Rallisport Challenge

"RalliSport Challenge-for racing fans and others alike"

Rallisport Challenge - The first rally game for Xbox, and a great rally game at that. With real cars from brands such as Ford, Subaru, Saab, VolksWagen, etc., Rallisport Challenge has you driving rally cars through terrains of snow, ice, water, mud, asphalt and dirt. With Career, Single Race, and Time Attack modes (also with 4 different race types, being Hill Climb, Ice Racing, Stage Rally, and Rally cross), and a 4 player multi player. Rallisport Challenge is undoubtedly one of the best racing games on the Xbox yet.

Graphics--
Amazing Graphics, aside from a few occasions where my car went into a berm and the times when my view of my car was blocked by a tree. Beautiful texturing on courses, good detail on the cars, even the spectators look great. Courses always vary in background, too. The damage system for your car is phenomenal. If you run into too many walls or trees, your headlight or grille, depending on at what angle you hit at, will get smashed. Sideswipe too many signs, and there goes the window you hit with. The instant point of view change when you wreck is also a big plus, giving you a great view of your screw up or spin out.

Overall Graphics Score: 8/10

Sound--
Extremely realistic engine sound effects, but the music isn't much to be desired. It's all techno, but you can add songs off of your Xbox's hard drive to the play list, but the playback is unfortunately random, tending to repeat songs. You won't even notice the music while racing, as it's droned out by the engine, and you'll be paying attention to the Co Pilot's voice. The Co Pilot's voice paired with icons signaling what type of turn you're about to encounter also prove to be very useful.

Overall Sound Score: 7/10

Controls--
Very, very comfortable controls. Accelerator at the R trigger, making it pressure sensitive and in an extremely comfortable spot, Brakes at the L trigger, again, comfortable and convenient, Emergency Brake at the A, right under your thumb, since the R analog stick doesn't get used, and of course, steering either L analog stick or D pad. Controls can of course be changed, but those are the default, and what I found to be most convenient. Steering wheel is also supported, for people who prefer that to using a controller.

Overall Control Score: 10/10

Game Play--
Simply amazing. Once you get the hang of it, which doesn't take much time, you can power slide through turns with ease. Pressure sensitive braking and acceleration are very handy. Counter steering, counter steering, counter steering, probably the action you'll be performing most when playing RalliSport Challenge. My main, and just about only problem with the game play was that you can't go very far off the predetermined track. When you go too far, even if it's just to take a shortcut, your car is reset at your point of exit from the track. While understandable, this feature can get to be quite annoying at times.

Overall Game Play Score: 8/10

Overall--
RalliSport Challenge is a great game for racing enthusiasts, and even for people who've never seen a race in their life. I've heard many people put this game down, but I don't know why, although it could have something to do with the game's steering. It requires you to counter steer a lot, and if you don't realize that, you couldn't possibly have a good time playing it. If you don't counter steer, you WILL slide all over, not stay on the track, and come in last.

Overall Game Score: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/21/04