Official Score
Overall - 75%
75%
For those who live and breathe arcade racers, making a perfect run in Rush Rally Origins is an absolute thrill. For those who don’t mind a fair amount of repetition and a steep price tag, this is your next addiction.
Brownmonster Limited have set out to make the definitive top down racer with Rush Rally Origins. Does it manage to live up to this lofty claim, or does it fall behind legends like SEGA Rally Championship and DiRT Rally 2.0?
Rush Rally Origins Review
Seeing how this is a port of the iOS and Android mobile game, Rush Rally Origins’ pick-up-and-play style immediately shines through. Choosing between Time Trials, Races, Championships, and Multiplayer, players will rally along in one of eight different locales, each featuring six unique races.
However, don’t expect a carbon copy of each level; there are a number of factors that ensure no two runs are the same. From the roads (gravel, dirt, tarmac) to the weather (sunny, rainy), to even the elevation, there are a number of things one should be mindful of when hitting the track.
Thankfully, the controls here are suited for the job. They might seem simple at their core, and they are; players can accelerate, brake, go in reverse, and move to the left and right. However, a great deal of finesse is required; hairpin turns must be hit just right to maintain speed, hills can give you some airtime, and there’s always something to keep you on your toes.
Gameplay works as it should. With arcade roots at its core, one can focus on nailing the perfect time rather than fighting the controls. A number of accommodations have been made as well; for one, rally pace notes are given out at regular intervals. If that’s not enough, the turns are also clearly marked on the ground; just the thing to figure out what lies ahead. It is never cheap, and the main enemy is often the player themselves. This is one title that has players striving to be the best version of themselves.
However, there is a robust upgrade system that allows players to better their cars on the track. The more you drive, the better your perks; players will be able to adjust factors like the engine, exhaust, and suspension to improve each vehicle’s acceleration, top speed, handling, and braking. However, there are four different classes to be mindful of (ranking from D to A), and different upgrades will put players in a different weight class. No need to fear though; one can just as easily remove said upgrades to revert back to a previous state.
Rush Rally Origins hits the mark gameplay-wise, but there were two questionable decisions that ultimately take away from the game. For one, the unlockables can be a downright grind. Players start with a handful of cars and one track, with additional ones unlocked the more you play and the more miles you cover. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but each track is unlocked only for a specific play mode. For those looking to jump from one mode to the other, expect a fair amount of repetition.
The other downside comes from the price; the Steam version of the game retails for $14.99. Seeing how the mobile version of the game comes in at a paltry $4.99, players will be paying three times the amount for what is essentially the same game.
For those who live and breathe arcade racers, making a perfect run in Rush Rally Origins is an absolute thrill. For those who don’t mind a fair amount of repetition and a steep price tag, this is your next addiction.
