Rally racing is probably the most thrilling and intensive type of racing on the planet, yet somehow it has remained fairly unpopular in the U.S.  It's hard to understand why this is the case though, as all-wheel-drive cars equipped with big turbochargers having to navigate through harsh terrain at unbelievably high speeds seems to make other racing styles look like a joke.  Maybe people don't like it because there's only one car on the track at a time and it's simply a race against the clock; who knows.  In any case, this lack of a significant U.S. following has resulted in very few decent rally games being released here.  Luckily though, Bam! Entertainment has just changed this trend with the release of "WRC: World Rally Championship," a PS2 game that gives us an accurate taste of what this amazing sport is really about.

First of all, if you haven't seen any rally races on TV, you have to understand what these races are like.  Imagine cars drifting (almost going sideways) around one lane roads on the edge of cliffs, in the woods, through snow, mud, water, over jumps, driving on two wheels, and anything else you've never seen before - all at speeds that will make your jaw drop.  Dangerous?  Yeah, you could say so, but that's what makes rally racing so intriguing.  All this is definitely tough to capture and put in a game, but WRC proves that it can be done - and done well.

Indeed, this is a game that leaves almost nothing to be desired in terms of realism.  WRC lets you race using actual rally teams (driver and co-driver) and their real rally cars, which come from manufacturers such as Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford, and Peugeot.  These cars have been accurately modeled in every sense, from the body to the gauges on the dash.  Also incorporated was car damage, as it's possible to lose headlights, crack the windshield and the cars even get dirty depending on the conditions.  To satisfy ever driver's preferences, there are a number of different views to choose from, ranging from cockpit to bumper.

The 81 tracks in various parts of the world are all beautiful replicas of those raced in the 2001 season.  They contain various kinds of terrain, such as snow, gravel, sand and asphalt, and each type couldn't be more realistic.  Since the levels are so big and contain so many objects, the load times end up being very long, and waiting does get a bit irritating.  But if you can stand to wait it out, you'll be rewarded with an unprecedented amount of detail.

As amazing as this game looks; it plays even better.  If you want to know what it feels like to be involved in a rally race, WRC will give you a pretty good idea.  Indeed, its characteristics are similar to those of actual races: it's demanding, fast-paced, and most importantly, it's extremely fun.  With the help of your co-driver, who lets you know what's coming up on the track, and visual turn indicators you can speed through the tracks with extreme precision.  When using the Logitech GT Force wheel the experience is even further elevated, since it allows you to truly feel the road and to more easily control the cars.  Although even without the wheel, the cars can be controlled with ease and the result is the ability to drift around corners like the pros.

WRC gives you a unique choice of transmissions, including: automatic, semi-automatic, and manual.  The semi-automatic is great for those who enjoy shifting but don't want to worry about things getting too complicated in the curves, since it automatically downshifts when the car slows down.  What a great idea!

In this game it's not possible to continuously run off the road and not pay a price.  You won't be out of the race for doing so, even if you flip down an enormous cliff, but instead you'll simply be put back on course at a standstill.  From such events damage is often incurred and the result is a car that's hard to drive.  For example, it's possible to lose a gear or for your car to constantly veer to the left/right.  As a result of such problems, damage indicators will light up on the screen to let you know of the problem (even though there's nothing you can do).  These problems with the steering, gearbox, oil, drive shaft, and temperature.

WRC is based around a season mode in which you must win individual rallies in hopes of getting the most points and being the overall champion.  Each rally is broken up into five shorter stages (legs) and before each it's possible to change the car's settings depending on the driving surface and the current weather.  It's possible to alter the gear ratio, brake strength, steering sensitivity, tires, and the stiffness of the suspension, thus making the car adapt to any circumstances.  Shakedowns (test runs) can also be taken before each rally begins to actually get a feel for the course.

It's also possible to race in single rallies and time trials on courses opened up through season mode.  Additionally, there's a two-player mode which lets you to see how well you can do against other racers.  This mode is very disappointing though, as there are only 10 tracks to choose from, no maps are displayed when racing (obviously there are no co-drivers talking), and only two different views can be used.  The result is a sub-par racing experience, thus making it more worthwhile to take turns doing time trials in attempt to beat records others have previously set.

Overall, Bam! should definitely be applauded for their very well made game.  In additional to being visually stunning, WRC nicely captures the excitement and the general feel of rally racing and will surely appeal to diehard rally fans and newcomers alike.

This game is rated "E" for everyone and it takes up 1440 KB on your PS2 memory card.
 

Gameplay: 9.5
Driving a rally car in WRC gives you a good feel for what a rally race is really like.  The controls are easy to learn and very effective in controlling every aspect of the car's operation.  The physics are accurate in every sense, including the characteristics of the various terrains...driving on snow feels like it should, etc.  Progressing through the rally season is a very enjoyable simulation experience.

Graphics: 9
The environments are amazing, both in terms of their size and of the detail level within them.  Whether a course is in Kenya or Sweden, you'll feel like you're really there.  Weather effects are among the best out there and they help make the whole experience more interesting.  There are tons of objects in every level and even those crazy rally fans who stand a foot away from the track while the cars fly by at 100 mph are included.  The cars themselves have also been constructed so as to include every possible detail.  The damage visuals are very cool as are the other effects, such as the rotors glowing bright orange.  The interiors of the cars are no less beautiful and even the character models of the driver and co-driver look fairly impressive.

Sound: 8
WRC has a great set of sound effects which nicely add to the whole rally experience.  The engine noise is very accurate, but may sound strange to those who aren't familiar with rally cars.  Unfortunately though, all the cars sound too similar to one another.  The co-driver's phrases are usually very accurate and make driving even more fun.  The music within the game's menu and during replays is actually pretty good.  It consists of both techno and alternative songs.  New Order actually has a new song on the game's soundtrack...what have they been doing all of these years?

Difficulty: 8.5
Just about anyone can pick up a controller (or grab the wheel) and get the hang of this game in no time.

Concept: 9
Finally a rally game that deserves to be played.  Beautiful execution...

Multiplayer: 6
This is the only area where the game falls way short.  Split-screen racing against a ghost car eliminates the possibility of collisions, which is one of the best parts when playing with friends.  Also, having only two views to choose from and no map or co-driver to tell you what's coming up on the track makes racing much less fun.

Overall: 8.5