Reviews / previews
Electronic Arts' Mobil 1 Rally Championship is here and it's a better racer than anyone could have predicted, recreating the wonderful world of Euro-rally racing on your home PC.
The world of rally racing revolves around modified sedans, racing through the European countryside via tiny off-road pathways, with the goal of getting to the finish line with the best possible time. Rally contestants take turns racing through each course, as the pathways aren't big enough for a passing lane.
There are several ways you can play Mobil 1. You can choose to play in the game's Practice Mode, Arcade Mode, 1-Race Rally Mode, or the Mobil 1 British Rally Championship where you'll compete in six back-to-back rallies, including the Vauxhall Rally of Wales, Pirelli International Rally, and Sony Manx International, each with six different courses.
You'll next choose your rally sedan from a list of over 20 licensed automobiles. Big name car companies like Honda, Volkswagen, and Ford are featured, with some well-known sedan models, like the Civic, Golf, and Escort, making an appearance. Plus, you can unlock even more cars by taking 1st place in the entire Mobil 1 Rally.
Mobil 1 delivers in the course and car department, but it really scores in gameplay. First off, each car handles like a dream. From aggressive gear shifting to off-road power sliding, this game allows you to race like a champion. The road conditions actually mean something in Mobil 1, and you'll know it just by driving on snow for the first time. Not to mention realistic weather effects like snow, rain, and strong winds that will impede upon your racing skills when you're out on the course.
Mobil 1's graphics are a tasty treat for the eyes. The textures are all beautifully drawn, the 3D models are all rendered nicely, and the lighting effects (headlights, sunset, forest shadows) are unbelievable. Mobil 1's graphics engine can handle all this and redraw damaged car models as your car takes damage. And as if that wasn't enough, Mobil 1 even supports a "Drivers' Seat" camera view, complete with 3D rendered interior.
While the graphics are amazing, the sound is a little disappointing. Sure, the music is okay as far as Euro-dance goes, the engines hum decently for a racing game, and the car crashes sound like burly car crashes, but I was hoping for more realistic gravel sounds. When over-revving to get in position to take a hairpin turn at 30 mph, you should definitely hear the gravel shift beneath your tires. In Mobil 1 the gravel is quiet, too quiet.
There are also a couple extra details thrown in like fanatic photographers that can actually be seen by the flash of their cameras while they snap off a few night-shots. You'll also notice that some cars will backfire, sending a little spark hurling out of your muffler. It's extra features like this piled atop the already addictive gameplay that make Mobil 1 Rally Championship a born champion.-- Nash Werner / GamePro
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