For those looking for a bit of a different racing experience, one that's
removed from the high-tech world and asphalt tracks of Formula 1 and NASCAR
racing, there's Rally Trophy. Rally Trophy takes place on the back roads
of the world, where drivers compete for the best times over a series of race
segments. Each car completes each segment on its own, making the outcome a
question of who can best handle his/her car ... and the road.
Rally Trophy provides 11 highly detailed rally cars (the developers even
recorded the distinct engine noises of each car) which are modeled to respond
like their real-life counterparts. Rally cars such as the Volvo Amazon,
Mini Cooper, and Opel Kadet are accurately recreated down to their head and tail
lights. Each car handles differently, and some perform better on different
tracks and driving conditions than others. Damage and road wear are meticulously
modeled as well, and you'll see the results and feel the change in handling as your car takes damage
during a race.
The races in Rally Trophy are played on 42 different tracks spread over 5
different countries. You'll race on a variety of tracks from the snow
covered fields of Finland to the dry savannah of Kenya. Each track's
scenery is well detailed and nicely rendered - too bad you need to keep your eye
on the road most of the time. Should you stray from the track, the
game provides you with plenty of room to maneuver, as long as you can avoid the
trees, rocks, ditches, and other roadside obstacles strewn across the landscape. You
certainly won't be able to go far cross-country,
but you'll have the room to cut corners or try to recover from a spinout.
Weather and time of day effects are also featured in Rally Trophy.
Traction and visibility suffer should you find yourself in a sudden
downpour. Late afternoon or early morning rallies feature a low-in-the-sky
sun which can affect your visibility on certain stretches of the track.
It's tough not to stare into the sun, though. The lighting effects,
reflections, and sun flares in Rally Trophy are top-notch, rivaling or
surpassing those in many of the games available today. In fact, the
overall graphics in Rally Trophy are gorgeous - you'll definitely want to crank
up the resolution and effects as high as your computer can handle.
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