Mastering the Sport!

Good lord it took epinions long enough for me to get to be able to review this! Anyway, this game is a supreme example of what the XBOX can do. It displays true power and I have never seen graphics like this in any game period! What amazes me is that this game is almost perfect, and it’s has plenty of proof to back it up. The proof are the graphics, realism, control, and replay value, and if that’s not enough for you to believe me then read on.

GRAPHICS: Sheer magnifigance! If Microsoft keeps pumping out games with graphics this good they might make a name for themselves. Now I know that graphics aren’t what make a game, but if you don’t get sucked in by looking at this then your probably not a fan of racing games. Some of the things that make this game look good are things like the extremely crisp and highly detailed car models, the spectacular environments, car damage, and changes of day. The car models are so realistic that it is as if your watching the real thing. The cars are so detailed that you can see things like, the tire tread, the roll bars, readable decals, things in the side mirrors, dirt and snow on your car that gets sprayed up, the guys inside the car actually bouncing around, the car backfiring, and reflections in the windows. I know that this is hard for you to see, but believe me when I tell you this. The environments (tracks) are so beautiful because of the realness and overall sharp look. Things like trees and bushes are actually in the round instead of flat, plus they are both interactive meaning if hit a tree it will shake (although most likely the tree should probably break in half) and if you run over a bush it will actually go underneath your car. Another thing that makes the environments are the dust and snow sprays, tire tracks, and the individual blades of grass. The car damage helps to create a more realistic feeling (especially when you see the glass break out), and really does add to the game play, but it’s still just damage that crinkles the car (I hope in the future pieces go flying off if you crash bad enough). The changes of day really helps make the game feel like a real race, casting shadows and glares that are extremely well executed, and it is also cool looking when it rains. Overall I give the graphics a well deserved 5 out of 5.

SOUND: Hard left, into a medium right followed by a cliff. That is an example of what you’ll hear by your passenger while whipping through the narrow paths and huge mountains. Surprisingly though this does not get to annoying and really helps once you learn how to take his direction. It will be a little confusing to learn what turn he is talking about at first, but you will get it after the first couple of races. The engine sounds and additional sound effects are really just normal, but good nonetheless. The one thing that really bothers me is the music is basically techno and I wanted to add my own music so I do, but I notice as I am playing I keep hearing the same song over and over and over and over... well you get the point. So I go into the music play list and notice that the game was duplicating all my songs about five times over. Now I have no idea what’s going on but it sure didn’t impress me to much (please write me a comment to let me know if this happens to you so I can find out whether it’s just my game). Overall I give the sound a 5 out of 5 because it’s basically what you make of it, but I’m not sure it’s just my game that does the music play list glitch or not. If not I would give it a 3 out 5 because at least I can use my own music, but the songs play so many times over it gets annoying. Plus, I think it might corrupt your game if it duplicates to much.

CONTROL: This is part of the game that can get tricky (not using the actual controller because it‘s basically customizable to your liking). Controlling the car in beginner mode is pretty easy and very fun, but not quite challenging. Controlling the car in normal mode can be a bit rough especially if you don‘t go through beginner mode, but makes for a more challenging and overall realistic feel. The hardest thing about driving is learning how to slide through the corners without slowing down (this really includes the group B cars that are too fast for their own good). The coolest thing about the controls is that when you have the vibration on you’ll feel the road, and I mean feel the road, every bump, jump, and crash. Controlling the car can will get interesting when you start damaging it (more in normal mode), you’ll feel it pull and notice the engine choking causing the control to deteriorate. Overall I’m going to give the control a 5 out of 5 because for beginner it’s fun and easy, and for the normal mode it’s challenging and realistic.

GAME PLAY: This game is very fun and very realistic offering superb graphics, good sound, great control, and most important good replay value. A good thing about this game is that their is 48 tracks, 4 different rally sports (Rally cross and Ice Racing which is racing in tracks against other cars, Hill Climb which is racing through twists and turns uphill, and Rally which is racing against the clock). There is also 29 rally vehicles. The replay value is great if your willing to do it, and this would mean going through the beginner mode and mastering that and then taking on the serious challenge in normal mode. Sure, you get most of the cars in beginner mode, but going through normal mode will get you the last couple of cars. Plus, beating this game in normal mode is something that is quite hard to accomplish and will give you good bragging rights. This game does allow up to four players and can be fun for a while, but is not really to interesting because they take out the damage and most of the very cool details you’ll get in the single player modes. Another thing that kind of sucks about this game is that when you go off course you’ll automatically get warped back to the spot where you left the track. In the future I hope companies look at this game when making a race game.