruFily]

@@SergeantRoosters If not it sounds cool :D

[@penguinbrony2415]

This game is why I bought a PS2 in 2020. I love this game so much, because it was one of the games that made me become a huge fan of nascar and helped me learn how to drive the tracks.

[@michaelraffoul9846]

Omg best game ever! Cant wait for more! Thank you

[@andyhayner7074]

M&M's had a marketing deal in 2002 where fans got to choose between a few different colors which one they wanted to see on the track. It was Ken Schrader in NASCAR thunder 2003 that had a teal and a pink and a purple and a blend car and what not.

[@tyman1014]

If this game were made today, all the basic paint schemes would come with the base game and there would be at least 13 DLC packs that you would have to get to have all of these paint schemes. There would be a pack for every month, as well as a throwback paint scheme pack. You would also have to spend extra to get the historic drivers. It's such a shame that all they make video games for now is to turn a pretty penny rather than make something enjoyable like this.

[@derpa11]

this popped up in recommended and nostalgia hit me, 2003 nascar thunder was the first game I've ever played, it was on the gamecube.

[@TimScottDT]

Agree such a great game. Imagine if they just did some of these things and added features with the new technology we have these days they could make an awesome console game but seems like they always take the easy way out

[@KyoRedBladeZR1]

20:12 *DOIN' FOR DALE!!!*

[@KyoRedBladeZR1]

@Grand Gamer 3 Nice.

[@fubbaquestor]

I remember playing this on Xbox, it was sooooo good

[@randipoling635]

Just recently picked this up on eBay along with 2003 and 2002 for XBOX and 2001 for PS2. EAs console NASCAR games were amazing.

[@ProWrestlingReality]

Thank you for talkin about such a great game. I feel somewhere deep in America there is a real American man after work goes home cracks open a few beers goes to the garage with just the PS2 sittin in the corner there hooked to an ollle CRT TV and tells the wife he's playin his game.....

[@Ultimate23Dragon]

If you do a season mode, use a Pontiac Driver. I recommend Jerry Nadeau or Johnny Benson.

[@BackAlleyKnifeFighter]

I have so many fond memories of this game growing up. We didn't have a lot of money to spend on games, so this was one of the few games I had that wasn't a demo disc. My dad is not a gamer at all, but loved this game and we'd play it all the time along with SW Battlefront. He loved it so much he bought a steering wheel and pedals for it (which I thought was so cool back then) and bought another PS2 a few years back just to play the game every now and then.

[@cameronmorris3551]

I’m glad to see that you’re back uploading. The only thing I would like to see is if you do a season mode can you do the real life schedule? That is one of the reasons why I love this game so much.

[@cameronmorris3551]

That is the only thing I ask from you.

[@matthewfossum4630]

Glad to see you making videos again, and that it’s NT2004. Those were the good old days. I’m currently rewatching your F1 2016 series.

[@offgridRC]

Great game. I was at the Michigan race where dale jarret spun out and ended up winning. My face when I played the thunder challenge on this game then next year.

[@vjollila96]

nascar racing 2003: I'm joke to you?

[@ashketchumsdad]

04 has 03 beat because of the rivals features

[@michaelwhite77]

@@ashketchumsdad That's the only thing it has an edge in.....NR2003 is always adaptable and ever changing with mods and online support....NT2004 can't touch that

[@ashketchumsdad]

@@michaelwhite77 That may be true, and I'm not gonna argue against it. But I will still take NASCAR thunder 2004. Career mode too. Nr2003 requires too much tech out of me haha

[@kaniuoh911]

@@ashketchumsdad its aight dude everyone has their own prefences

[@ericgreen3716]

I miss this. I started playing NASCAR Thunder 2002. Those were the days. Realistic damage, tons of schemes and great drivers! This makes me want to get an original Xbox

[@sergiobomr216]

Never played this game, but yea games back then were so damn good because they were complete and has so many great features. Nowadays their broken on release day and they charge for everything that should have already been in the game.

[@blakesartworld]

Just be JEFF GORDON!!!! 😂 🐐🐐🐐

[@clcbc97]

They seriously need to redevelop this game for new gen This game is 16 years old and has better graphics and realism than nascar heat. It’s a shame Nascar heat doesn’t have driver introduction,commentary,national anthem,and flyover and fireworks. Nascar thunder had a better victory lane celebration. Everything about this game was realistic to the actual sport of nascar. Nascar heat was sloppy development it’s as if their development team had never seen an actual nascar race there just wasn’t any realism in the game

[@petemalogne5219]

Sports games were absolutely the best on the PS2. The amount of fan service and content in the mid to later year titles was absurd! lol.. they all played great too w an overall gameplay formula that never really faltered. I remember owning just about every good sports title iin that generation, cant say the same at all for later ones.

