RalliSport Challenge 2 -- due out tomorrow (May 4)

[Adrian M]

Anyone else excited?

After the stellar Colin McRae 04 (which I'm STILL playing!), I'm really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out!

 

Colin McRae 04 is great in the gameplay department, but some of the background and environments are rather simplistic, particularly the trees...fire up RalliSport 1 and you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

[jeepnut24]

Yup, this is going to be the best racer out there. Yet another racer that will be better than the Gran Turismo series???

 

Same caliber as PGR2.

 

Shame all of my $$ lately is going to 2600 stuff.

[Adrian M]

Yup' date=' this is going to be the best racer out there. Yet another racer that will be better than the Gran Turismo series???

 

Same caliber as PGR2.

 

Shame all of my $$ lately is going to 2600 stuff.[/quote']

 

Gran Turismo really isn't as "great" as everyone makes it out to be. But yes, I am really looking forward to this one. I pray that the physics aren't too dumbed down to appeal to the average gamer since half the fun of rally racing games comes from the tempermental sliding/skidding physics engine!

[Adrian M]

Today is teh day!

Anyone else excited?

[JerseyDevil]

I've been looking forward to this game for a while. I'll probably put off buying it because I'm really into Colin McRae 4.

[sigma]

No, I am not.

[maibock]

wow - didn't know this game was coming out so soon. Thanks for the heads up! stoppping off on the way home to pick it up

[Adrian M]

wow - didn't know this game was coming out so soon. Thanks for the heads up! stoppping off on the way home to pick it up

 

Well, I picked my copy up and played for only a few minutes due to my hectic work schedule as of late.

Fantastic game..oh yes! Visually, far more impressive than Colin McRae though the physics system again (at first glance) seems a bit simplified. What I mean by this is that cars seems to sort of "pivot" into turns which is highly evident on hairpin curves and whatnot, much like in the first game. Colin McRae is less forgiving in this regard.

 

But, as I said, I need to spend some more time with this title to get a better understanding as to how deep the physics system is and the various options. Oh, and the visuals are phenomenal. Suffice to say, you will NEVER see anything like this on your Sony or Nintendo systems!

[Antneed]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

[Adrian M]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of  

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

 

I should have some more time this weekend to really get a better idea of how everything works! No doubt though, the graphics, sound and realism are all leagues above what Colin McRae offers!

[Major Havoc 2049]

RSC 2 isn't trying to have super realistic physics. The designers were trying to strike a balance between realistic and arcade like control, in order to make the game fun for the gamer.

 

Adrian M, do you have Xbox Live? Let us know how RSC 2 plays on Live.

[Clock]

The LIVE factor is the one that will either swing me to buy or not buy this game. I already have big bunch of racers but I do like the sound of multiplayer ice racing.

[Antneed]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of  

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

 

Still waiting for Adrians comparison between RSC II vs CMR 04.....

 

thanks dude!

[Antneed]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of  

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

 

Still waiting for Adrians comparison between RSC II vs CMR 04.....

 

thanks dude!

[Adrian M]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of  

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

 

Still waiting for Adrians comparison between RSC II vs CMR 04.....

 

thanks dude!

 

Ah, wait no longer!

OK, first things first, Rallisport 2 is not as technical a rally racer as Colin McRae. I alluded to that point with my earlier posts, but after spending some time with it the obvious fact is that the control is most certainly more simplified (largely on par with the first Rallisport). You may either love or hate it, but I prefer Colin McRae's physics engine better. Cars seem to pivot and auto-center out of slides. Make no mistake, the physics engine IS solid and will likely appeal to those who loved the first Rallisport, but do keep this in mind.

 

I'm pleased to say that the insane difficulty ramp-up in the first Rallisport has been smoothed out a bit. Recall that the original started out deceptively easy in career mode, only to suddenly ramp up to near-impossible levels midway through the career mode. Rallisport 2 seems to have a smoother level of progression. Yes, you will likely have to practice a bit and learn the tracks (like in any good rally racing title), but you won't need to have near-perfect runs just to finish and progress.

 

The audio tracks are pretty forgettable, but that's a minor point to me as you need to focus on driving. The graphics engine is in a word, unbelieveable! Trees are ultra detailed, bump mapping is used heavily, lighting is fantastic (check out the night driving sequences!) and the frame rate stays high. This is without a doubt, built for the XBOX and not some watered-down multi-system port! Truly stunning and at times, damn near photorealistic.

