#DRIVE Rally takes players back to 90s rally racing, where the roar of engines and the crunch of gravel under tires was the soundtrack of many a gamer’s childhood spent in the arcades. Even though I was always pretty bad at racing games when I was younger they were probably the ones I played the most in an arcade.
It’s a no-frills approach, with a lovely low-poly style. That focuses on delivering a fun, adrenaline-fueled experience that’s quick to learn but tricky to master.
Rally Time!
Pick from a large roster of Rally cars as you jet-set around the globe to compete in four different Rally Championships. Each Championship has around 10 tracks to compete on giving you a decent number of courses to try out. Each track is inspired by real-world locations, offering a diverse range of terrains to conquer—from the dusty trails of the outback to the slippery slopes of snowy mountains. The game’s graphics are a bit of a love letter to the 90s, with a visual style that’s retro with a refreshingly modern take.
#DRIVE Rally is a pretty straightforward game to pick up. The controls are simple and easy to learn. That being said, there is an element of skill and precision that you will want to learn. Cutting corners will cost you time as you race through tracks. These can quickly build up if you aren’t precise enough around the corners.
Getting used to the handling of the different cars will take a bit of time as some of them really do handle very differently. Furthermore, the various surfaces you will be racing on add another layer of getting to know your car. But this isn’t some ultra-realistic racing sim. It’s casual, good fun, and an easy game to drop in and out of.
Customise your car
Car customization is another area that will allow players to mess about with the look of their cars. As you race you’ll earn cash which you can buy new cars with. Additionally, completing certain events will unlock new cosmetic parts which you can then apply to your cars.
There are about 10 different car types or styles, then each of those has variations of that car that can be unlocked with enough cash. All in all, there is a fair amount to unlock if that’s the sort of thing you’re into.
The game is currently in early access so expect some bugs. One particular one that I noticed was if you went off track and tried to restart the race, the game didn’t like putting your car back in the right place and you’d often fall through the map. But these things will get ironed out in time. Not only that, more content will be coming with new modes and maps being promised in the roadmap (below).
I’ve loved blasting around the different tracks so far. The cars are fun to drive and trying out various ones and seeing how different they can be has been entertaining. The jump in power from some of the first ones to the higher-spec ones will likely see you flying off the map once or twice before you get to grips with the handling. #DRIVE Rally is a really fun throwback to rally games. If you’re looking for something that won’t take up all your time with silly gimmicks and just wants to get you racing then this is an excellent choice.
-Will
