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
There's something about Kylotonn's WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship that appeals even to casual fans of racing videogames. Whether it's the constant hum of the engines or the smoothness of the controls, there's a comfortable assurance in how WRC 9 presents itself. It looks and feels inviting, even for those with little experience in the genre.
In simple terms, WRC 9 pits players against the road. Pick a car of choice and a track to speed through, and then race all the way to the finish line. With 14 different locations, WRC 9 offers hours upon hours of adrenaline rushes, in between eliciting the need to adapt, drive, and conquer its various tracks, and end in the fastest time possiblePretty modest goals? Perhaps, but what it seems to lack in extravagant fanfare and complicated narratives, it more than makes up for it in plenty of other ways.
For instance, WRC 9 oozes beauty every which way. With its touched-up graphics on the PS4 Pro, it becomes remarkably lifelike, taking gamers through vastly different photorealistic environments. Its lush sceneries, rendered so beautifully, peek through the windshield and turn into distant landmarks that elicit regret from moist eyes. If only there were time to savor the experience of driving through Kenya's dirt roads or speeding through the quiet countryside of Japan. Meanwhile, the call and calling of competition is highlighted amid the instructions of the navigator and the squeal of the tires. The drive is made even more immersive by the temptations all around.
Outside of just plain racing, WRC 9 also has a pretty solid Career Mode. Gamers are asked to manage and shift team members around, participate in rallies, and attend events to earn cash prizes, with the end-goal of becoming the next WRC champion. The better the finish in each race, the more money earned, and the higher the rep. In turn, the developments allow the hiring of more experienced team members to help out during races, and, with good fortune, even lead to endorsement contracts. With a slew of different events to participate in, and various weather and driving conditions to endure, it's pretty much a racer's wildest dream turned to life. Whether driving full-speed in a snow storm or blazing a trail through a dimly lit night, WRC 9 has the scenario covered in spades.
To be sure, WRC 9 wouldn't be half as entertaining as it looks and sounds if the cars didn't handle well. And they do. Outside of some initial clunkiness, WRC9's driving mechanics are top-notch. Whether series veterans or newcomers, gamers are afforded a large degree of freedom in how they take control of the wheel. Pretty much anyone, even seemingly uninterested quarters, can speed through tracks and drift around corners to their heart's desire. This isn't to say that the game is needlessly easy; to the contrary, cars feel weighty and heavy, and with unique handling quirks. That said, at no point will cars ever feel floaty. Driving in WRC 9 feels, well, just right.
THE GOOD
- Immersive racing experience, both in how it looks and how it plays
- A lot of variety in race tracks, weather conditions, and environments to speed through
- Inviting and not overly difficult
- Large degree of customization options available
THE BAD
- Content is mostly similar to WRC 8’s offering
- Fairly simple gameplay loop that's mostly about racing and little else
- Can be a bit frustrating to play at the start
RATING: 8.5/10
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