V-Rally 2: Expert Edition Review

The whole pre-race car/driver setup is done with great attention to detail. It features plenty of options, and a very intuitive interface. If you're looking to get the right feel for the game, you should definitely go for the Rally Championship mode. It's the granddaddy of V-Rally 2 modes. It lets you live out the V-Rally 2 experience in its full glory. The championship is separated into several stages set all over the world. Various new countries and cars become available as you progress through the championship. Luckily, players will have a plenty of things to fiddle with between races, thus avoiding any sense of gameplay monotony. Each successfully completed stage (i.e. you came in first) is followed by an appropriate victory animation (champagne pouring time) while the car is sent off to the mechanic for repairs. Just remember that you have a limited amount of time to patch up the vehicle. Which could prove tricky if your car looks like it got ran over by a 18-wheeler as it fell off the cliff and onto another road. It doesn't really show in the race, nor do you notice that much difference during driving, but the between-the-stages damage stats are relentless. All these aforementioned options, combined with some nice multiplayer features - 4 alternating gamers can play (2 players on split screen), and car customization option that lets you tinker with engine, gearbox, brakes, steering, and suspensions (not really effective in terms of car's in-game performance, but still fun to mess with) are more than enough to hold your interest. The programmers did a great job of presenting all the neat features and they were heavily backed in their efforts by the financial power of the French software giant.

Looks n' Sounds ... and Music.

V-Rally 2 is the best looking rally game I have ever played. The car models are loaded with polys (2200 per model) and shiny from all the neat real-time reflection mapping of the diverse in-game environments. The programmers have also added the animated roadside spectators that occasionally wonder off on the road to capture a rally racing moment, hence becoming an ideal hood ornament candidates. (Sadly, there's none of that Carmageddon pedestrian-huntin' in V-Rally 2.) The sky textures are outstanding, scenically portraying dawns, cloudy skies, and clear blues. And let's not forget the authentic-looking road textures, which bring skid marks and tire tracks mingled with patches of snow or dirt to life - a classic rally pavement! All this, and with rock-solid frame rates! I must say I was impressed. As far as I could tell, the trees were done in 2D, which has kinda become the bad habit of rally games, but I guess that will change given more time and faster PCs.

The engine sounds, along with the rest of the sound effects are on a par with visuals. V-Rally 2 features a gender equality option, which lets you select a boy or a girl copilot (I wonder why they call them copilots in the game). Call me an old-fashioned male pig, but I just don't feel comfortable being navigated by women co drivers. I remember this one time I got lost somewhere in the Mediterranean because I listened to my girlfriend's: "Turn left! ... no, not here, back that way, 2 miles!!" expert instructions. But that's another matter...

Anyways, the copilot's calmed and collected voice is essential for night races and I guess I had no troubles hearing him repeatedly say stuff like: "short right, long left... clear." One thing that did get on my nerves is the soundtrack, which is fine for an arcade, but a bit too much for a rally arcade. Why? Well, the tunes sound like a mix of Trent Reznor's Quake 1 work, and Type O Negative. Such music is, as I said, fine if you're playing Carmageddon, but out of place and too damn distracting when you're trying to concentrate on your copilot's voice. Remember, even though it's an arcade you have no idea what the next bend holds in store for you.

In a nutshell

V-Rally 2 is well worth your money, kids! If you're up for some arcade rally racing, V-Rally 2 should be your number one choice. A posh racing title with plenty of little things to make you keep coming back to it time and again.

Leave me be now! I'm off to relax and enjoy the beautiful Italian landscapes, as I floor the gas on my 300 Hp, 2L turbo charged Mitsubishi Lancer...