Now frankly, when I was first handed a copy of Digital Illusions’ Rallisport Challenge 2, my emotions on the matter were confused and torn. I rarely find racing games (that don’t have to terms “blood” or “death” in the title) to be terribly enthralling, and the idea of racing against a clock over 90 tracks wasn’t exactly a gripping one. On the other hand, writing reviews means I get to keep the electricity turned on. Regardless, all of these concerns swiftly fell by the wayside as I took up the controller and embarked on a harrowing drive into the heart of the sport, on a journey of discovery where I learned that slaloming around corners at breakneck speeds can actually be pretty damn fun.

The title is a follow-up to DI’s 2002 predecessor in the series, but anyone who’s had a go at the first will notice that changes have been made, and for the better. With more cars and tracks, an improved graphics engine, and pleasantly arcade-y physics (not terribly realistic at times, but definitely more fun), it’s approximately more of the same with a touch of polish to really sell the sizzle. There are around forty different licensed rally cars available in the game, the majority of which need to be unlocked through specific races or goals over ninety tracks. This last claim is a bit of an exaggeration, as a good many tracks are little more than slightly tweaked versions of previous ones you may have encountered, but there are still a couple dozen races you can go through without seeing the same track twice. Further features include such cosmetic perks as paint jobs that can be unlocked via driving time put into each car, or the minor tweaking of the car’s suspension, brakes and steering. While it’s all fairly minor in affecting your play experience, it’s obviously there for people who enjoy that sort of thing.

In the Career mode, which is really the guts of the title, the player is attempting to place in the best times to earn points and unlock new events with new races. The events can include Rally, RallyCross, Hill Climb, Crossover, and Ice Racing. The Rally is simply a timed series of checkpoints where the player is graded on how quickly they got from A to B in comparison to other racers. RallyCross is circuit racing, Hill Climb is, well, driving up a very long incline, and Ice Racing is more or less a nightmarish rehash of every imaginable stereotype regarding Canadian winters. The Crossover race is sort of an odd interpretation of those Hot Wheels™ tracks where two cars race around on separate but parallel courses before smacking the living crap out of each other and flying across the room to chip furniture and scratch up the walls. However in the actual application during gameplay, this never seems to happen, which disappointed me to no end. The timing and location required to actually provide a satisfying encounter are more or less on the “winning the lottery” scale, rendering the whole race theme somewhat moot.

It’s definitely worth mentioning that when damage does occur, the display in relation to this is quite well done. Panels will crumple, paint will scratch, windows will crack and shatter, bumpers and spoilers will be torn halfway off and flap about before flying off into the scenery… good times. The vehicles can also accumulate a nice satisfying layer of detritus when driving in adverse conditions, be it mud, dust, or snow. And while damage to the vehicle never seems to completely stop the player from finishing the race, smashing the hell out of your car will definitely have an impact on steering, speed, and acceleration, however minor. In a game where split seconds shaved off your race time can decide between winning and losing, this can become something of a concern.

What particularly made this title appeal to my novice tastes would have to be the controls and ease of play. While a minimum of buttons are involved in actually driving the vehicle, an advanced player can finesse a sizable advantage with skillful driving, but moreover it’s just a delight to drive these cars. Responsive, powerful, able to be sent skidding around a corner at the touch of a brake, getting air over the top of a rise, or sliding about wildly on ice… enough physics to make things enjoyable without reminding the Sunday drivers that reality is a harsh mistress.

Rallisport Challenge 2 may not have the hard simulation seriousness of some other series, but what it does have to spare are style and polish, with a truckload of content to keep the hardcore audience unlocking various features for days. The game is definitely pitched at fans of the sport, so for casual racing fans or those who may prefer their driving experiences to be a little more realistic, you may want to consider giving this one a rental first. Overall a quality title pitched to something of a niche audience, and a very successful sequel.