Please note: New graphics cards do not support PAL8 textures, so these must be disabled for the game to work. That means no headlights, brakelights, weather effects, skidmarks, or smoke. This does take away a little from the game, but the sheer driving pleasure you get from this brilliant little swedish piece of work is still outstanding. The physics are incredibly advanced for its time. Weight transfer is possible, scandinavian flicks are possible... I had so much fun with this game in my teens.
So yeah, hi and welcome to part 1 of my Rally Masters playthrough. This game was released by DICE (Digital Illusions CE) in 2000. You probably know some of their later work such as the Rallisport Challenge games and I suppose the Battlefield series. These guys know their stuff.
The game's focus lies on head-to-head racing on super special stages (SSS, or "Mickey Mouse stages"), but also the traditional regular point-to-point A to B rallying that we all know and love, as well as its own version of Rally Cross. The number of cars are impressive, and they each have their own handling characteristics and sounds. It is listed as arcade but is more sim than most "new" racing games. In my opinion it's right up there with Dirt Rally and Richard Burns Rally. That's how good the physics are.
We start off with the Rally Masters Trophy championship, all classes are locked except for the F2 one. I chose the Renault Megane because... well it looks funny and has 7 gears. I will be driving all championships, record, and upload here.
First round is in Italy. Let's do this! Recorded in 60 fps for your pleasure.