V-Rally 3 takes the trademark rally action of the series, gives it a fresh lick of paint, and hangs it on a full-blown career mode that sees you start as a total rookie on the circuit, and work your way up through the manufacturers until you're in a position to challenge for the top
Undergo trials, earn contracts with manufacturers, and then push their vehicles to the limit in locations ranging from Finland to Kenya, all beautifully depicted with the powerful 'Twilight' graphics engine.
V-Rally 3's tracks are, in all probability, the most carefully created environments ever seen in a racing game. Each course has been handmade in 500 metre sections, with one designer being responsible for each track. As a result, the look of the game ranges from the rustic charm of the British countryside to the stark, sandblasted environs of Kenya, ensuring that you really feel like you're travelling the globe in your quest for glory. The tracks themselves are stunning, with an incredible variety of trackside objects, humans and terrain types ensuring that the visuals never become samey.
Similar levels of care and attention have been lavished on the vehicle models, which are comprised from an astronomical number of polygons. Mud and dust gets splattered all over your lovely bodywork, and some fancy chassis modelling means that you'll see the consequences of your collisions and crashes in the frame of your car. You'll also feel a noticeable difference in handling, especially if you lose a bumper or trash the steering column. You can even destroy many trackside objects, which may not help you win races, but is a good way to vent frustration when you've already lost one.
V-Rally 3's visual excellence, coupled with the trademark arcade-style handling of the series, makes it an ideal choice for anyone hunting for a playable rally sim that really stretches the PlayStation 2 to it's limits. There's plenty of depth to be had here, with fully customisable cars and a huge career mode to enjoy, but this may not satisfy those looking for a hardcore simulation - V-Rally 3 is just a little bit too much fun for those who take their rallying seriously. For the rest of us, this is a solidly playable racer with some very nifty graphics and a deeply involving career mode.
-6 visually unique countries to race in, including France, Britain, Germany and Kenya
-Fully configurable (and destructible) vehicles
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