AUTO RACING 'RalliSport 2' proves even better than original
Many haven't heard of it, but the game is one of the best available.
By PETER HARTLAUB
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Microsoft has been trying to produce sports video games for years, but the best the company can come up with is consistently mediocre football, baseball, basketball and golf titles. The American company's one masterpiece, the 2002 Xbox game "RalliSport Challenge," was based on a relatively obscure racing competition that is dominated by drivers from Finland.
Sports fans in the United States may have to rethink their priorities with the release of "RalliSport Challenge 2," an even better video game that's easy to pick up, fun to play for long stretches and filled with as much visual detail as anything on the market.
The competition in "RalliSport 2" will likely be unfamiliar to people who haven't spent a lot of time in Europe, where the racing tour is most popular. Think NASCAR without the rednecks, then add much nicer scenery, the occasional right-hand turn and cars that don't look like rolling billboards.
The lack of recognizable characters is the biggest drawback to "RalliSport Challenge 2" -- trading paint with a J. Norberg and M. Goksu isn't as satisfying as slamming an Earnhardt or Petty into the wall. (Surprisingly, this is the second rally-theme video game on the market. "Colin McRae Rally 04," named after a popular Scottish driver, is another solid game for rally fans released this year.)
But gamers will get over the cultural barrier quickly, especially after learning that this game allows drivers to push competitors over cliffs.
Spectacular graphics
Because the sport is slower-paced and has a variety of terrain to race on, it makes for a much better video game than Formula One or stock-car racing. The graphics in "RalliSport 2" are among the best on the Xbox (it should be out on the PC soon as well), making every bridge look like a historical landmark and every rain shower feel like you're in the middle of the Perfect Storm. "RalliSport 2" provides nearly endless game play, including a career mode that allows players to fine-tune the cars they collect while competing in diverse environments around the world.
While the visuals are stunning and the game play is deep, "RalliSport Challenge 2" is one of the simplest driving titles available. You need to master only three controls -- accelerator, brake and steering -- yet "RalliSport 2" still feels like real driving, even if you don't have one of those dorky fake steering wheels attached to your Xbox.
Gamers looking to spend close to $50 on a sports video game have come to expect someone famous on the cover -- Jason Giambi, Tiger Woods or at least one of the Williams sisters.
But don't let the packaging fool you with "RalliSport Challenge 2," which features no more than a couple of nondescript cars on a dirt track. Chances are good this is the best game you've never heard of.
X"RalliSport Challenge 2," by Microsoft for Xbox, is rated E for everyone.