Alright, so the other day I got this itch, you know? Dug through a box of old stuff and bam, there it was – my copy of NASCAR 99 for the original PlayStation. Haven’t touched this thing in ages.
Getting Started
First thing was digging out the old PS1 console itself. Had to blow the dust off it, seriously thick layer. Found the controller, a bit sticky maybe, but still working. Remembered I needed a memory card too, otherwise, what’s the point, right? Found one, hoped it still held data.
Hooked it all up to the TV. Took a minute, fiddling with those old AV cables. Finally got that classic PlayStation boot-up sound. Man, that takes you back. Popped the NASCAR 99 disc in. It spun up, a bit noisy, but hey, it worked.
Hitting the Track
The menu came up. Looked just like I remembered. Simple stuff compared to today. Had a few options:
- Quick Race
- Season
- Multiplayer (didn’t try that, obviously)
I just jumped into a Quick Race to get the feel again. Had to pick a driver and car. Went with Jeff Gordon, gotta pick a classic, right? The car models, yeah, they look like blocks on wheels now, but back then? Top stuff.
Then the race started. Wow, the controls felt… different. Very touchy steering with the D-pad. You really had to feather it, couldn’t just slam it left or right. Took a few laps just to stop bouncing off the walls like a pinball. The engine sounds were pretty basic, kind of a constant drone, but it did the job. The announcer, though, still got that energy.
Did a few races. Managed to actually finish one without wrecking completely, which felt like a win. Tried drafting behind other cars, sometimes it worked, sometimes I just bumped them and caused chaos. It’s tricky! The sense of speed wasn’t crazy intense, but trying to keep control on those banked turns definitely kept me focused.
Final Thoughts
Spent a good hour or so just messing around with it. It’s definitely dated, no doubt about it. Graphics are rough, physics are simple. But you know what? It was still fun. Simple, straightforward racing. No complicated setups, no online passes, just pick a car and go. It’s a real nostalgia trip, brings back good memories of simpler gaming times. Glad I dug it out.