Dirty drifting

In the realm of rally games there seem to exist two types. The arcade ones that focus on speed and exaggerated physics, while the other takes a more simulation approach aiming for that hyper-realism that comes with the sport. The WRC series has always been the latter and continues to be one of the most impressive, if not forgotten series available. The latest entry doesn’t stray too far from the formula and yet somehow manages to be a worthy update for those that enjoy this type of simulation rally racer. They also managed to toss in some anniversary content and somehow made it look even better than the previous entry thanks to the new consoles.

The biggest addition to this year’s game when it comes to content is the 50th anniversary mode. This allows players to participate in races on iconic courses over the last 50 years of rally racing. These are sprinkled throughout the campaign and include a varying degree of cars in all different classes. It is a nice touch, and certainly one diehards will appreciate.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

The career mode remains the focal point of the entire game. The depth found within is impressive as players can tweak their cars to their liking, while also hiring staff, planning races, and spending copious amounts of time customizing their experience. For someone like me who prefers arcade-style rally games this mode is always overwhelming when I review one of these games. Thankfully there are a ton of helpful menus and pointers to explain what it all means. Still players can easily spend as much time tweaking and sorting through menus as they do racing. So keep that in mind.

Outside of career mode there is plenty to keep players busy. There is of course single races where all the options are available and plenty of cars to choose from. There are also training courses, tutorials to master the craft, and even a season mode outside of the career. The multiplayer options are also robust, featuring online modes as well as split screen and even a co-driver local mode that is a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Needless to say there is plenty to keep fans busy within this package.

Of course the focus of any rally game is how it plays and WRC 10 has improved over last year in a few significant ways. This is of course aiming for realism which means damage plays a factor. The modeling on cars is outstanding and the developer has tweaked the mechanics to make it even more realistic. One example is tire wear. This now plays a much more pivotal role over last year’s game. Of course if you are like me and don’t want to worry about performance this all can be turned off, but that doesn’t mean that the races are a cakewalk.

I am not an expert on car handling. That being said, WRC 10 feels extremely realistic to the point that it will likely turn off some players. This is the kind of game that if you want to take corners at full speed, it is not the game for you. The precision and braking that has to be performed will keep players on their toes around every bend. This is an experience for people who enjoy realism and the developers have done an outstanding job making each car feel unique, and each course requiring practice. Knowing when to brake, when to drift, and what angles to take turns is paramount. This is a game of patience and precision and it can be exhilarating when executed perfectly.

WRC 10 is one fine looking game. The car models are outstanding and the damage modeling only adds to the experience. The tracks are gorgeous with plenty of dust and weather effects that look simply stunning at times. The frame rate holds up on the new consoles creating a smooth racing experience. There is little to complain about when it comes to simply looking at this game. It truly showcases some visual eye candy. Audio is equally impressive with the engine hums and crunching metal sounding fantastic through either my headphones or sound setup. The co-driver is as drab as ever, lending to the authenticity of the experience.

WRC 10 is a game where fans will notice the tweaks and additions, while casual fans will ask why upgrade? This is common among games that focus on specific sports and genres. There is enough here though for diehards to consider upgrading. I am not thrilled that some of the interesting content is locked behind DLC, but even with that hangup the tweaks and additions make this version a worthy successor. This entry won’t change anyone’s opinion of the realistic rally genre, but for those that enjoy it, there are few better options on the market.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.