Official Website

Platform: PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, PC

Genre: Racing

Number of Players: 1 (2 head-to-head, up to 6 online)

Supported HD: 720p

SEGA has some stiff competition to contend with in the rally category. First Sony releases MotorStorm, a game that has the spirit of Rally, but isn’t necessarily trying to be the real thing. Codemasters then impresses everyone with DiRT, a rally game that does in fact work to capture the true spirit of rally. SEGA Rally Revo isn’t like any of those games, and that’s really the first thing that anyone should realize. It’s something of a blend between those games, and some other familiar racing titles, but it’s still very much a game that stands on its own.

SEGA Rally Revo is the follow up game to SEGA Rally, and while it has been over 10 years since it’s release, SEGA Racing Studios has learned a trick or two over the years, and what the company has always done extremely well is create games for the home console with the right touch and feel of the arcade. Not everyone wants super realistic racing, not everyone wants the next NASCAR or Formula One game, and there are those who just want a game that they can jump right into without the simulation aspect. That is the aim of SEGA Rally Revo, and that’s exactly what it accomplishes, much like Ridge Racer 7 did, it quickly becomes an addictive arcade style racer that is still enjoyable and entertaining without feeling the necessity for overcomplicating itself.

The Championship mode is where the true action is, and this is where winning truly is everything. There are three different legs to this model the Premier which will get you started on your way to becoming a rally legend, the Modified and finally the Masters. In turn, each of these is broken down into sub-categories of races and finally, there is one final break down of the events. Where you place is how you will score and you will be able to see in each race how many points you’ve earned. IN the race you’ll pick your car including both 2WD and 4WD with available from manufactures such as Ford, Mitsubishi and Peugeot.

Nothing in this mode leaves much in the way of guess work. The game will always keep you updated not only on your point total and progress through the game but also how many points you need in order to unlock another tournament, and this works on all levels. In the racing categories themselves, you will see that you need so many points to unlock the next events while you are so many points shy of unlocking the new race class. As far as getting bonus cars, this is quite easy. Simply drive the cars you have and you will see how many more miles you need to log in order to unlock yet another car for your garage and this goes one step further with various livery’s that can be awarded for your driving skills. When picking your car, you will also be given the choice of tires you would like to you, road or off-road, and while the options are a little on the slim side, let me once again remind you that this is an arcade style rally game, so it doesn’t need all the bells and whistles and other games feature and you don’t need to spend 10 minutes prior to race time deciding what the right adjustments are so that you can place first.

While SEGA Rally Revo does offer you a replay option at the end of the races, the difference is that you’re not forced to watch it. However, there are little things, nuances that you might miss otherwise depending on your camera selection while racing and even this can play a huge factor in the way the game is presented. During the canyon levels for example, an in-car view will treat you to subtle things like the sounds of rocks and pebbles caught in your cars wheel-wells, but when watching the replace, you will see other things. Grass and small plants get caught up in the winds given off by the cars flying past them, and it’s these differences that can make the difference between a mediocre game and one that is just as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Outside of the games championship mode, there are other features as well. You can simply take the cars you have available to you for a test drive in the quick race mode, something that proves to not only be a good idea of get the handling of the vehicles down but also a way to get to know the track a little better. There is a time attack mode which is exactly what it sounds like and a multiplayer mode. Here you can either play head-to-head against a friend of go online and either jump right into an existing race or create one of your own. The garage option also will allow you to see your progress as far as the percentage completed in terms of the overall game as well as the cars currently at your disposal.

One of the things about SEGA Rally Revo however is that the controls are just a little touchy and take some getting accustomed to, but the arcade feel definitely shines through. You have the usual options like gas, shifting up or down and the use of a break and handbrake, and these can be adjusted to your liking and playing style. While the game doesn’t allow the use of the motion capabilities of the SIXAXIS controller, there is support for a variety of different steering wheels for players that have taken their love of racing to a new level.

Just about anyone these days can make a racing game, and what you really need is a game that not only can grab you and keep you playing based on the gameplay itself, but one that looks good. SEHA Rally Revo does look good, and again the developers have taken the time and consideration to add in some great touches. There are a total of 16 different tracks in locations such as the Alpines, canyons, lakeside, tropical and even safari and not only do they have their own, unique look and feel, they are touches that make them memorable. In some of the Alpine tracks for instance, you’ll notice that at some point prior to your race, it has rained. While trying to gain that precious first place position, note that the pavement looks wet and you can see reflections of the surrounding terrain and even the sky. The tropics meanwhile has a different look in certain areas for the sand, so some might have red clay underneath and as each car races around the track, tire makes will be left and mud will get dislodged. SEGA Rally Revo however does not offer the ability to real time terrain changes, something seen in MotorStorm, but it doesn’t really need it. Both games might be arcade style racers, but they are games of a much different caliber and have their own approaches. MotorStorm only gives you desert racing while SEGA Rally Revo takes you to all other points of interest. And, since this is a rally game, expect that nice, clean paintjob of your to get dirty, and very quickly.

It doesn’t matter if your taste if for the snowy and often treacherous roads to the alpine, speeding across a beach with the mind in your hair and sand on your car, or navigating through a canyon, SEGA Rally Revo offers the type of arcade racing action that just about everyone can enjoy. It may step away from ultra-realism, but there are more than enough games that take that approach, and it is starting to seems as though only a few companies still appreciate the feel of old school racing and shrug off the need to overburden players with too many options, and with this game, there’s no fear of that. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the game, and that is what video games are all about.

 -mike-