RalliSport Challenge (Xbox)

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald rating: * * * * )

The lion's share of Xbox coverage begins after the new toy is launched on October 3 but I couldn't wait to bring news of this title.

Beautiful and fun to play, RalliSport Challengee is a milestone in virtual motorsport.

In the opening stage you speed through the dusty African plains. First-time Xbox drivers are treated to an array of visual effects, including sunlight reflecting off textured tracks, gorgeous lens flares and even the occasional stampeding zebra.

Despite the high detail in the cars, tracks and backgrounds, the frame rate goes like a bullet in any of the four available views.

Of course, looks aren't everything and any driving game is only as good as the handling. The Xbox controller provides excellent right-trigger gas and left-trigger brakespeed control, with the responsive left-thumb stick for steering.

This combination of arcade-like action blended with a solid control system creates a spectacular racing atmosphere.

Rallisport Challenge includes four modes of racing. Career mode consists of finishing a series of tournaments — Rally, Ice Racing, Hill Climb, Rallycross. Rally and Hill Climb are point A to point B stages, and Ice Racing and Rallycross feature four cars on the track at once.

Rallisport Challenge offers more than 25 cars from world-famous manufacturers like Subaru, Ford, Peugeot, Audi and Citroen. There are plenty of tracks, but the game begins with most of them locked.

From the start you have four international events: points gained from winning these will unlock the rest. If you're impatient, like me, try using the player name WheelToWheel to unlock additional tracks and cars.

It is difficult to find anything wrong with this game. It is demanding at times but there is a beginner option to cater for greenhorns, and the best way to win races is simply not to crash.

New Zealand gamers have had an ongoing love affair with rally titles so it seems fitting that this is the first Xbox review to feature in these pages.

$129.95

* jon@tenthplanet.co.nz