I’m not quite sure what it is, maybe it’s poor marketing or a lack of internal support, but there are always those games that are simply amazing, but never seem to sell.
Starting with today’s column, I’m going to discuss some of these “greatest misses” and why it’s not a bad idea to head over to Ebay, Half.com, Amazon or your local retailer and find a copy. Most of these games are older, so you’ll find them pretty cheap wherever you do find them.
To inaugurate this irregularly schedule series, I’d like to introduce you to what is probably the greatest console rally title I’ve ever played: WRC: World Rally Championship from BAM! for the Playstation 2.
WRC was developed by Evolution Studios and published by BAM! Entertainment in March of 2002. The game as a whole is a picture-perfect rally racing experience. Which means it probably cost BAM! a ton of money to license since there are dozens of real-world tracks, vehicles and drivers. If it’s part of the real WRC series, it’s in this game somewhere.
The graphics, even for a game that’s a full year old, are simply stunning on the PS2. The races start with a closeup of you and your co-driver inside the car getting ready to race. Realistic expressions cross the driver’s face as he awaits the countdown and eagerly twitches at the gear shift. The co-driver folds and unfolds the map as he prepares his pace notes. Then the race begins.
Camera motion is fluid, and the multiple views are simply the best I’ve ever seen in a racing game. For example, when you’re using one of the two in-car views, and you shift gears, the driver will actually reach down and shift. The co-driver shuffles in his seat to get a better look at his pace notes during runs through shadowy stretches of raceway.
Race courses are incredibly well detailed, putting even those in the beloved Colin McRae series to shame. I love the Colin McRae Rally titles, but WRC outshines them when it comes to graphical details.
Vehicle physics are so realistic and so impressive, I can’t imagine anyone doing any better. Unlike most racers, which offer either “floaty” physics or super skidding arcade style physics, WRC‘s will make you feel like you’re driving a real car on a real track. No slipping and sliding unless it’s due to ice on the track or your abuse of the handbrake.
I cant’t even begin to describe the joy that is the selection of vehicles. If it’s currently racing in the rally circuit, it’s in this game, and it’s a perfect replica of its real world counterpart. There are also plenty of unlockable vehicles to keep you coming back to WRC.
The performance tweaking system allows you to trick out just about any of the vehicles, ensuring plenty of racing variety.
The game’s realism extends to the damage system. If you start damaging the suspension, you’ll have a harder time turning, if you fall off a rock face and total the car, you’ll forfeit races until you get a new one. It’s realism to the nth degree.
I could go on and on about WRC: World Rally Championship, but I won’t since it’s one of those games you have to play in order to get a feel for its greatness. The only reason this game probably didn’t sell all that well was because it might have been a bit too realistic for the American rally market. While Europeans like their rally titles as realistic as possible, U.S. players tend to like a more arcade experience.