[@johnnyroberts3761]

It sucks that this game wasn’t released for the Gamecube, yet the edition before (NASCAR Thunder 2003) & after (NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup) was released for the system.

[@ken_danerdiest1]

I won a bunch of races in the customized #86 car and several Winston Cup trophies, too. Great game, great times!

[@TopatSnake]

0:09 i love how Jeff Gordon says alright I’m out of here before the intro ends

[@JBarrett027]

“Hey guys I’m playing one of my fat...” 😂

[@sparky7679]

Back when you bought a game for 60 and had everything on it, no dlc expansions

[@dylanenglish9653]

He's right about the trophy room, WWE SVR 2007 gave you your own room and trophy room

[@MTJfan2017]

Once I get a ps2 or something that plays ps2 games, I’m definitely gonna get this game. I used to play this with my friends when I went over to their house. So much fun.

[@rdaws73]

Drove me nuts that the devs used the wrong headlight decals for Chevy in Thunder 2004 AND 2005. Plus the weird body shape

[@abasicunderstanding1931]

Can you upload a tutorial on how/where to download the emulator and show all of the settings you have to make the game look this good?

[@abasicunderstanding1931]

@RealRadman

[@Kresh42]

Google PCSX2. It will help you get started.

[@dylanhale7300]

Nascar Thunder 2004 and Nascar Racing Season 2003 are simply the 2 best licensed racing games period. 2003 was and still is a single player sim racers wet dream, and 2004 was by far and away the single best and most complete game ever!

[@AutoRockinRacing94]

Fun fact: The photo used for Kevin Lepage was from 2000 as noted below with the Roush Racing logo

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Low key Bobby Labonte is your favorite driver, I support this 1000% bus schemes in this game are incredible. His default alone is imo the best ever along with Harvicks from the same year.

[@TrinityRiverNetwork]

NR2003: Allow me to introduce myself

[@TrinityRiverNetwork]

Jason Striation Oh yeah. Absolutely

[@TrinityRiverNetwork]

Just my opinion

[@DerrickRG]

NR2003 is more sim than game. Besides, he mentioned console in the video.

[@tourover9249]

Season Mode is one of the best because you can create your own driver and also create a custom schedule.

[@DennyDeliversYT]

Can this game be re-released on modern day consoles?!

[@cito1101]

I wish

[@Aimee_3526]

But without dlc

[@DerrickRG]

@@Aimee_3526 Re-release, not remake.

[@x_Odin]

Could be ported, doubtful it’s will tho

[@mahiru20ten]

Licensed sports games like this are licensing nightmares if they want to re-release them. That's why we rarely see them being re-released.

[@jamesbrumley6184]

Robby and Jeff are rivals because of the 2001 New Hampshire race, this is the best nascar game ever imo.

[@svech37]

we need a remaster version to just improve the graphics and leave everything alone but cant really do that since 704 has the liscene to nascar games and ea does not care anymore

[@budsutton7343]

Sparkyboi04 EA stopped caring during 2005 when 06 total team control was released

[@svech37]

@@budsutton7343 that was not a bad game really

[@nachobroryan8824]

Oddly enough, a year later the 2021 NASCAR game is going back to the same underlying physics engine family the 2004 game was built on. It's just been upgraded a lot since then.

[@svech37]

@@nachobroryan8824 thats just physics and graphics (btw the rfactor graphics is great) but if the core career/race mode is not good, its a disappointment

[@Chrisimplayer]

I've always found it quite depressing and sad that the pit stops actually has ANIMATED pit crew members actually doing stuff to your car while most modern better looking title of Nascar don't have that from what I've seen at least seriously with all the advancements in how their able to make game look today and how animation look today yet they can't put in an animated pit crew like they did in the past it's beyond pathetic.

[@marcnewton3297]

Jamie McMurray ran 7 races in 2002 filling in for Sterling Marlin

[@paulcerrezin2498]

Thanks for making these gameplay videos. I have missed watching them!

[@LetterTrap]

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season is what I like best

[@bungieman2810]

12:27 20:17 Radman: Causes a caution and can easilly catch up again after the yellow flag Also Radman: Gives up and restarts

[@shawnchristianson324]

Every Jeff Gordon Pepsi car was badass.

[@thewildice7144]

20:21 uh is it me or does that crash look very familiar? What makes it worse is he was driving as Sr...

