SEGA Rally Championship

The Good
I will not write a regular review for this game, as it will be like writing a review about Pac-Man. I will just make a few statements to help you on your way.

If you like racing games, then go get this game. It is very simple.. as you will start to play you will not like it much, but 3 hours into the game you will start to get addicted. The driving mechanics in this game are more addictive than Initial D Arcade Stage! I was late to work many times while I tried to improve my lap time. The fun concept in this game might not be understood by everyone, but if you are one of the types who used to play Ridge Racer (1 thru 5) for hours and hours mastering the track and control of the drift, then this game is for you. As you know, in 1995 Sega and Sony where in a heated battle for best 3d racer.. and personally I don't know whether Sega Rally or Ridge Racer 1 is better. You're definitely not on rails as you were in Namco's hit, but that game had a lot of other things to offer.

Make sure to use the 2nd version 1st Party Sega Saturn "fighter" controller or possibly the 3d analog "nights" controller to play this game. It is a massive difference from the most common, version 1 Saturn controller.

The Bad
While this first installment was just perfect, they could have capitalized on the opportunity and given the sequels more tracks and more options! While they might not have the best replay value, all the Saturn and Arcade versions of this racing series are superb, (especially the massive and very expensive, single cabinet version of SEGA Rally 2.. realistic manual transmission and e-brake to boot.. if you are in San Diego check it out inside the Sea World arcade). But stay away from the Dreamcast conversions..

The Bottom Line
This is one of those hard-core racers. Not with slow, concentrated, simulation style gameplay found in Gran Turismo 2, but more of twitch-reaction, shooter style gameplay found in Ikaruga or G-Darius.

Much more fun than the popular Sega Rally 2 on Dreamcast.

And while not really a simulation.. it is a pretty good "window" into the World Rally Championship world. If you spend the week playing this, and watch a few FIA rally events, you will be living it up. The "online" option of the Championship Edition of this game is probably the biggest argument for you and a friend to both purchase the Saturn Netlink modem, so you can call each-other up (Win 95's "Hyper Terminal" style), and at a 28.8kbs connection compete like madmen.