Anyone ever play a game called V Rally3?

Theo · Post by **Theo** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:17 am

I saw it the other day for $12.00. Thought about picking it up, but I wanted to get a little more info on it first. Any thoughts? Thanks!!!

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 11:04 am

It's not made by ea sports so it sucks~!

Sorry... anyway... in all seriousness. The game is average. Nothing special. Way too floaty of physics. The series has really taken a nose dive after the decent rally game on the DC.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 11:56 am

Boom is spot-on, as usual, when it comes to describing rally games.

Take care,
PK

lnin0 · Post by **lnin0** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:27 pm

I really loved VR3 on the Xbox. I still own a copy and while I didn't feel it did for the Xbox what VR2 did for the Dreamcast it was still the best thing for its time (which was around CMR3). Now in the face of CMR4/5 and RSC2 it doesn't come off as well.

The cars are a tend to feel a little light but handle quite well. Because the cars feel very light it makes bumps and dips all the more pracarious. The roads are fairly wide but as you move out to the edges and into the grass it gets bumpy - that coupled with the light feeling car physics keep the courses as challenging as a narrower road lined with obsticles.

The game is still unmatched in some areas. While not a graphics powerhouse they do have a nice mix of countries and weather conditions. Also there are plenty of breakable fences and trackside streaking animals.

The career is easily the best thought out of any rally game to date and you take a new comer up through the ranks season by season until you reach the penical 4WD cars - and even then you have to work your way up the ranks to the top rides. You get offers each season from various teams and sponsers with a PDA to keep things in order and a photo album to record your history.

The damage model is pretty well done for its time (think it is about 2 years old) and setup is on par with Colin's. This game also started doing the right stick car preview/open doors before Colin had it.

Another trick, and one of my all time favorites in any rally game (I wish Colin would steal this) is the Heli-Cam replay. Replays have various camera options but the best is a Heli-Cam view just like you see on TV. It does not cut from section to section but acctually apperas like it is attatched to a helicopter -- following the action from the air non-stop start to finish. It looses the car in thick trees or tunnels sometimes and will chase it from side to side as needed. For me this single out of race feature, along with the exemplary career mode, adds makes this a crack rally game for any fan to own.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 1:17 pm

Good points, but I still don't feel the game was that compelling. The physics reminded me too much of Sega Rally or Rally Cross -- too floaty, not enough seat-of-the-pants "feel."

But you're right, lnin, the game did have some nice features. I prefer the CMR series.

Actually, the WRC series for the PS2 had big promise. Only the first in the series was released in North America. It was GORGEOUS for its day graphically, and it had the full WRC license, including cars, drivers and actual stages from the championship.

But WRC was hindered by an overly sticky grip model and a very easy level of difficulty, even on the most challenging level. If WRC's grip model was loosened a bit and the challenge was increased, that series could kick major ass and give Colin a serious run for the top.

I've heard great things about the realism of Richard Burns Rally, but sadly that game probably never will make it to North America on consoles.

Take care,
PK

Theo · Post by **Theo** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 2:02 pm

Hey pk. Which is the best game overall, Vrally3 or WRC?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:03 pm

Theo:

I side toward WRC, but with a BIG catch: I'm a World Rally freak, following the championship very closely, so the officially licensed cars, drivers, rallies and actual stages -- all the way down to the actual graphics used on WRC telecasts -- were a huge plus for me.

But WRC is a damn easy game, and I know you're very quick on the CMR 2005 stages. So I question how much challenge WRC will provide you.

V-Rally 3 will be a better game for you unless you're also a big-time WRC fan. V-Rally 3 is deeper than WRC. Its handling is more floaty than WRC, but WRC has way too much grip, especially on gravel.

Just realize that V-Rally 3 is nowhere near as white-knuckle or ass-puckering a rally package as CMR 2005.

Hell, no console game available in North America is, as far as I'm concerned.

Take care,
PK