Review
Played on: Xbox Series X
Released: 2023
In recent years, I’ve got really into rally racers. Spending time with Dirt Rally 2.0, Dirt 4, WRC 9, WRC10 and WRC Generations, reviews of the latter two here and here. While the WRC titles have been developed by Kylotonn for years now, Electronic Arts has grabbed the license and put its former Codemasters employers on the job.
In recent years, I’ve got really into rally racers. Spending time with Dirt Rally 2.0, Dirt 4, WRC 9, WRC10 and WRC Generations, reviews of the latter two here and here. While the WRC titles have been developed by Kylotonn for years now, Electronic Arts has grabbed the license and put its former Codemasters employers on the job.
I’ve been eager to play this, as Codemasters have released some excellent rally racers through the years, especially Dirt Rally 2.0, but also more casually aimed experiences like Dirt 4.
Let's take a look at EA SPORTS WRC, released fall of last year!
Let's take a look at EA SPORTS WRC, released fall of last year!
My main concern about this release was my experience with Dirt Rally 2.0, I found it overly challenging for newcomers, especially compared to Kylotonn's more customised difficulty settings. Luckily, this new entry of WRC replicates close what Kylotonn was doing with the franchise. Straight from the start screen, the menus feel and look similar. There’s a comprehensive rally school to learn how to rally properly and the career mode bears resemblance to previous entries, with budget, sponsors and staff to manage.
That said, they've added some of the heavy, and difficult to navigate, career style from Codemasters' F1 titles. Although you can adjust the difficulty, length of rallies and budget size, I found navigating the calendar of events, trying to figure out staff management and knowing which events I should participate in or skip, confusing. The painfully slow progression of car upgrades and staff expanding feels unnecessary and underwhelming too.
The management aspect aside, how does it drive? For starters, the car physics and feedback while playing is clearly improved over Kylotonn's effort. Especially playing on a standard controller. Cars feel weightier and more precise, with a realistic sensation inherited from Dirt Rally 2.0. Steering wheels are well implemented too, I had my Logitech G923 up and running in no time, with a lot of nuisances to the force feedback as I threw cars sideways in corners.
It’s challenging keeping your car on the road, but less unfair when it comes to losing control because of nervous controls like the earlier WRC titles. Once you get the cornering right, holding a steady pace and elegantly manoeuvre the courses, it really feels great to play. I just wish the campaign could move elegantly alongside and boost the encouragement for more casual racers with a quicker route to upgrades, cars and staff.
When it comes to content it’s a generous package. Featuring a lot of world locations to race at, although their visual variety is a little sparse, same goes for the modest weather effects. There's a wide variety of rally car genres to choose from. Ranging from extremely powerful to, clearly noticeable in the excellent controls, more forgiving and slower rides.
Visually, my feelings were mixed when I first played it. Somehow, a lot of the roadside detail is lost in the transition to a new developer and game engine. The Kylotonn WRC titles were solid when it came to roadside detail, with unique buildings and interesting visual variety along the side of each rally stage. This new WRC, far less so. Trees, bushes and foliage are lush and well depicted, but there are fewer unique landmarks and buildings along the way.
As such, it becomes a little sterile looking, with a sense of auto generated roads if you wish. However, as you continue playing the visuals begin to shine. There's a lot of smaller detail and effects going on. Lighting, for instance, is great. With headlights illuminating properly the ground, surrounding objects and nature. While sunsets reflect satisfying in the car bodies. Same goes for sharpness in textures, there’s overall more small finesse detail here.
That said, I found the actual car models a tad underwhelming to look at. Some of them look simpler modelled compared to a racer like the recent Forza Motorsport, review here. I wish they could be more drastically dirtied up with mud and sand too. Especially considering a rally game only needs to model one single car on track.
To summarise, when it comes gameplay and control this new WRC hits straight home. Rally enthusiasts, as well as beginners, will have a wonderful time controlling the cars. However, for a visual experience and engaging progression it feels a little lacking.
Some more streamlining in the career interface, less grind based unlocking, more unique visual flair and a bit of that energy from Dirt 5, would've been welcome additions. At the end of the day, it's solid rally experience, but hopefully next year's release can bring some extra spice.
