Test Drive: Rally Masters

Rating:
Summary: Rally Masters
Review: Its a hard game to Master , but totaly fun .

Rating:
Summary: This game simply put, is a blast to play
Review: Michelin Rally Masters: Race of Champions

By Infogrames

96/100

The recent boom of Rally Racing here in the US has really taken the PC Racing world by storm. We no longer have to play F1, Indy or NASCAR Sims to get our fix of racing. (...) That, in my opinion makes the racing genre much more desirable for gamers.

Michelin Rally Masters: Race of Champions (MRM) is the annual end of the season event organized by IMP and is officially sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation. It was founded in 1988 and has grown in popularity ever since. Unlike normal rally racing, in which you race on a course alone against the clock, the MRM pits you against another driver on the same track in identical cars. The race is decided by the best of three heats, and the winner advances to the next round.

The event has grown to a worldwide racing event, with TV coverage expanding to over 150 countries in the last six years alone. The key is the head to head racing, this has spawned a worldwide interest, since it is so exciting.

Sound wise, I have to admit that this game performs better than any other racer that I've seen in a while. I used my Vortex 2 card ( A3D 2.0 ) and the engine sounds were out of this world. I really felt the power of the engine roaring in front of me. The whiz of the air going past me, it was all there. But the most remarkable sound was the constant banging and sliding that you hear when your car is colliding with the elements.

On the graphical side of things, this game is again very well done. The landscapes, from dirt, grass and snow, all look like the real thing. Real world advertising also is found throughout the tracks, so expect to see some McDonalds ads along the way. I haven't seen any user created ads yet, but I bet that they will come once this game grows on people.

The interior view of the car, my favorite way to play, is constructed very well. You can see your steering wheel in front of you and also the dashboard and a little bit of the side door. Yet, none of these things blocks a clear view of the track ahead, so everything is clear and concise.

The different modes of play that are available in MRM are as follows. The Race of Champions lets you compete under the same conditions and rules as the real life event in the Canary Islands. Here you compete against the best drivers in the world, including Colin McRae, so you better be prepared for a challenge.

The Rally Masters Championship is set up the same as the Race of Champions, but it takes place on different tracks across the globe. The drivers that you'll compete against are divided into three divisions, Formula 2, WRC, and Legend.

The Rally Masters Challenge Cup is held on circular circuits and consists of five events held in five different countries. Again there are three divisions of drivers to work your way up through, Formula, WRC, and Legend.

Finally the Rally Masters Trophy pits you against 11 imaginary competitors. This is a virtual Rally Championship where you're not racing against other drivers, but instead against other cars.

All of the above mentioned modes award points for placing high, so be sure and try to win as much as possible. For events that span different countries, the points accumulate after each race, so if you have a bad event, try to make up for it at the next event.

The gameplay aspect of MRM was actually very surprising to me. I had played Rally Championship last year, and had recently tried out Test Drive V-Rally for the Dreamcast. I thought that both of these games were solid sims that required plenty of skill and challenged me. But I had my doubts about MRM. Why? Well lets just say that I was expecting an arcade racer and while those are fun, I always like more of a sim orientated game to play.

So to my surprise when I first fired up the engine for a spin around the track, I immediately knew this game would be good. How did I know? Well from the quality of the graphics, to the solid looking cockpit of my car, I just felt that this game was solid.

So as I pressed the gas down and took off in a pile of dirt and smoke, I thought, OK this game is good. Control was tight and responsive, to say the least. As I took my first corner, I had to much power so I quickly spun out. "Ah", I thought, "this game is going to require some skill!" That's exactly what I was looking for.

When you take those turns at a high rate of speed and have to quickly snap your wheel from one side to the other ( it's best to play this game with a wheel, force feedback if possible), this game really shines. The pure fun that can be had riding hard into a corner and then shifting the weight of the car to the other side is incredible. Think of a movie that has a chase scene. You know how cars take those corners, kind of sliding around them at a high rate of speed, then snapping the wheel back to drive straight, that's what this game feels like.

And then there are those jumps. When you're speeding down a straightaway and get some air, it really feels like you're getting some air. Some times your view will be impeded because the car is tipping forward, so you see the ground directly below you, instead of the road ahead. All of these touches make for a realistic driving experience.

