Xpand Rally
Gameplay 8
Graphics 7
Sound 7

Awesome graphics if you have the hardware to run it and some challenging gameplay makes this one a winner if you are a rally fan. While Colin McRae still beats it when it comes to pure entertainment but if you are a rally purist then get this.

Gameplay: Good but not for the easily bored.
Graphics: Great looking cars and tracks.
Sound: Average

Summary 7.3 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Xpand Rally

Developer: Techland | Publisher: Deep Silver |Release Date: 2004 | Genre: Racing |Website: n/a | Format: CD / Digital Download

While I can’t say I’m too familiar with Techland, one thing is clear; these guys must love their rallying. Xpand Rally is a racing game that will certainly please fans of the genre and although it doesn’t seem to have any kind of official license, it’s still well worth checking out if you like the genre.

Graphics

Graphically, Xpand Rally is really stunning with awesome effects and crystal clear visuals. All this eye candy comes at a hefty price though, and those without the latest hardware can forget about seeing this game in all its glory. Even on the medium settings the game still looks good with dust billowing behind your car as it blasts through the dusty desert or skids through a dense forest.

The racing takes place in a variety of locations with variable weather and different times of the day all contributing to a unique racing experience. Small touches like seeing spectators run for cover as you approach them or the local wildlife bouncing across the track really sets the game apart. All the cars also have realistic damage effects and can get dirty after a few kilometers in the dust.

Audio & Controls
The audio was a bit low-key with little in the way of any good tunes and a navigator that gets the job done, but hardly sounds exciting. Likewise, the sound effects were functional but not really outstanding. Controls were responsive enough and there’s a wide range of settings that can be tweaked to get the most out of your vehicle.

Gameplay

If there are any bad points, it’s probably that the game is aimed more at the hardcore rally fans than casual racers. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does make the game a bit less fun than something like Colin McRea 2.0. Playing in championship mode means you’ll start with a crappy car and have to upgrade and repair it after each race, which soon becomes a chore if you are constantly eating your competitors’ dust.

It takes time and patience to finish the races first and you’ll be seeing the same tracks over and over, which can become repetitive. Playing the single and multiplayer races is fun, but you are limited to the tracks that you’ve unlocked in Championship mode which, as I’ve said, takes a lot of determination. If you’re not willing to tweak default settings and spend time configuring your car for the type of race that lays ahead, you can forget about getting anywhere, so this game is definitely not for those that just want to pick it up and play.

Conclusion
While I had fun playing Xpand Rally at first and was really impressed by the visuals, it just became a chore after a while and that’s when I stopped playing. There is a heap of different races and you can even create your own tracks with the supplied editor so if this game hooks you, you can kiss a lot of your free time goodbye. How much you’ll like this game, will probably depend on how much you like the real sport.

System Requirements

Windows 98/ME/2000/XP,

P III/AMD Athlon processor with 1.3 GHz, 256 MB RAM,

Video card with, 64 MB, DX 8.0 compatible (GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 9200),

Sound card DX 8.0 compatible,

1 GB of free space on hard drive,

DirectX 9.0c,

Windows 98/ME/2000/XP,

P III/AMD Athlon processor with 1.3 GHz, 256 MB RAM,

Video card with, 64 MB, DX 8.0 compatible (GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 9200),

Sound card DX 8.0 compatible,

1 GB of free space on hard drive,

DirectX 9.0c,

Related posts

Fate Tectonics

Fate Tectonics

Fate Tectonics challenges you to assemble a thriving world, one tile at a time, but with a whole pantheon of angry fates breathing down your neck. Fail to appease them all and you might see all your hard work undone, but if you manage the juggling act your world will thrive. With its charming pixel art visuals and epic 16-bit soundtrack, Fate Tectonics is a game not to be missed. It is accessible enough to start playing in minutes, but making progress requires some real strategic thinking. Graphics: The pixel art visuals look great and are friendly towards players with color blindness. Sound: The dynamic 16-bit soundtrack is a great match for the visual style of the game. Gameplay: Easy to pick up and play, but very addictive and tricky to master, Fate Tectonics can keep you hooked for ages.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Out of the Shadows

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Out of the Shadows

As a big fan of the ninja turtles it pains me to see how much unrealized potential this game has. With a bit more spit and polish it could have been great but as it is the game feels rushed and unfinished. The combat is enjoyable once you get the hang of it but can feel imprecise and sluggish initially. Wait for a sale and hopefully a few patches before diving in. Gameplay: With a bit more polish it could have been great. Graphics: Some nice detail but overall a bit uneven. Sound: The voice acting is great and the tunes fit the game nicely.

Love at First Sight

Love at First Sight

Despite its unique one-eyed love interest, Love At First Sight is not quite as out of the ordinary as you might think. The high school romance story is pretty straightforward, while the visuals are equal parts creepy and cute. Unfortunately, the game is rather short and only features a single route with no choices, but it is still worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre. Gameplay: Short, but quite sweet. Graphics: An interesting mixture of creepy and cute. Sound: Decent tunes, but there are only a few tracks and no voice acting.

Heroine of the Sniper

Heroine of the Sniper

Heroine of the Sniper is a very simple sniper game where you have to guide your little animated heroine through fifteen challenges. Most of these involve shooting at targets from a long range, although there are also a few levels where you get to move around a bit or where you man a machine gun while inside a vehicle. It's not the most polished game on Steam and ends all too soon, but still manages to be quite entertaining while it lasts. Gameplay: The challenges are fun and varied, but the game definitely needed a few more. Graphics: The 2D animated heroine looks nice, but the 3D visuals are fairly simple and levels look very bare. Sound: Unobtrusive music, but the sound effects are pretty good.

Heroes of Loot

Heroes of Loot

Heroes of Loot is a great title for when you need a quick action fix and don’t want to get bogged down with small details like inventory management or stat allocation. You simply race through dungeon floors, killing everything in sight and grabbing whatever loot you can find. It doesn’t have a lot of depth, but since dungeons are randomly generated and increase in difficulty the more you play the replay value is quite high. It is also very reasonably priced, which means there is no excuse for not giving it a shot. Gameplay: The focus is very much on action and there isn’t much that gets in the way of that. Graphics: Some lovely pixel art visuals with nice enemy designs. Sound: Decent, but the sound effects are a little underwhelming.

Dark Sheep

Dark Sheep

Dark Sheep is an addictive block-pushing puzzle game that combines the classic Sokoban formula with some new elements. The Commodore 64 inspired visuals and retro soundtrack, along with the horror theme, sets this game apart. However, it is also enjoyable enough that even players who are not necessarily into retro stuff will get hooked. Gameplay: Straightforward to pick up and play, but some of the puzzles are downright devious. Graphics: Very simple but true to the Commodore 64 era from which it draws inspiration. Sound: The soundtrack is so good that we wished there was more of it.

Leave a comment

4 × 3 =