Unspectacular rally sim
If you're looking for a straightforward piece of high octane driving action, then this down and dirty rally sim could be just what you're looking for. It's more akin to something like SEGA Rally than the more involved Colin McRae Rally series but for out and out arcade fun, this is a safe bet. Players get to participate in the legendary British rally competition, taking to the wheel of one of five cars, including the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Subara and Ford Escort and hitting the dirt across a variety of tracks. There's only one mode of play on display here, the basic rally mode, which is disappointing but is a sign of the times of the game's release and isn't a major issue. The tracks to race around are pretty decent, with a good mix of styles and environment types that keep you guessing and provide their own challenges in terms of driving skill. The cars too feel genuinely different so there is some replay value to be had by trying them all out and finding your favourite. However, there is a lack of customisation options, with only the tyres capable of being changed, which will again disappoint fans looking for more detail. The driving physics are fairly simple and lacking in the realism of later driving efforts, giving this more of an arcade feel than a sim, but the damage modelling is slightly better and it is possible to destroy your car before the finish line, so caution is required. Visually, the game is simple rather than spectacular but at least it licks along at a fair old pace, giving a good sensation of speed and excitement. Ultimately, this is a straightforward enough racer that lacks variety and options but which nevertheless provides some solid driving thrills for undemanding rally fans.
