With Rallisport Challenge 2 being as expansive as it is it is hard to know where to start. XSN have completely overhauled the game, with full Xbox Live support, an incredible damage system, varying weather effects and an expansive single player mode.
A rally game lover will feel right at home with Rallisport Challenge 2. There are six surface types to race in (Ice, gravel, mud, sand, snow, tarmac) and several rally options such as rallycross, ice Racing, hill climb and crossover.
The damage system for the game has been tweaked and Rallisport Challenge 2 features some of the most detailed damage seen in a game yet. Reckless driving will attempt your car, glass will shatter, bumpers will drag, hoods will pop open and doors will simply become detached.
The main mode of the game lies in the Career mode. Career mode ranges in difficulty from amateur, pro or champion. We advise selecting amateur and working your way up from there. Career mode is your opportunity to unlock cars and hone your skills for Xbox Live or for the higher difficulty levels. Career mode features a varying range of objectives which ensure variety in the game, from time trials to hectic four player racing.
Aside from the career aspect of the game and Xbox Live options there is a single player mode, a time attack mode, (whereby times can be posted on Xbox Live scoreboards) a multiplayer mode where up to four players can compete and support for up to 16 Xbox consoles with link play and finally a leaderboard can be viewed where you can see your best times and rankings.
Rallisport Challenge 2 also features more than 90 tracks which is nearly double that of the original, tracks are extremely varied with races taking place from Sweden, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Argentina, Monte Carlo and the Grand Canyon. More than 40 cars are featured after they are unlocked and they include the Hyundai Accent WRC, Renault Megane Maxi, Volvo 440T, Lancia Stratos, Ford GT70 and the Suzuki Aerio P950.
Gamers will be able to make minor modifications to each car to meet the challenge of each track. Players can modify their tires, dampers, break balance, steering and gear ratio to match the race conditions of the track.
The game play is extremely fast. There is no noticeable slow down even with the incredible detail in the tracks and cars. Reaction is immediate and the handling is less arcadey than the original Rallisport Challenge however the game is still very arcadey. This is not a simulation rally game by any means. Online play through Xbox Live is great, however rally racing is not made for 16 players and this can mean the narrow tracks get extremely congested.
There are a lot of unlockables in the game to keep gamers returning to Rallisport Challenge 2. Certain criteria (such as driving 50km’s in a certain car) must be fulfilled to unlock cars so just completing the game won’t unlock anything. The multiplayer addition and Xbox Live support means it would take a very long time to get bored of Rallisport Challenge 2. Menu interface is complicated at first to understand but after a little while the menu becomes easy to navigate through all the options.
As mentioned earlier the graphics in the game are a huge improvement upon the previous title and that was a fantastic graphical showcase. Car models look detailed with fantastic lighting effects, courses are expansive and the different weather effects (such as water splashing on the screen in the rain) make this one of the best looking games on the Xbox.
The music in the game fits Rallisport Challenge 2 well. However, if you tire of the music then you can use your own custom soundtrack. After the omission of custom soundtracks from Topspin we are glad they feature in Rallisport Challenge 2. Aside from the soundtrack which is rock the engine noises and standard co-drive speech is included.
Rallisport Challenge 2 would be a brilliant game for $100. At $69.95 it becomes even better value. A gamer will get at least 30 – 50 hours out of Rallisport Challenge 2 before it becomes repetitive. There is only so much a rally game can deliver and Rallisport Challenge 2 has delivered everything. An expansive career mode, lots of cars and tracks and stunning visuals. Rallisport Challenge 2 is a brilliant way for XSN sports to finish on.
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