Overall, WRC 9 is a good representation of rally racing. It is a fun time for someone who enjoys racing or the casual fan just looking to run with your mates.
Blaring through New Zealand’s snowy countryside at 100mph while chill techno and instrumental dubstep plays in the background wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting from a game. It’s more a ‘Gears and Gasoline’ video of their track days or builds. That being said, first impressions for WRC 9 were both shocking and uplifting. The latest release in the franchise brings me personally to a new world of racing and new style of play because it’s my first review with a gaming wheel. Off the line, WRC 9 grabbed me from the get-go and kept me running harder and faster. ….oh daddy
Going through the tutorial level was rough at first. The handling of the car was super abrupt and challenging to corral on the wheel. After a few runs though, I found myself beginning to get a grip, both figuratively and literally. Managing to grasp the feel for flinging around backroads and country alleys in my hot hatch. Hopping into the career mode for the first time was a smooth transition. The tutorial that works with you is absolutely the most helpful one I’ve come across for any motorsports game. Your career is up to you. You can pick and build your team and make it your own. That overall is a huge plus for race fans. Everything is laid out in front of you and while you’re on rails to start off. The tutorial doesn’t feel confined and locked in. You have that level of hand-holding, but it’s not overbearing. Building up to your first official rally is a fun process. Making your team, practicing with your car, and testing and tuning your skills is a satisfying experience.
When the rubber meets the pavement (or gravel, sand, snow, whatever it hits) is where you learn the truth of rallycross. It’s a workout. The handling of the cars is super loose. At times on the wheel, the weight of the car shifts itself and you fight the wheel, only to have the car feel light as a feather. You’re constantly having to hustle the car over the course. Working throttle and brake while focusing on the calls from your co-pilot, paying attention to where the car has shifted are all factors you must keep in mind. It’s an overwhelming experience. Despite this, it is exhilarating to go through. I definitely blew some corners in the snow trying to make up for lost time, but with most things, there’s a learning curve. Running on snow was an uphill climb. Having to feel out the car on courses for the first time in the snow was cumbersome and at times frustrating as someone who was new. Once you get your bearings for the car/handling, it’s exciting to fling it around on back roads and get a tank slapper going. The full game also offers a rally weekend, free roam, and time trials as well as several versions/years of rallycross vehicles. I can’t begin to tell you the joy I felt when I found the classic Escort in the game.
Graphically WRC 9 is solid. It’s not the most breathtaking game that I have seen, but for being near the end of the console generation it’s still a nice game to look at. The intros to courses do look stupendous. Once in control, foliage and landscapes don’t look great. That is expected when you are running 100 KPH on a narrow road. There is some motion blur with speeding, but it’s not too distracting as it has been in other racing games (thank god because motion blur is sickening at times). Your competitor’s cars look fine as well. At times, not the most astounding, but still solid and fine. The full interface is also a solid build. At times it can take a bit to load and it’s not the most beautiful. It works and does its job and that’s all you can really ask for. I dropped a subtle hint earlier about the soundtrack. It’s one of my favorites in a modern racing game. Current car culture and chillstep/ instrumental dubstep go hand-in-hand. Listening to a great song before heading out to rip up the Swedish countryside or a mountain road in Japan helps to set the mood and get amped up. I could have honestly sat there and listened to it all day long.
WRC 9 is one of the most engaging driving games I have gotten my hands on. For one of my first games on the wheel, you have to hustle and work that car no matter what or where you are. It’s so much fun to work your tail off to get the best possible time. The career mode is rich, allowing for a great level of depth, while also throwing you immediately into some situations that are challenging. The full interface is substantial, not stunning, but it doesn’t need to be. The array of cars and courses is a good collection to test any driver’s skills. The conditions of the courses will make you work for your best time. Visually, the game is solid. While not the most incredibly looking like other racing simcades, WRC is fine for your console. Audio is also key, not only music but with the in-game engine and racing noises. It sounds like you’re in the wild and racing as hard as you can. Overall, WRC 9 is a good representation of rally racing. It is a fun time for someone who enjoys racing or the casual fan just looking to run with your mates.
