WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship Review (PS5)

Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship
Developer: KT Racing
Publisher: Bigben Interactive 
Genre: Racing
Price: $49.99

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Racing games aren’t for everybody. In fact, conventional wisdom pegs them as part of a self-limiting genre. Outside of thematic choices, they are constrained by an intrinsic need to be about, well, racing. For all the challenges, however, WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship prove to be a transcendent title. The smooth, easy gameplay mechanics serve to make it appealing to a wider audience base, not to mention holds its attention far longer than envisioned. And on the Sony PlayStation 5, it makes full use of the stronger, faster engine at its disposal and shows off its strengths proudly, leading to an outstanding experience overall.

WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship isn't complicated in what it intends to do. Broken down to nuts and bolts, it's really just a game revolving around the driver, the road, the elements, and the vehicle in use. With different tracks to conquer and different locations to race through, gamers are expected to drift, speed, and blitz their way through to the finish line in the fastest time possible. And, given the glorious graphical and aural presentation, they’ll no doubt feel good in so doing. Cars are responsive, the interface is topnotch, and the general design of the game is one that would make even the most discriminatory hardcore racers proud. It lets gamers live the life of a WRC competitor, in the process losing themselves in a high speed fantasy of tires, gas, and dirt.

The PS4 version of WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship, previously reviewed on this space, earned glowing marks. For those out to double dip, here’s the bottom line: The PS5 version is even better. As well as it looks and sounds on the previous-generation console, its latest iteration is by far the best. And as a launch title on the hottest gaming hardware currently on the market, it's more than happy to show off how well it runs. Alongside its still-top-shelf handling, the smoother framerate gives it a decided edge. Boasting of a 4K resolution running at a crisp 60 frames per second, it provides a visceral and aural feedback that wholly complements its gamer interactions. The difference is noticeable; the enhanced details, superior performance, and the heightened sense of speed the game imparts is nothing short of phenomenal. Blazing down the track amid a photorealistic environment, the car models look stunning, period.

Meanwhile, the PS5's DualSense controller further enhances gameplay. Marketed as one of the PS5's unique selling points, it lays claim to the trigger buttons that rock and tremble as gamers negotiate the challenges before them, resisting or giving in to their presses at certain points depending on what's happening. This might seem like a small thing; controller vibrations aren't exactly a new invention. Then again, the way the buttons react to situations elicits a surprising level of immersion. Its variable resistance adapts to in-game occurrences; the seemingly simple change to its programming design helps amplify the experience – from mimicking the screech of the brakes to highlighting the roar of the engine to accentuating the feedback from the road.

Simply put, WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship is at its finest on the PS5. Previous owners of the title on the PS4 and Xbox One get this next-gen upgrade free of charge. Racing fans won’t want to miss it, while those new to the genre could do much, much worse than pick it up and bask on the unparalleled high it provides. Highly recommended.

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THE GOOD

• Smooth 4K graphics playing at a constantly high framerate
• Comes as a free upgrade for previous owners to enjoy
• Retains all the content of the previous release, guaranteeing hours upon hours of gameplay

THE BAD

• Mainly a graphics and performance update
• Contains minor glitches that can pull gamers out of the moment

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RATING: 9/10

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