V-Rally (video game)

V-Rally

The game was developed over the course of nearly two years by a team that would later be known as Eden Studios. Former rally world champion Ari Vatanen worked on the game as a technical consultant,^[1] giving the developers insight on how the cars should handle collisions and drifts. Upon release, the game was critically and commercially successful in Europe, selling more than two million copies as of November 1998. However, the game was not very successful in North America. Critics generally praised its large number of tracks and challenging yet rewarding gameplay, but some criticized its overly-sensitive and difficult controls. After its release on the PlayStation console, V-Rally was ported to multiple platforms, including the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Microsoft Windows. A sequel, V-Rally 2, was released in 1999.

Gameplay

V-Rally is a

V-Rally was developed for the

In Europe, V-Rally received very positive reviews from critics, who compared it favorably to Sega Rally Championship, praising its large number of tracks and challenging yet rewarding gameplay.^[4][24][2] Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine described V-Rally as "a huge game, by far the most comprehensive racer on [the PlayStation] or any other platform since Psygnosis' F1",^[24] while Edge credited it for adopting a different style from other PlayStation racing games such as Rage Racer, a market the magazine considered overcrowded at the time.^[16] Editors of the French video game magazine Consoles + considered V-Rally the most effective rally simulation game they had ever played.^[15]

Computer and Video Games editors felt that the simulation aspects give V-Rally a lot of depth, but remarked that the game is not as instantly accessible as Sega Rally and that its highly sensitive controls can frustrate some players. They also considered V-Rally a more attractive game due to its better-looking graphics, which were highlighted for their details and long draw distance.^[2] The replay value was seen as one of the game's strongest points, mainly because of the variety of tracks and weather conditions.^[15][4] The Spanish video game magazine HobbyConsolas noted the game's varied scenery, stating that each track offers unique challenges. The magazine said that, although it can take some time to get used to the controls, the effort is ultimately rewarding due to the game's "impressive" sense of speed.^[4]

In North America, reviews were generally not as positive.^[23][19] GameSpot condemned the controls, saying that the cars "spin out much, much too easily, and even with understeering turned all the way up in the options, the cars still tend to go wild". Although the website highlighted the game's "impressive" number of cars and tracks, especially when compared to most games of the time, it concluded that the game is not worth playing due to its "shoddy control".^[19] Electronic Gaming Monthly editors agreed, describing the car physics and collision detection as wacky and unnatural.^[23] GamePro instead asserted that "game control is responsive, but requires patience and practice, so arcade drivers will easily be frustrated". The reviewer concluded that V-Rally is more for hardcore rally enthusiasts than for the Need for Speed fanbase, but is a strong offering in that regard, citing its customization options, useful co-pilot voice, and detailed and smoothly scrolling graphics.^[25]

Other publications were more positive towards the game.^[3][7] GameRevolution enjoyed the fact that weather conditions impact the gameplay experience, stressing that "once you understand that you actually need to use your brakes and concentrate on the race, the realism proves to be a great asset",^[7] while IGN felt that the game was highly rewarding and fun, and that it is best experienced when played on higher difficulty settings.^[3]

Sales

In Europe, V-Rally was a commercial success, selling 15,000 copies during its first weekend of release.^[18] In the UK, the game was a bestseller for three months,^[26] and in August 1998, the game received a "Gold" sales award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland,^[27] indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.^[28] As of November 1998, V-Rally had sold more than two million copies worldwide.^[9] It took home a "Gold" prize at the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, for revenues above €22 million in the European Union during 1998.^[29] In Australia, V-Rally sold nearly 100,000 copies in its first three months of release.^[14]

Ports and adaptations

After its release on the PlayStation console, V-Rally was ported to multiple platforms. In early 1998, Infogrames hinted that Ocean was planning to release a Nintendo 64 version of the game.^[30] Presented at the 1998 European Computer Trade Show and later at the 1999 Nintendo Space World show,^[31][32] the Nintendo 64 version, developed by Eden Studios and entitled V-Rally: Edition '99, was released in Europe on 11 December 1998,^[33][34] and in North America on 15 September 1999.^[35][36] It features several improvements over the original, including a revised physics engine for better vehicle feel and control,^[31] alongside updated vehicles based on the 1998 World Rally Championship.^[9] The game fits in a 96-megabit cartridge,^[37] but does not feature any music during gameplay.^[38] The Nintendo 64 version generally received more positive reviews in Europe^[39][40][41] than in North America.^[37][38][42] Criticism was targeted at its late draw-in graphics and floaty car physics, but some critics highlighted the fact that the game features more than 50 tracks.^{[37][38][42][39]} IGN remarked that the North American version would have been judged differently one year earlier, when well-received Nintendo 64 racing games such as World Driver Championship or Beetle Adventure Racing had yet to be released.^[38]

A single-player,

References