Sega Rally

2007/09/28

Simply pressing the first key and seeing the start-up screen brings back the thrill of the games arcade. 'Sega Rally' is true to its roots in every aspect, and does not aim to compete with more realistic titles such as 'Colin McRae: DiRT' or others of the same ilk. Anyone who has played and enjoyed the classic game is welcomed here with open arms to grab a typical dose of arcade fun. This game does not require you to soup up your car, plough through peculiar settings or set up detailed damage models, except one thing – a love of arcade action!

As the main aim of 'Sega Rally' is the fun of the game, you only have to choose your route carefully and apply a small amount of technique in order to win. Several elements are critical as you progress through the races, although other skills are required depending on the racetracks you choose. Your rivals (KI) will also sometimes make life difficult for you, and will in most cases choose the best route. At the beginning, the game does not demand too much from the player, however it become increasingly challenging during the later races, as the degree of difficulty increases in order to prepare the player for future games.

Contrary to the arcade classic, the new 'Sega Rally' offers a wider choice. It offers several modes, including Championship, Fast Play, Time Race, and Multi-Player. Championship mode is clearly the focus, and this has three different divisions: 'Premier', 'Tuned Vehicles’ and 'Masters'. These divisions are divided into 4 different classes such as 'Amateur', 'Expert', 'Professional' and last but not least, 'Final'. These classes comprise 3-4 tournaments which in turn offer 3-4 races, except for 'Final', which always comprises 4 individual races. The difficulty increases slightly from class to class, and by the time you reach the ‘Final' class, the game is extremely challenging, the players are really clever and the courses are ambitious and varied.

As you prove yourself on various racetracks, you are given access to further paint jobs, racing cars, racetracks, and of course further divisions and classes. The different play modes also have to be unlocked to begin with, which may seem a little bit awkward, especially when considering the Multi-Player section. Certain vehicles available for play can only be used in Time Race mode or online, so that these get only a small amount of play, even though these interesting cars include vehicles such as a Hummer or Mitsubishi Concept Car. All three championship divisions provide different, clearly defined rally cars evoking a blast of nostalgia, in particular on the 'Masters' racetracks, when you sit at the wheel of a classic Lancia Delta or Toyota Celica.

'Sega Rally' provides five different racetrack scenarios, each with 3 variations. These are always vivid, with parrots lifting off from the road, passing helicopters or trains clattering across overhead. But be careful not to be too impressed by these eye-catchers, as otherwise you will quickly lose control and your overview of the racetrack. Racetrack selection is somewhat restricted, but this seems absolutely fit for a game like this, and various soil configurations provide more than enough variation. The steering is heavily inspired by the arcade game, i.e. you will soon get the feel of it, but you will need some time before you master it. It is highly recommended that you play the game with a Gamepad, as 'Sega Rally' was not designed for use with a steering wheel. You can drift into a curve at high speed, jump across ramps and seldom touch the brakes, but don’t push your luck too far if you want to avoid touching or crashing into the side barriers (which are unfortunately often invisible). Different driving techniques are required for different terrains, and certain vehicles seem more suitable for certain courses than others.

There is no damage model, as 'Sega Rally' has never focused on a particular sense of realism or a fetish for detail, but it nonetheless makes its mark through the different racetracks. The most stunning features are the ruts in the mud, snow or dust which the vehicles leave, which provide the necessary feast for the eyes.

Arguably the most innovative element of 'Sega Rally' is the effect of the ruts which your vehicle and those of your rivals leave in the mud, snow or dirt. Other games have also tried to incorporate this element, but Sega has so far been the most successful. Depending on the terrains you race through at high speed, ruts are left in the soft ground which will remain until the end of the race. These ruts are a critical element of the game, as they have a distinct effect on your driving behaviour. As the route you take becomes bumpier, you lose time if you obstinately use the same rut. Similarly, ‘sliding’ into an existing rut just before a jump can have fatal consequences, with the car flying through the air at an angle until it crashes into the side barriers. Clever drivers will therefore always choose a different line of approach in order to constantly have ‘fresh’ terrain under their tires. Even if this means that you have to take wide turns or use the edges of the racetrack, these deviations are more than compensated for by using the unused, more driveable sections. Another critical criterion for race winners is how skilled you are at driving through - and mastering - the numerous curves.

Of course, the game also has a modern multiplayer mode. Specific game criteria such as vehicle class or number of players allow you to select a game or even create your own. As with offline mode, up to six players can compete against each other. As the host, you have the possibility of establishing a proper championship with individually selected racetracks or of adding further sections after each race. Naturally, as the host you are also allowed to remove unpleasant players from the game. After logging in for an online game, you access a lobby where you can communicate with other players, select your car and inspect the chosen racetracks. You inform the other players and the host by means of a button push once you are ready. Unfortunately we had no chance to experience the online mode as no games are so far available. Based on the fun available in offline mode, however, we really recommend trying the online game, as this will provide more long-term playability.

Graphically, 'Sega Rally' does almost everything right. The areas around the racetracks make a suitable, vivid impression, and a wide range of variations are on offer. As we mentioned, the cars are kept safe from any visible damage, however the effect of the racetrack surface sticking to body panels and flaking off in the slipstream or washing away in a water trough looks very pretty indeed. Clouds of snow and dust swirled up by rivals spurring ahead provide a realistic finishing touch to the whole thing. The cars themselves all look beautiful, even if they are not bursting with detail. Equally noticeably beautiful are the ruts that you leave behind, as well as the surroundings mirrored in the puddles. Graphically, the game also turns on the arcade charm, and it does this really well. The game does have the occasional texture and clipping glitch here and there, but these are few and far between.

Similarly, the sound seems to be straight out of the games arcade, and is all mixed in higgledy-piggledy. You can hear anything, from futuristic sounds through to jamming guitar riffs. The music is predominantly electronic, and pushing any button or menu creates the sound you should expect from a 'Sega Rally'. The vehicle sounds and the effects which the racers create on the respective racetrack surfaces all seem right and sound good, even if most of the cars produce similar sounds.