Last year's NASCAR Heat Evolution was Monster Games' first current-gen NASCAR title, and its return to the sport. The game had its high points, but was overall a pretty basic experience. NASCAR Heat 2 (out September 12 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC) is a more ambitious project, encompassing new features across the board.

Here's a list at some of just some of the things to expect from the title – with more to come this summer.

FORMAT & CAREER MODE

The game features the Monster Cup series, Xfinity series, and Camping World Truck series, including many of the series' drivers and six new tracks – three road courses, two ovals, and a dirt track.

NASCAR Heat 2 introduces stage racing, and also features each series' appropriate playoff structures.

You can customize your car (there isn't a full paint booth editor). This car can then be used instead of your regular sponsor car. When you sign on with a team you'll take over one of the real cars for that team.

Speed Points return from the first game, but you are not restricted to which tracks you can race at the start.

The front menu has a News Feed that contains culled articles about real-world NASCAR events.

MULTIPLAYER

Two players can race each other in offline splitscreen, and Monster Game is currently looking if any alternate camera modes will be available.

Whether you play online or off, points based on your performance will be tracked on a rolling four-race basis. The points leader at the end of every four races will be crowned king. These races can span different series.

Leaderboards track who's best at that track, who's top five in wins, etc.

All lobbies are available at the same time and can be browsed through.

You can choose to fill out the remaining field with A.I. cars.

Customized and DLC cars can be taken online.

The developer says it's still finalizing more details about the game's online structure, so there should be more details before launch.

GAMEPLAY

Monster is working on the game's bump drafting and side drafting systems to make them more useful.

Damage, at least visually, has been expanded, allowing for more ways to make your car ugly. This includes crumpled and flipped-up hoods.

This is just the beginning for the title, so stay tuned for more details.

Looks like Mid-Ohio road course in the Xfinity series is in the game (above), as well as the dirt track at Eldora for the trucks (below).



