WRC 10 Review (PS5)

Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: WRC 10
Developer: KT Racing
Publisher: NACON SA
Genre: Racing
Price: $59.99

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KT Racing's WRC 9 was a thoroughly enjoyable experience even for players not really predisposed to racing. Featuring smooth controls, standout graphics, and a strict attention to realism and detail, WRC 10 pick up right where its predecessor left off. For the most part, it's able to achieve what it wants to do – which, for all intents, is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Rally Championship.

WRC 10 goes all out to really immerse you in the experience. Featuring all 12 rounds of the season, WRC 10’s main gameplay mode is its Career mode, a combination of managemen- style gameplay and fluid driving on the rally stages. As the driver at the head of the rally, you're in charge of navigating the game’s requisite twists and turns. As the manager, you're setting up these events, building reputations, forming teams, and slowly making a name for yourself and those under you.

WRC 10 brings about a very interesting mix where you're not only weighing the benefits of what each event can bring; you're also managing the talents of those you employ. You're able to unlock skills, hire researchers to help create better equipment, and assemble a championship-worthy team that can see you through the entire event. It's not a new game mode in the WRC line-up, but it's one that still remains entertaining, particularly if you like the micromanagement aspect it brings. The options you have are plentiful, and you'll constantly be weighing positives and negatives against each other as you slowly, but surely, make a name for yourself and your team.

As noted, WRC 10 also has the driving segments you have to wrestle with, and it does not disappoint in this regard. It brings a plethora of new cars, new stages, and new rallies, and pulls out all the stops and lets you go crazy on the road. Speeding through empty streets, listening to the hum of the engine, and taking precise turns while your partner/navigator tells you of the obstacles ahead is truly immersive when combined with the next generation graphics it employs.

Each stage you'll run through in WRC 10 affects how your vehicle will perform, and what vehicle you pick will drastically alter the outcome. It's always a thrilling balance between speed and safety, and you'll turn corners and burn rubber in an attempt to finish as fast as you can in the safest way possible. After all, a misstep can result in a disastrous crash.

Newcomers need not be afraid. While WRC 10 takes a more simulation-based approach to its driving, there's plenty of helpful assists to slowly help you acclimate to its requirements. Conversely, if that's not enough of a challenge for you, you can always dive straight into the tougher contracts with wet roads and low visibility to test your skills. The sky's the limit when it comes to how you want to enjoy your driving in the game. In this regard, the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is nothing short of perfect, bringing an superior experience when it comes to enjoying the rallies themselves.

That said, while WRC 10 is a fun game to play, it does give the impression as a title that, at times, feels like a slight step up rather than a full sequel. Almost everything WRC 10 does is an overall improvement over WRC 9, but it nonetheless suffers from the same issues. Texture pop-in is present and can be jarring when contrasted with the game's photorealistic tracks, and some slowdown now and then can be frustrating in a game that pushes you to go as fast as you can.

For newcomers to the series, WRC 10 will be able to scratch an itch that other racing games can't, but those who still have WRC 9 fresh on their minds might also find WRC 10 as a sequel that doesn't give nearly as much as it should.

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THE GOOD

• Great graphics and great gameplay, especially if you like the series' Career mode
• Really immersive due to the DualSense triggers
• Accessible even to newcomers, with plenty of options in how you want to run your rallies

THE BAD

• Can be viewed as an update rather than a sequel
• Still has the same issues as those in WRC 9

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RATING: 8.5/10

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