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| Aware that the PlayStation was in need of a decent rally racing game, SCEA took it upon themselves to develop and publish the first rally game on their very own system, and the finished product has SCEA written all over it. Although it took some time to deliver, Rally Cross turned to be a decent rally racer, albeit still the only one on Sony's system. Just glancing quickly at the graphics should be enough to sell you on the game. Elaborate textures with vibrant colors place you in a warm, convincing environment filled with eye candy beautiful enough to be considered sinful. Pixels are sparse, light sources are plentiful, and effects, such as splashing mud and water, are simply gorgeous. Despite the strain that this game puts on the PlayStation's graphics engine, the frame rate is almost constantly silky smooth, a respectable accomplishment when you consider all the effects being used simultaneously. The artwork within the game is also top-notch, as the environments, cars, and even option selection screens were all designed with an attractive style and give the graphics a distinctive appeal. In sections, this game looks like a drive through the world of Crash Bandicoot, which should be a compliment to any game. The sound effects and music in Rally Cross also deserve credit for their superiority. The music is a light metal mix, which suits the game well, while the crashes and sound effects are accurate and crystal clear. All the sounds feature a high level of authenticity, from the water splashing to the sound of the squeaking shocks during a landing after a jump. Excellent sounds to accompany equally impressive visuals. The major problem with Rally Cross remains the control. While the control is not inherently poor, it is ill-suited for the particular environments which you must drive through. You are unable to pick up much speed in Rally Cross, simply because any turn taken at an intractable speed will result in your car being rolled over. Similarly, if you hit a jump and land at a bad angle, you will roll over also. If you climb a steep hill sideways you will…well…I guess you get the point. While initially interesting and exciting, you will soon tire of flipping your vehicle over and will learn that much time is wasted jamming on the shoulder buttons in order to get your wheels on the ground again. This is especially a problem when you have to race against computer controlled competitors who rarely make mistakes, and continue to race along as you sit helplessly on the roof of your car. Indeed, any such fatal mistake usually means a fourth place position, which takes fairness out of a game you play against the AI. True, the more advanced cars do handle better, but it is difficult to acquire the cars rewarded by passing levels without having access to the better cars in the first place. As for the physics of the bouncing hunks of metal with wheels, they are very interesting, if not quite realistic. The suspension in these vehicles is mad crazy (our daily Ebonics quota has been filled). The physics are not entirely without their realism, but are not as accurate as other offerings from rival Sega. The game features six quite different courses and twenty cars---if you can find them all. Also, a four-player split screen mode has been included (a la Nintendo 64), and shows slowdown and lack of detail, but is still quite decent. Thus, Rally Cross is another good---but definitely not great---game for the PlayStation. While there is no quibbling as to the supremacy of the audiovisual experience Rally Cross provides, the gameplay is a bit too cumbersome, and the AI makes multi-player matches the only fair races. While this game will never measure up to the perfection which is Sega Rally, it has its moments, and features graphics that should be enjoyed for at least a rent. Rally Cross is definitely a step in the right direction, but needs fewer bumps and more control. Bottom line: Though far from terrible, Rally Cross is still a bit less than enjoyable. |
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