Rallisport Challenge 2

It has been a long time since I first hopped into my favorite rally car, put the pedal to the metal, and covered my competitor's windshield with dirt.  RalliSport Challenge may not have been the most true-to-life racing experience, but it was by far the most fun.  The graphics were more than enough to get you to rent the game, and I'm sure a lot of gamers bought it for that reason.  Graphics lose their awe-inspiring appeal after many consecutive hours of play, but the gameplay never waned.  It never lost its appeal, not even today.

How could anyone survive the wait for a sequel to such a memorable racing game?  If you're waiting for Halo 2 and still breathing you can probably live through anything.  Endurance isn't fun, but now I can finally put the wait behind me, hop into a new rally car and put the pedal to the metal once more.

Although I usually focus on the gameplay first, RalliSport Challenge 2's biggest change (or more appropriately, its greatest technical achievement) is the graphics.  It's not just a touch-up, or a new coat of paint.  Game graphics have become so typical that I was beginning to think that the current generation of consoles had been maxed out technologically.  RalliSport Challenge 2 proves that this is not the case.  Realism was taken to new heights with the first game and it's taken even further with the sequel.

I could spend a whole paragraph talking about each improved detail.  The rain effects are so unbelievably cool that you won't be able to take your eyes off them.  Raindrops hit the screen and react very close to how rain reacts when it hits glass.  I don't like using the in-the-car view provided in racing games, but I did it anyway just to see the rain hit the windshield, slowly trickle down, and then get pushed away by the windshield wipers.

The other weather effects (snow, fog, sunshine) are nearly as jaw-dropping as the rain.  Undoubtedly, if you haven't played RalliSport Challenge or Project Gotham before, RC2's lighting will blow you away.  It's still mighty impressive to eyes that have seen it before, but in an expected, "I knew it'd be beautiful!" kind of way.

More impressive than the lighting – and on par with the rain – is how realistically the vehicles respond to crashes.  You can't hit a wall head-on and expect to total your car (thank goodness!  This is an arcade-style racer, not a simulator).  But you will see pieces of your vehicle break, crumble and crunch, and if pushed to its limits pieces will eventually start falling off.  Windows shatter and bumpers shake vigorously, but the best part is how the cars crumble.  Body damage varies greatly depending on where the car is hit.  And to top it all off, dirt and snow will accumulate over time, slowly covering your vehicle's fancy paint job.

My praise can't begin to put a picture in your head of just how beautiful this game really is.  RalliSport Challenge 2 is easily the best-looking game released thus far this year.

I know I must step away from the graphics and talk about something else, but before I do I want to point out how incredible the game's environments are.  "Environments" is the perfect word to describe them.  They're not just race courses, or elaborate cities designed for cruising; they're intricately detailed environments that take the player out of the house and into the game.

Besides looking spectacular, the environments are commendable for creating an unforgettable driving experience.  I could give all the credit to the controls, which match the quality of the first game (and at times feel a little smoother).  However, the variety in course types, and the variety of courses within each type make it impossible not to praise them as well.

If you've been looking for an excuse to quit your job, RalliSport Challenge 2 gives you one.  The Career mode works on a point system.  There are more than 2000 points to gain and more than 100 events to complete within the four tiers.  (To make the game last even longer, most of the events contains multiple races.)  I couldn't tell you exactly how many unique courses are in the game, but I know for certain that there are several dozen.  The box says that there are 90 tracks, but I think that's a little misleading.  Some tracks are re-used with different paths and stiffer competition.

The first tier, Amateur, is extremely easy to beat.  It's also the shortest of the bunch, so don't expect to spend more than a couple of hours playing through it.  If you rush you could probably finish it in under 90 minutes.

Pro, the second tier, gives players a bit more challenge, especially toward the final events.  Champion is the third tier, and if you're not an experienced gamer, you'd better become one quick.  There are some really tough events in this one.

Once you've completed those prepare yourself for the game's biggest challenge – Super Rally.

Broadband users who don't have Xbox Live must get it now because RalliSport Challenge 2 is fully supported with online play.  It also supports the system link feature, meaning that as many as 16 gamers can link up their TVs and Xboxes for some serious LAN gaming.  The game runs in 480p, so if you're one of the lucky few who have an HDTV be sure to take advantage of it.

RalliSport Challenge 2 sounds like an incredible game, but does that mean that every racing fan should buy it?  It all depends on whether or not you like exciting, high-quality games.  If you love to be addicted to a game for hours, if you love to be absorbed by game's visuals, RalliSport Challenge 2 is a don't-miss.  But if you don't like to be addicted, and if you'd prefer to miss out on one of the best Xbox games out there, then by all means, do not buy this game.

Gameplay: 9.3
It's not innovative like Project Gotham, but I don't care 'cause I loved every minute of this game.  At the very least, RalliSport Challenge 2 is a remarkable achievement by providing more of the same WITHOUT getting stale.  This proves that what I've said all along is true: change is good, but it isn't always necessary on the first sequel.  There's enough new content, enough new tracks, and enough Xbox Live gameplay to prevent this game from ever being called a rehash.  But the core gameplay, especially the controls, is only a medium-step up from the first game.

Despite what you may think, that's not a bad thing.  I'm glad they didn't give the series an overhaul.  It's still very young.  To be perfectly honest I'd be happy with another RalliSport Challenge that had new courses and vehicles.  I'm so pleased with the gameplay at this point that it can stay the same.

Graphics: 9.6
Dirt, gravel, snow, cement – each type of terrain provides both a taste of sweetness for the eyes and a challenge for the hands.  The nighttime courses are eerily realistic.  The cars are slightly hazy and very hard to see, just as objects are when darkness falls in the real world.  The whole game is fueled with amazing effects, many of which you probably didn't expect to see in the current generation of game consoles.  Microsoft has once again proven that when an Xbox game is designed properly there is no game that looks better.

Sound: 8

Difficulty: Medium
Never reaching the point where it's time to bang your head against the wall, RalliSport Challenge 2 has an equal-opportunity difficulty.  If you're a newbie, you'll be able to find several events that are just for you.  If you're a hardcore gamer, there's plenty of challenging races for you to take on.  Nothing extreme, but challenging nonetheless.

Concept: 7.4
Can't praise the game too much for not inventing anything new, but as a whole the game is too good to deserve a lower concept score.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Got Xbox Live or 15 friends with Xbox?  Using the system link feature, 16 gamers can connect their TVs and Xbox systems for multiplayer bliss.  Of course, you don’t need to go through that hassle if you have Xbox Live.  If neither are within your range, be sure to check out the game’s four-player split-screen mode.  It’s a blast, too.

Overall: 9
You're not gonna find a better rally racer on Xbox.  You're not gonna find a better rally racer on GameCube, or even PlayStation 2.  The only place you're going to find the best rally game around is right here on Xbox, and that game is RalliSport Challenge 2.  If you don't at least rent it you're either broke or crazy.