So, how is the head to head racing? It is a blast. One of you starts on the inside lane, the other on the outside lane. You then each have to race one lap on the inside and one on the outside. So this makes the game very interesting. Some times the lanes aren't exactly even, so the guy on the inside lane might get out to a big lead since his track is smaller. This is then made up for when the second lap comes around, since the lanes are switched and the guy that started in the outer lane now gets the inner lane.

This kind of racing is unique and a blast to play. You can hear you opponent's engine coming up on the side of you if you two are in a close race. This really gives a sense fright to me, it's like your being chased by a monster, but instead of a monster, it's just your opponent coming up and trying to steal a win.

I know that the die-hard sim freaks out there may disapprove of my high score for this game. It doesn't conform to normal Rallying, but come on people, this game simply put, is a blast to play. Give me a fun game that requires a ton of skill and I'll be happy. Aspects such as fixing your car after each stage may not come into play in MRM, but that's because this is a different type of Rally game. This game can be played for hours on end without even the slightest thoughts of boredom.

I can honestly say that this game is a musty for any racing fan, or even if you are looking for a game that can let you experience a little fast driving, this game is for you. A challenging game that can be played by sim heads and casual gamers alike, is one that will stand the test of time.

Poncho

http://www.pcsportsupdate.com/rallymasters.htm

Rating:
Summary: Great Rally game!
Review: Rally Masters is really a very nice rally game. Although the racing style is somewhat like a arcade game, the simulation feel is very authentic. The car physics is really giving you the "real" racing feeling, at the same time as the speed factor is very intense. Most fun of all is of cource to race against your friends, on LAN or on Internet. Trust me - there's nothing like the feeling when you have raced side to side for 4 laps and finally passes your pal on the finnish line...

The only negative aspect of the game that I can come up with is the menu system which is quite booring, but who cares really - when the graphics is breathtaking, the sounds is great and the funfactor is nothing short to awesome?

Rating:
Summary: A must BUY!
Review: Review Of Rally Masters By Infogrames Every once in a while you get a game that makes you go "wow!", maybe when you first see the visuals or you play it for the first time. Rally Masters is one such game, giving you that "wow" factor right from the video intro through to playing the game itself. Rally Masters follows a long line of car racing and simulation games and is certainly the pick of the crop. The visuals are nothing short of stunning, right down to laying long black lines of tyre tread when sliding the car on tarmac, to rolling the car and splintering the windscreen! But the real coup-de-grace of Rally Masters is the fact that the cars really feel like you're driving them - opposite lock cornering, wheelspins and slides are all part of the game and need to be mastered to get the best from the racing. With help from your co-driver, who constantly tells you which corners are coming up, it's all down to your driving ability. There's plenty of track to keep you interested; from the rainy green valleys of England to the snow covered icy road of Sweden and the desert racing in the States - it's all there. You get to race through day and night, sunshine and rain which all adds to the realism.

The scenery is fantastic too, with very little "pop-up" - where a large object in the distance, such as a tree or mountain, will suddenly appear from nowhere - and the background really does make you feel like you are there. The winding mountain roads round Italy are my particular favourite, making you very cautious about getting too close to the edge!

The game play is split into different mode, ranging from a timed lap around a single stage, to full rallies. There's even the head-to-head racing against another racer which include indoor tracks too. You can race a full rally having to make repairs to the car at certain stages and often driving through the night.

If you've ever seen Superbike or Superbike 2000, you'll be forgiven for thinking it's the same game but with cars - the replay functions are very similar and allow you to watch the action from multiple view and save your favourites too. There's also the information section of the game that gives you the low down on all your opposition and their cars, such as Colin McCrea, Carlos Sainz et al. You can also play the game in a "quick" mode to go for a quick burn, or full-on simulation mode to rally your way across a whole country. The nice thing about Rally Masters is that you have to compete to unlock the later cars and tracks which gives you real reason for playing the game. It'll keep you coming back for more to master all the cars in the game, which are all expertly modelled and handle differently enough to make you pick a favourite.

