Rally Championship Xtreme
Description
Rally Championship Xtreme is a racing game that rose to the challenge of satisfying discerning rally fans in 2002. Developed by the talented team at Sceneries and published by Actualize, this Windows game attempts to build on the popular series of its predecessor. Although it has its bright moments, some aspects leave something to be desired.
First impressions after starting the game are mixed. The graphics, although at a decent level at the time, now give a somewhat dated impression. Objects and environments, despite the detailed textures, bear the marks of their time, which in today's age of realistic visuals can be disappointing for modern gamers. However, it has to be admitted that in 2002 it was a nice visual treatment whose strength lay in the atmosphere of the real tracks and the varied environments in which the races took place.
The gameplay itself is a strong point of Rally Championship Xtreme. The vehicles behave realistically and the driving requires careful control, which will be especially appreciated by those close to the sport of rallying. The physical model is robust, the cars' wheels really react to the terrain and you can feel every jump or bump. In addition, the game features a weather system that dynamically changes track conditions, adding an extra challenge.
However, all that glitters is not gold. The engine sounds, and hopefully at least some authentic audio, are somewhat monotonous and get tiresome after a while. Another blow is the limited choice of cars and tracks. As for the game modes, the singleplayer can become repetitive after a while. While multiplayer does extend the life of the game, at the time of its creation it wasn't as smooth and accessible as we expect today.
One of the main draws is the career mode, which takes you through a series of races across different surfaces and climates. Each race you win brings you closer to further stages and victories, and upgrading cars adds welcome strategic depth. It's a shame that even here you'll occasionally run into technical flaws that can be unnecessarily frustrating.
All in all, Rally Championship Xtreme is a solid piece of work within its genre and time period. It has its strengths in its realistic driving model and variable environments, but also its weaknesses like its aging graphics and soundtrack. For nostalgics and fans of historical racing games, it may still offer an interesting experience, but modern gamers may find it a bit challenging to overlook its shortcomings.