[@TransitJoey1997]

Hey dude! NASCAR Thunder 2004 is indeed the best NASCAR game ever created. I have the Original Xbox version of this game, I also have various Nascar games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 from 2003-2009 from EA Sports, and the song Action by Powerman 5000 in NASCAR Thunder 2004 is a badass album in this game. Awesome video dude! BTW you earned a sub, and have a bless day.

[@crazynoob159]

I don’t even care about nascar but I recently bought a ps2 to replace my old one that stopped working and lo and behold there’s nascar thunder 2004 inside of it. I don’t know anything about nascar but it’s actually pretty fun

[@jc1424]

Only RealRadman could win a race the day before it happens.

[@sometexanguy9054]

I remember playing this as a kiddo. Good times.

[@misfortuneteller24]

I think its time to dig out the old ps2 and play this.

[@Guiltless765]

Yep no argument here.I remember buying this game when it came out.👍🏻

[@commander98123]

Best NASCAR game ever made belongs to NASCAR Racing 2003 Season from Papyrus/Sierra. This is a fact.

[@sametozkan9175]

It is but they forgot to put Sadler and Rudd's alternate paint schemes.

[@TomoG4ch4_Alan94]

Talladega night will be cool since it named before talladega nights was even a thing.

[@jptwentyfour887]

The NASCAR Thunder series EA did from 2002-2004, was the best series of NASCAR games.

[@Silverbullet1222]

One of the best online sims for nascar too. Had so much fun with this game with friends on PC

[@ajmotofan1197]

Anyone else see the fuel man holding it with 1 hand at 14:48

[@Caymand29]

And the jack was moving on its own at 14:44

[@timmaay24]

I played through like 9 seasons of this on the PS2 😂 this one is the GOAT in my own opinion

[@xxyvng6831]

I played backwards compatible on the ps3 it didnt run that good tho

[@whogavehimafork]

Man I only had Nascar 06 total team control growing up, I wish had this one instead it seems so much better

[@thedistractedcanadian4355]

Used to play 2003 all the time as a kid

[@ShakShak1999]

Best Nascar game of all time

[@jonathankraus9365]

Mark Martin for season mode!

[@OutcastGrim2424]

I just finished my 2008 season in my career mode. Jeff Gordon won his 8th camionship and then retires with 117 wins. Hopefully I have a chance to win it finially 😂

[@donyelletaber6555]

I Would Play This Still If I Could Get The Game And Another PS2 Shame They Don't Make Them No More

[@lugnutvs.8173]

Just got this one today... first time I ever played it as I never had a ps2 or Xbox as a kid

[@simracingmayhem5810]

Can you do a video on how to set this game up on the emulator

[@motorcityoctane6713]

Place your bets will the new NASCAR game be Better/Worse/Same. I just hope they change the tire model and make the cars slide a little more so you actually have to manage the throttle especially on older tires

[@BenHodgeThemeParkEndeavor]

What system is this running on?

[@thecreekrat69]

Idk which game it was on but the tribon track was so cool

[@davidcopeland5450]

2003 was Sadler's first year in the 38 car. He ran 1999-2002 driving the 21 for the Wood Brothers. Hence why the lack of paint schemes for him.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Ah yes the year he flip at Talladega. I so miss the time when NASCAR was mainstream and made headlines on a daily bases. Recaps of the races appeared on spanish networks and local news stations.

[@happyloaf]

This was a decent game but Dirt to Daytona was the console NASCAR GOAT. The cars felt so much better to drive. Sadly it was missing a few teams and tracks.

[@marcelojorge_2006]

The 2006 total team control too.

[@ShakShak1999]

Season Mode for Dale Sr.

[@duuude2192]

In heat 5 once you upgrade your engine to max and max out the employee on your engine you basically don't need to draft

[@That_Handle]

~ 4:48 & 4:58 : not necessarily a cheat code but there is a code I believe you enter to access LAN multiplayer. My nephew and I utilized it within the last handful of years to link two PS2 consoles together shining through on a pair of 27 inch Trinitron tube TVs that have widescreen ratio mode. Force feedback to the steering wheels on this title are amazing for the era. 👉There might be more detail felt from the road surface and while drafting, etc. in my Logitech wheels and pedals than any other driving game/simulator including ToCA Race Driver 3 (still racing that one online) or Gran Turismo from the same era.👍 The visuals are nothing to sneeze at either coming from a PS2.

[@thecreekrat69]

Robbie was a rival with everyone lol

[@nunyafockler5650]

I also really like the first need for speed underground not the second one the first one when you hit the boost the effects were too real

[@MarkoFavre]

I need to know what settings you're using on the emulator. I have a line showing in the bottom half of mine and I get slowdowns from time to time, even in OpenGL

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

Love this game

[@ThaTruFily]

Best Nascar OST and on Ps1 also 😍