Don't forget the multiplayer game too - race against your mates either on a LAN or over the internet to battle it out for the first spot. Remember that it's a non-contact sport, but I'm sure you're permitted the odd knock to flip your rivals' cars off the track. :-)

There are plenty of car games out there at the moment, but if F1 is not your thing or you want to try something different, I can thoroughly recommend this game as it's an absolute blast! It's a must 10/10.

Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Racing Excitement!
Review: The Upside... The physics of the drive, matched with the game's excellent graphics gives Rally Masters: Michelin Race of Champions a real world feel that is a notch above most other racing games.

You might be driving through snow, ice, fog, rain, or mud during the day, or at night. While racing, your car will reflect whatever hits it takes. Damage can be purely ornamental, helping to make the game look even more real, or with the flick of a switch, coming too close to the competition can actually take you out of the race. Dynamic environment mapping means cars accumulate dirt, make sparks, smoke when they are in trouble and leave skid marks.

Tracks are a constant twisting, turning, car bouncing challenge that can change from dirt to paved and back again. Views can change just as radically, from distant to an in the car point of view that can twist your guts with its almost absolute realism.

The Downside... The sound effects are sometimes wimpy and control of the vehicles is a little iffy at times, but most of that will be forgotten as you focus on the tough, but exciting job of mastering the car and tackling the tracks.

The Bottom Line... There are more than twenty-two licensed rally cars, including models from Subaru, Skoda, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault and Lancia. More than fifty different tracks from around the world help to vary the racing experience and keep the game interesting. Thirty world-class drivers are represented in Michelin Rally Masters.

There are five difficulty levels and three different modes of play. Rules are real world. The game supports force feedback and using that kind of wheel was the funnest way that I found to play the game. You can race as one of the masters, or as a player new to the circuit in one of four championship modes. There are even time attack competitions that will have you trying to cut corners to shave every split second off record times.

Michelin Rally Masters combines the best of simulation and arcade to produce a racing experience that is as fun as it is exciting. This one is a must have for all racing fans.

Rating:
Summary: Good...for a console game
Review: This is a good game in alot of respects, and I'm glad gaming companies are targeting those of us interested in rally sport. However it is simply not on par with other PC racing games, notably NFS5 Porsche Unleashed. Graphics are only barely acceptable by current PC standards and the car physics are generic, each car feeling pretty much like the others, except maybe for acceleration. Speaking of the cars, although they sound great and there's a decent selection, dont expect to find all of your favorite current rally models available. For example, there is no Ford Focus WRC. Car selection is one of the places where the game really shows its age. The tracks are nice, and I really love some of the point to point maps a la NFS5, and that capture the spirit of rally. Ultimately this is a console game that has been converted unchanged to PC format, which is fine if you like console games. I dont much. The game is fun and engaging, but I wish I had waited and picked it up in the bargain bin 6 mos from now.

The above is what I wrote a year ago. Since then I've looked at a variety of other rally driving games and I am forced to admit that none has the playability and engagement of Rally Masters. The graphics are old school, but it's very fun, and does a great job capturing the feel of being in the seat of a rally car. I'm raising my rating to four stars.

Rating:
Summary: If you like PC racing games...
Review: Though it's hard to hold a candle to such PC masterpieces as NFS 5 - Porsche Unleashed, this game is a different kind of racing altogether. It has a broad selection of tracks which incorporate all kinds of twists and turns and bumps, though there is not much difference between the cars (i.e. each vehicle has about the same feel).

Some of the weaker aspects of the game: Though the cars sustain damage, it is in appearance only and does not affect your ability to control the car. Graphics are not exactly top notch. Other than that, the game is a great deal of fun to play.

Rating:
Summary: If you like PC racing games...
Review: Though it's hard to hold a candle to such PC masterpieces as NFS 5 - Porsche Unleashed, this game is a different kind of racing altogether. It has a broad selection of tracks which incorporate all kinds of twists and turns and bumps, though there is not much difference between the cars (i.e. each vehicle has about the same feel).

Some of the weaker aspects of the game: Though the cars sustain damage, it is in appearance only and does not affect your ability to control the car. Graphics are not exactly top notch. Other than that, the game is a great deal of fun to play.