First off, you should know that this is a racing simulator, not an arcade-style racer, but even given that, DICE has still worked to make the game enjoyable for all skill levels. Unlockables like new cars and tracks for example, are awarded just by playing the game -you do not have to finish in first place to get them. This alone, makes the game far more enjoyable. Also, simply by driving a car and "putting mileage on it" you'll unlock custom paintjobs for each vehicle. That is until you reach the final stage, SuperRally, where you must place 3rd or better to progress.
STRENGTHS:
The first thing you're going to love about RalliSport Challenge 2 is the graphics. The predecessor (RalliSport Challenge) created the standard for a new level of amazing graphics, but this game improves on that with dynamic graphics, like dirt trails that cloud the view of the people behind you and leaves that kick up from under your tires. Birds resting in your path will take flight as you approach and the scenery can be described as nothing less than picturesque.
The race levels are well designed and well thought out. Each has their own interesting twists and turns and elevation changes have been added so that you can suddenly lose control on a jump or bottom out after a wicked turn. Also, tracks have interesting combinations of sand, mud, dirt and tarmac which all perform differently as you slide through them. Although I may not know from personal experience how it feels to go out of control on snow at 100 MPH, this game gives me a realistic feeling of how bad it would be.
Speaking of which, the damage system works well so that you can't simply play "crash 'em derby" through the races to take out opponents and drive through obstacles, but also doesn't hamper the gameplay by making you drive too cautiously through every turn. You can lose a tire in the game, and believe it or not you can finish by driving on the rims, but your track times will certainly suffer. The game keeps you informed of problems with a damage indicator that is extremely easy to read even at high speeds. In addition, your car will "deteriorate" as you take damage, including blowing out the windows, bumpers dragging behind you and even the hood flying over your head! (Yes, I've instinctively ducked a few times.)
Soundwise, the game is top-notch. The car sounds, special effects and other elements of the game all add to the realism. Although many have complained about the music included on the game, I've enjoyed the thumping tracks as I make my way through the levels and, since the game supports custom soundtracks, you can add your own music anyways.
WEAKNESSES:
Alas, the worst part of playing this game is the off-track camera angles. Because of the elevation changes and other 3D elements of the game, you almost have to play this game in third person view (where your point of view is directly behind the car). Sadly, once you drive too far off track, the camera angle rotates and makes it almost absolutely impossible to get back on track without hitting obstacles and bringing the car to a dead stop. This is worsened when your co-pilot tells you "easy left" and it turns out to be a hairpin turn. You realize that your partner and the game appear to be cheating to work against you.
In addition to the camera angles, the display also can be the cause of a crash. In the RallyCross and Ice Racing competitions, your course map is on the bottom of the screen. As you hit checkpoints, the display changes from the map to show your position in the current race. Obviously, this can be deadly if there's a hairpin turn approaching and you were just glancing down at the map to see how far away you were. In addition, there are a few instances where DICE has placed a "dead end" turn immediately prior to the one you're supposed to take, or a second turn that is sharper than the one your supposed to take. These little "tricks" seem like an additional unfair challenge that the computer cars will not fall for, but also add to the excitement when you outsmart their level designers.
Finally, your opponents do not seem to be affected by darkness or some of the inclement weather conditions. This will certainly frustrate you if you're the kind of player that has to be first in every race.
SUMMARY:
In short, I would recommend this game as a "must have" for anyone who enjoys a true on-road/off-road racing simulation. It should be considered by most a "best of class" game for the Xbox console, despite some of the frustrating shortcomings of the game.
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I had to write a review entirely because the spotlight review was written by someone who hadn't 'got' this game or taken the time to explore the settings.Actually, I see reviews all the time claim this game is an 'arcade' rally game, indicating that perhaps the game lacks depth, maybe has unrealistic physics, or even simple fake graphics.
All of these points are wrong. Completely false. The cars handle extremely realistically, and most folks who play this agree this is the BEST looking racer available. Better than Forza? Not sure, but better than PGR2 by a hundred double the frame rate for start. You see, not least of which is the 60fps you get with a HD TV, but add to that the amazing reflections, muddy splashes, infinite distance view (with a tiny amount of inconsequential pop-up trees) and you have a showcase game. I've had more than one PS2 owner go out and buy an XBOX for this game after playing it in my house testament indeed to the incredible realism this Rally racer offers.
Previously, the 'easy left' that you co-pi states was mentioned as a fault... When your rally co-pilot claims 'Easy left' or 'hard right' then you have the game on arcade setting.
A simple click in the settings would result in '3 left opens to 4' or '1 right, opens to 3. Bump onto straight through tunnel. Hairpin right' offering a much more useful, accurate indication of the upcoming road conditions.
Ultimately this game is stunning. Worth every penny of the budget price it's currently at if you're hesitant due to lax reviews, don't be. I've put in hundreds of hours on this amazing game and it's a real as the Xbox can get.
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I'm not a big gamer. I've had my XBOX for over a year and it's mostly collected dust. I love driving simulation games and I think rally is the most fun of the various forms of driving so I picked up RalliSport Challenge 2 based on a day and a half long online search for a good rally game. All of the reviews said that RSC2 had the best combination of realism, fun and graphics.They were right! The physics model is incredible and the damage is very realistic. When you start an event, your car is shiny and new but when you get to the end, you may be missing a few body parts, have a few broken windows and you're covered in dust, mud, etc. Now THAT's RALLY!
Above all though is the scenery! The graphics are so good that one of my favorite things to do is to just watch the replay of the latest run!
Make you own music video! -
The folks who made this game really added a cool feature with the replay options you have full control over the playback speed and camera selection. Because you can load your own music to the XBOX hard drive, when the replay starts you hear your favorite music playing along with the game sounds and video of your last run. As you control the playback, you can adjust the replay speed from ultra fast to super slow motion with the trigger levers basically making a live music video out of the replay footage! Very sweet!
Australian dirt, Swedish snow, British leaves, French cobblestone streets...
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Honest reviews on RalliSport Challenge 2
The detail and realism in Rallisport Challenge 2 is amazing.From rain and mud on your windshield to the wheelspin and suspension on each racecar, no detail is left to chance.
Numerous race courses, race formats, and realistic tuning options mean you will never run out of fun.
Hands down, this is the best racing game I have seen on Xbox.
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