V-Rally 3 Screenshots   The Final Say! Gameplay 8.9 Graphics 8.9 Sound 8.5 Value 9.0 V-Rally 3  - reviewed by Andrew B Review Date: 27 April 2003 Review Score: 9/10  Distributed By: GameNation

The XBox has so much potential in the world yet developers are not fully supporting this awesome console. The problem is ports, ports and more ports. What is a port? It's a game that has been designed on another system then "ported" across to another console. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad. V-Rally 3 is the latest port to hit the XBox that features the fast paced and dangerous world of rally driving.    Okay, I have to admit that I was one of those few people that didn't think RalliSport Challenge for the XBox was anything special. Besides having bad physics and unrealistic driving in the game, RalliSport Challenge was nothing but eye candy. Fortunately XBoxers can now enjoy a real rally game without the need to worry about poor performance.    V-Rally 3 starts with an impressive introduction move that helps get you into the spirit of what rally driving is... pure racing adrenaline. Once in the game, gamers are given a choice of different gaming modes that include career mode, time attack and challenge mode. In career mode, gamers must select their racing avatar that really doesn't do anything to progress the game. Although V-Rally 3 supports a multiplayer mode, I was a little disappointed that there was no option for split screen racing. Rather, players must try to beat each others times.    The control system of V-Rally features the stock standard "car" controls that are found in all good XBox car games. It does take a little getting use to but eventually you will be driving like Colin McCrae in no time. The control system is a little bit more forgiving on bitumen tracks but when you start racing on gravel and dirt, you will soon find that your brake and handbrake are the best gifts available to you. One wrong turn or travelling too fast around a corner can soon find yourself in a whole world of hurt.    Graphically, V-Rally 3 isn't as superior as RalliSport Challenge but is easily far superior than its PlayStation 2 counterpart. Although not as visually stunning as RalliSport, the game is still a polygon treat that features some extremely realistic car models and some great texture detail. The special effects in the game, whether it's the dirt that has been spun up by dirt, the amazing weather effects or the detailed backgrounds, it all comes together perfectly.    V-Rally 3 contains some of the best weather effects to hit a rally game in ages. On some of the snow stages, it is almost impossible to see 5 metres in front of you. This is not a bad thing per se but an extremely realistic addition that the developers have decided to implement into the game.

V-Rally 3 also contains a number of different views while racing, either a incar view or a variety of different outside views. The game also runs at a beautiful 60 frames per second with minimal slowdown.  

When it comes to sound effects, V-Rally 3 is up there with the best of them. It features all the sounds you would expect to hear at rally racing, from the powerful engines, the sounds of tyres spinning out on gravel and the noises you car makes when you hit a tree at 100 kilometres an hour, simply put... quite brilliant. Musically, V-Rally 3 has a pumping soundtrack that features some great rock music that is sure to get your adrenaline racing through your system. 

Although V-Rally 3 isn't as beautifully designed as RalliSport Challenge, the gameplay however is far superior and I would recommend that rally racing fanatics and gamers that love a good racing game put this on their buy list. Check it out! 

- Andrew B