DESCRIPTION

Digital Illusions' RalliSport Challenge, a PC rally title, takes place across a variety of terrain. Unlike traditional rally titles, crashes and car damage do little to affect a car's overall performance, with the designers emphasizing speed and forgiving control over strict realism. Four game modes consist of Single Race, Time Attack, Multiplayer, and Career.

Career is the heart of the game, requiring players to compete in 17 events (each consisting of a varying number of races), with progress dictated by the number of points accumulated in each event. Surfaces such as sand, ice, gravel, and tarmac require players to master different driving techniques. The 25 licensed cars include models from Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Ford, Toyota, and Subaru.

Though damage does not significantly affect vehicle performance, it does have a bearing on the number of points awarded at the end of a race, providing some incentive for keeping the vehicle on the course as much as possible. Real-time damage appears in the form of broken taillights, smashed windows, and dents as players negotiate a number of hairpin turns and hills on their way to the finish line.

During a career, players will participate in four distinct rally events: Point-to-Point Rally, RallyCross, Ice Racing, and Hill Climb. The first is a traditional rally event where players race the clock in an attempt to place within the three top times; the second is a race to the finish against three other opponents. Ice Racing is similar to RallyCross but takes place on ice, while Hill Climb requires players to reach the top of a treacherous slope in the shortest time possible. Using the cars and courses unlocked in Career, up to four players can engage in split-screen competition in Multiplayer mode. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide