I believe that Codemasters’ legendary Colin McRae Rally series doesn’t get enough credit, even though it once managed to do for rallying what Gran Turismo did for road racing.
Those of you who are a bit older will remember that the first game in the Colin McRae Rally series was unlike anything we had ever seen before. It turned the SEGA Rally series, which is unnecessarily praised even nowadays, into a primitive piece of software, and it has been with us for years with different games. Frankly, even though it gained a lot of praise after it was named DiRT, it got pretty worn out near the end. Then, while all of us were waiting for it to lose its old sparkle, like Need for Speed, Codemasters came up with DiRT Rally.
It was as if a magical hand had touched the game, and DiRT Rally was designed with a philosophy that values quality over quantity. Players’ feedback was noted and refined, and DiRT Rally was transformed into a simcade game with spectacular physics that the player couldn’t stop playing. Did it have any shortcomings? The number of game modes was limited, and the content was lacking, which was more than compensated with Dirt Rally 2.0. If we add the fact that the F1 series has been extremely successful, at least in terms of sales and popularity, despite its up and down graph, I think it makes enough sense how Codemasters attracted the eye of Electronic Arts.
I purposely delayed reviewing the game because I wasn’t sure what to think about for some gremlins. Now that I’ve made up my mind let’s talk about it.
The art of rodeo!
Codemasters is, of course, no stranger to rallying, but the WRC license taken over from Nacon has been a great development for them, opening the door to official cars and official stages. As you know, it’s been 21 years since Codemasters’ last game with a WRC license. In that time, other WRC series, which owns the license, has had a number of games that have always been considered decent, but none of them have reached the level of a hit. So what is Codemasters capable of doing that Milestone and Kylotonn couldn’t do before?
First of all, it’s important to note that the game adheres to the roots and core structure of the previous games to the extent that it could be called DiRT Rally 3. Of course, licensed vehicles, liveries, sponsors, and the presence of some famous stages have improved the presentation of the game, but in practice, the biggest breakthrough has been made in the game engine. Ego Engine, which has been with us since the first DiRT game with its various versions, has been replaced by Unreal Engine 4 in EA Sports WRC. The first benefit of this is, of course, optimization, and the second is that the stages, which were limited in length due to the limitations of the Ego Engine, have now been unchained. The longest stage in EA Sports WRC, Chile – Arauco, is a whopping 35km long, which is twice as long as the longest stage in Dirt Rally 2.0. Who can resist more wheelspin without seeing a loading screen?
EA Sports WRC features 78 cars from current and historic years in a variety of categories, the highest number ever for a Codemasters rally game. Even if you’re a rally enthusiast, it would be quite difficult to say, “This car is missing.”
If we add 200 stages in 17 rallies, 12 of which are fully licensed, it is possible to say that there is plenty of content without DLCs. Moreover, it is a game where you can increase your success as you learn these stages, so it won’t be possible to consume it as fast as, for example, Dirt 4.
In short, it’s clear that Codemasters’ game has made you forget the old WRC series, even with the minimal changes from the Dirt Rally 2.0. In this respect, if you’re switching from the WRC series to this game for the first time (is that even possible?), you might get vertigo from the rich content.
Pimp my rally car
A big thing that Codemasters has brought to the game is the ability to build your own car, from the chassis to the bodywork, engine type, and drivetrain. It’s a bit like Halid Avdagic‘s Control 2 or SuperCar Lites, allowing you to create monsters. If you say, “I don’t want to drive anymore; I want to design vehicles,” the scene is yours.
There are also challenge modes where you can relive the unforgettable moments of legendary rallies. There is no need to talk about it too much; you will have a fun time.
Apart from that, EA Sports WRC sadly doesn’t have a capable multiplayer that can stand upright in the esports arena. You can take part in rallies and do your best to be on top at the end of the stages, but that’s all. RBR-Online, the legendary online mode of Richard Burns Rally, will continue its lonely stroll to the zenith because I don’t think WRC can rival it even with modding.
When it comes to driving physics, you’ll hear different things from people of all skill levels, and even though Codemasters says the game offers “the most realistic experience they’ve ever produced,” at the end of the day, WRC is what can only be described as a simcade. It doesn’t occupy you with details like the Richard Burns Rally, and even if it wanted to, it’s clear that the driving physics wouldn’t stand up to it.
Yes, when it comes to physics, series diehards will immediately say, “Is the tarmac handling awful again?” and I’ll say, “Not as bad as before, but yes, it’s ugly.” Driving on tarmac rallies is an annoyance because you don’t feel the car gripping the tarmac in the first place. Unfortunately, while dirt, mud, and snow driving is very satisfying, tarmac rallies continue to be a major headache in this game.
Also, for a title that is so meticulous in every aspect, the ambient sounds, and especially the engine sounds, are very superficial. Especially if you are driving from the cockpit, you can witness that a BMW M3 and a Toyota Yaris Rally1 sound almost identical. Consequently, you might get a bit of a bitter taste.
The game has a full gamepad and steering wheel support. I will make my usual suggestion: if you are playing from the horse riding camera (okay, let’s call it tracking cam), the gamepad is the best solution; if you are playing from the cockpit, the steering wheel set is the optimal choice.
Verdict
Let me start by saying that EA Sports WRC doesn’t deserve most of the criticism it’s getting. If you’re familiar with the DiRT Rally series, you already know what this game has to offer and enjoy. For me, who has spent the last twenty years with racing simulations, the criticisms I can give to the game are as I described above. Some of them made me feel frustrated, but then again, this game is not Richard Burns Rally.
If you are interested in the genre in any way, I think you should definitely buy it because EA Sports WRC is a game that meets expectations with its content, graphics, optimization, and easily accessible game mechanics.
-Kürşat Zaman
83/100
PROS & CONS
+More than enough content
+Driving physics is highly enjoyable for its simcade genre
+It’s possible to create your own car
+Longer rally stages, finally!
–The sounds of the game are poorly executed
–Multiplayer modes are very lacking
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