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3/5 |
Rally Trophy - an interesting car similutor
(January 31, 2004) |
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RT is a bit of a mixture. The stages are short blasts - like CMR2. The scenery is pretty good. The force feedback isn't great, it's pretty much the same whatever surface you're driving on. The co-driver is manic. The damage model isn't very realistic. Overall it is fun to drive. However, it's magic is in simulation of various 60's and 70's rally cars. Each car feels dinstinctly different and demands practice to learn correct control, even the "easy" ones like the Mini and Saab. If you also have Mobil 1 Rally Championship on your PC beware, loading RT can upset your installation of RC. |
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5/5 |
Great fun
(November 10, 2003) |
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I recently bought both Rally Trophy and McRae Rally 2. The original McRae Rally was easier for me being a rally newbie, but Rally 2 is proving a nightmare, despite the stunning graphics and effects.
However, Rally Trophy is the Rally sim I'm enjoying most now as it can be both a gentle intro to rallying and also has the capacity to be pretty tough.
The scenery in Trophy is not as detailed as McRae but then with McRae it is obvious that real photos have been glued to every polygon, but still look flat. Rally Trophy has a slightly dreamy look to the scenery which give Kenya and Sweden in particular, a breathtaking beauty. The sunshine effects are incredible.
Overall, having driven for many years I think the car control difficulties in McRae Rally 2 are grossly exagerated. Rally Trophy seems much more realistic, and above all else, heaps more fun. After all, driving is about staying on the road and not taking the all too frequent, suicidal and highly destructive scenic route within McRae country. |
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4/5 |
Rally Trophy
(June 05, 2003) |
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An excellent game that could nearly have been the definitive simulator for the rally experience. Car handling is well balanced on the front wheel drive vehicles, but choose the Escort or Stratos and you are in for a busy time behind the wheel with masses of opposite lock. The rear wheel drive cars have too much oversteer off the throttle to be realistic, although it is more controllable when using a steering wheel as opposed to a joystick.
A good effort made with the sound, but anyone having heard an Escort or Stratos on full song will know an imporvement could have been made here.
Body damage in full simulator mode is still leans towards the arcade side with you being able to continue at nearly full speed after an 120mph shunt with a tree.
All in all if you enjoy Colin McRae or any driving game I would recommend this to you. Apart from the minor negatives above it is good fun. The challenge against the clock is well balanced and you find yourself either wildly happy at being in the top three or furious for a spin that has dropped you out of the top ten, gripping.
Technical support is excellent; I contacted JoWood with a query and received an English reply by e-mail within 24 hours that was positive and professional. |
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5/5 |
I don't normally write reviews but this game needs praise...
(February 05, 2003) |
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Put simply, Rally Trophy is the most realistic driving simulator I have ever played. The handling of the cars are extremely realistic - very difficult to master but good fun too. The graphics are superb, sounds are great and you can play online via gamespy which is great.
The cars you drive are all classics, and include some all time rapid speedsters like the Lancia Stratos and the Escort RS2000.
You can choose to play the arcade or the simulation version of the game - sim uses damage and more realism, arcade is racing head to head against opponents.
To get the most out of this game you need a steering wheel and pedals.
One bad comment - don't try to contact Jowood (the manufacturers) by email or you will get an illegible German response!!!
Overall, I would say buy the game now if you want an experience as similar to rallying as you can get at this moment. |
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1/5 |
Boring
(January 10, 2003) |
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This game lacks any sense of speed. Most of the cars are incredibly dull to drive. Also it has a few drawbacks: The damage model is unrealistic and lacks consistency - you can find yourself with an enormous dent in the boot after sliding slightly into a shallow ditch. The stages vary in design very little and the level of grip you get from different surfaces is not what you would expect. The pace notes read out by the co-driver are incredibly basic, and not always accurate, calling wrong corners and giving instructions too early/late. The engine sounds are primative by modern standards and have a basic, digital sound, even at 44khz/64 channels. The force feedback is poorly executed and whilst it is strong (with not enough adjustment available) it doesn't vary enough from surface to surface, emitting a constant, steady shake regardless. There are much better rally games than this - my advice is to steer clear of this one and buy another. |
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