Thankfully, the track record of lukewarm quality has come to a screeching halt with the release of Test Drive V-Rally. Despite its prefix, V-Rally holds no similarities to its predecessors. In essence, V-Rally is a mix of elements derived from Colin McRae Rally and Eden Studios' V-Rally 2. The end result projects a solid package of smoother gameplay, responsive controls - along with fast, intense entertainment.

V-Rally features a balanced mixture of simulation and arcade elements. Take a closer examination under the hood and you'll discover a plethora of modes and goodies, including time trials, an extensive track editor, 80 courses, accurate real-time damage, car customization, and an wide assortment of authentic rally vehicles produced by Nissan, Subaru, Lancia, Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Fiat, Toyota and many others. Concerned as to the extensive degree of difficulty? Don't be, V-Rally is less intimidating in terms of driving aptitude is concerned. While many titles give exclusive attention to physics and realism, V-Rally's most significant highlight is its degree of speed. Supported by a silky smooth frame rate and challenging narrow tracks, an avid racing fan needn't worry about the need for speed.

Of course, speed isn't the only factor to this game's enjoyment. Much like Colin McRae Rally, the tracks are far from tame and limited (80 tracks in 12 countries is total diversity.com). The degree of realism is quite exceptional as cars will skim, slide and bump throughout the narrow tracks. V-Rally features several camera angles including the standard rear view, cockpit camera angle (complete with steering wheel, gearshift animation and window reflections), and an impressive hood-view mode. I've engaged a number of rally racing titles, and up until now, none have truly simulated the atmosphere of viewing the action within a WAC (world rally car), with exceptions to 18 Wheeler and Colin McRae Rally 2.0. Eden Studios ingeniously designed this camera mode to simulate the driver's head and eye movements to shift when engaging curves throughout the track. Thus, when you turn left or right, the camera angle will shift accordingly so that you're able to see what lies ahead. While I applaud this viewing angle, it's not one that I can personally recommend as the best choice, as at times you may desire having a less constricting view of the entire racing environment.

Test Drive V-Rally is loaded with features, boasting the largest complement to date. Players can select from a vast variety of licensed cars (eight WRC's, three 1.6 liter kit cars, five 2 liter kit cars and 10 bonus cars); and supports up to four players to compete in four game modes (Time Trial, Arcade Mode, V-Rally Trophy and Rally Championship); each can be played in single-player of multiplayer. In addition to six different weather conditions, 12 countries and a keen track editor and it becomes quite apparent that V-Rally is one of the best racing packages to date.

When it comes to the visual presentation, V-Rally kicks into overdrive and leaves the competition eating dust, hands down. When compared to Sega Rally and Sega GT, it becomes quite apparent that V-Rally excels in all aspects - crisp, vibrant colors, a smooth 60fps framerate and the most challenging and immersive track layout to date. You'll engage the damp British countryside, lush jungle landscapes and snow covered forests, just to name a few regions. Eden Studios incorporated intricate details in every car model, right down to the optional headlights for night races. In addition, depending on the road surfaces, you'll discover your car will accumulate dirt, dust and even snow -- not to mention realistic body and equipment damage. Up until now, very few console racers have gone to this extent, but V-Rally goes the extra mile. Car hoods, brake lights and even the windows can all be affected.

Unfortunately, V-Rally has its share of unpleasant aspects that make it just shy from actually being regarded as "perfect". While the visuals certainly are of high caliber, the best that has been executed on the Dreamcast platform; there is some minor clipping issues and pop-up on a few tracks. In addition, while extensive care was given to the factors of vehicular damage,...it's still quite light in the realm of ideal realism. To elaborate, some cars behave like they're as light as a feather. It can be slightly annoying as you navigate your car through curves and occasionally slam into an obstacle (sometimes a bit faster than you would expect). Furthermore, the manner in which your vehicle crashes are just a bit too exaggerated, and actually quiet for that matter. Even in the days of Road Rash, when you were cruising down the plateaus at 100mph and rammed off course, there was an extensive degree of drama that came with it...you actually "felt" like you made an impact. Oddly I never got the impression here, cars tumble over like their toy models leaving me to think "Oops, I've did it again, start over."

In contrast to the minor gripes, V-Rally still sports a solid visual package as the musical talents of SIN complement the sound design. While I am complete alien to their style, I became immediately intrigued with the overall sound presentation, it really is quite impressive! There's also an option to configure the audio properties to adjust between hearing the car's engine, gearshifts, and the background music. On a lighter note, there's also an option to choose between a male/female co-pilot who will dictate the upcoming curves ahead of you. While this can be quite a helpful feature, I actually found both selections to be somewhat annoying after awhile...but perhaps that's just because I've never cared for the advice of the backseat driver. :P

With several racing titles currently available, Test Drive V-Rally has established itself as the best racing rally game on the Dreamcast. V-Rally signifies the hope that the franchise can return to its pristine glory and continue to express excellence and most importantly a definitive package of entertainment. Even if you're only remotely fond of rally racing, V-Rally is quite a package. Buckle up your seat belt and hang on...Test Drive V-Rally is truly a game to be owned by all Dreamcast owners.

· · · Bahn