 

My ratings would be as follows:

Graphics: 10 out of 10

Driving Physicis/Control: 8 out of 10 (still solid, but I wish there was an option to turn off the CPU assist a bit)

Sound: 6 out of 10 (engine sounds are nice, but audio tracks blow)

Realism: 9 out of 10 (graphically, racing games don't get any nicer than this)

Overall: 9 out of 10 (worthy of the $49.99 asking price, but I would still suggest that people try out Colin McRae 04 as well to see the differences in the physics engine themselves..it's hard to explain)

[Antneed]

I am waiting for Adrian's SIDE by SIDE comparision of  

Colin McCrae 04 vs Rallisport Challenge 2!!

 

Graphics:

Driving Physicis/Control:

Sound:

Realism:

Overall:

 

Thanks........

Ant

 

Still waiting for Adrians comparison between RSC II vs CMR 04.....

 

thanks dude!

 

Ah, wait no longer!

OK, first things first, Rallisport 2 is not as technical a rally racer as Colin McRae. I alluded to that point with my earlier posts, but after spending some time with it the obvious fact is that the control is most certainly more simplified (largely on par with the first Rallisport). You may either love or hate it, but I prefer Colin McRae's physics engine better. Cars seem to pivot and auto-center out of slides. Make no mistake, the physics engine IS solid and will likely appeal to those who loved the first Rallisport, but do keep this in mind.

 

I'm pleased to say that the insane difficulty ramp-up in the first Rallisport has been smoothed out a bit. Recall that the original started out deceptively easy in career mode, only to suddenly ramp up to near-impossible levels midway through the career mode. Rallisport 2 seems to have a smoother level of progression. Yes, you will likely have to practice a bit and learn the tracks (like in any good rally racing title), but you won't need to have near-perfect runs just to finish and progress.

 

The audio tracks are pretty forgettable, but that's a minor point to me as you need to focus on driving. The graphics engine is in a word, unbelieveable! Trees are ultra detailed, bump mapping is used heavily, lighting is fantastic (check out the night driving sequences!) and the frame rate stays high. This is without a doubt, built for the XBOX and not some watered-down multi-system port! Truly stunning and at times, damn near photorealistic.

 

My ratings would be as follows:

Graphics: 10 out of 10

Driving Physicis/Control: 8 out of 10 (still solid, but I wish there was an option to turn off the CPU assist a bit)

Sound: 6 out of 10 (engine sounds are nice, but audio tracks blow)

Realism: 9 out of 10 (graphically, racing games don't get any nicer than this)

Overall: 9 out of 10 (worthy of the $49.99 asking price, but I would still suggest that people try out Colin McRae 04 as well to see the differences in the physics engine themselves..it's hard to explain)

 

Cool...thanks Adrian...

But the most important question.....the overall winnner is??

I hated the handling in RS 1, so I guess the handling on RS 2 is quite similar......I may have to rent it....I actually gave up on RS 1 midway thru the career mode. Too frustrating...

 

Thanks A

[Adrian M]

Cool...thanks Adrian...

But the most important question.....the overall winnner is??

I hated the handling in RS 1, so I guess the handling on RS 2 is quite similar......I may have to rent it....I actually gave up on RS 1 midway thru the career mode.  Too frustrating...

 

Thanks A

 

Well, it's a tough call because where Rallisport2 slightly falls behind on physics/control, it more than makes up for in terms of graphical engine beauty. Sounds to me like you hit the difficulty wall in the middle of the career mode of RS1 as well...but from what I'm seeing, RS2 is a bit smoother in terms of ramping up the difficulty.

 

It's truly a tough call, but if you asked me to choose only 1 of the games, I'd probably go with Colin McRae 04. Why? Well, it too can be difficult and the graphics are not the best, but the control and physics engine is just that much better (IMHO, of course). Yes, Rallisport2 has LIVE play whereas McRae only lets you upload times, etc. but I feel the engine in McRae as a whole is more technical and enjoyable to rally fans like myself. Then again, they're both worth owning if you can afford and stomach 2 rally racing games as each has its own merits.

 

This is no easy assessment...rent or buy both. A demo of Colin 04 exists on an OXM demo disc and Rallisport2 will likely follow suit shortly.