I don't think many people would argue that one of the main things a racing game needs to get right is the feel of the car, and art of rally gets this spot on and driving around each area in free roam is a great way to get to grips with the handling model.

It's a shame that main single player element kind of gets in the way of that. The game imparts a zen like attitude on you at the very start so finishing anywhere on the rostrum will unlock new cars, and not using all your restarts will guarantee new decals which is very much appreciative, but this is held back by progression through each tier becomes slower and slower as the years go on. Less zen, more tedium by attrition.

The courses themselves are fun to drive though, with enough differing elements on each tack to keep you on your toes - although even in this fantasy land, there are a few too many long straight-hairpin-long straight-hairpin etc. sections for my liking. However while the environments look great thanks to the art style, they only really differ in flora and fauna (or tanks in the case of the German courses) and as such they mostly lack an identity on their own. Added to that, the courses are all selected randomly for each 'season' which feels like a misstep that makes it a lot harder to learn the courses and how the different cars at your disposal work on them.

I'm probably sounding a bit harsh on the game but I think that's because I think there was something truly special that could have been done here. I hope we see another game in the genre from Funselektor which can iron out these kinks.