This is really an arcade game masquerading as a simulator. My issue with this is that it kinda fails to be either one. In terms of handling it’s closer to the original Sega Rally rather than the Colin McRae games. And the physics feel like something out of 2004.
The game lets you do some minimal tuning, but it’s almost pointless because it doesn’t even tell you anything about the tracks or the vehicles. The tarmac stages are the most fun to play because that’s where this game feels in its element, with high speeds and long drifts.
The career mode is kinda interesting in that it lets you do some minimal visual customization to your car, unlocking new liveries and sponsor decals. But all the other modes are basically the same, the only difference being whether you want to play one race, an event, or a championship.
Visually it can be pretty at times, but there’s this persistent awful blur in the distance, even after you disable depth of field and motion blur. I feel like they were just trying to hide the loading models and shadows, but it doesn’t help really, because the pop-in is still very visible. The stages that take place at sunset or sunrise are way too dark, and the cars aren’t using their lights for some reason. Even the original Colin McRae Rally did this better.
At the end of the day this just feels like a game that’s several years behind. I wish it just dropped the pretense and let you race against opponents and with background music. Because it really has nothing hardcore simulator fans would appreciate. So it ends up being a shoe size that fits no one.
The game lets you do some minimal tuning, but it’s almost pointless because it doesn’t even tell you anything about the tracks or the vehicles. The tarmac stages are the most fun to play because that’s where this game feels in its element, with high speeds and long drifts.
The career mode is kinda interesting in that it lets you do some minimal visual customization to your car, unlocking new liveries and sponsor decals. But all the other modes are basically the same, the only difference being whether you want to play one race, an event, or a championship.
Visually it can be pretty at times, but there’s this persistent awful blur in the distance, even after you disable depth of field and motion blur. I feel like they were just trying to hide the loading models and shadows, but it doesn’t help really, because the pop-in is still very visible. The stages that take place at sunset or sunrise are way too dark, and the cars aren’t using their lights for some reason. Even the original Colin McRae Rally did this better.
At the end of the day this just feels like a game that’s several years behind. I wish it just dropped the pretense and let you race against opponents and with background music. Because it really has nothing hardcore simulator fans would appreciate. So it ends up being a shoe size that fits no one.