I don’t understand why Sega hasn’t made more of a conscious effort to revive its Sega Rally series. Clearly people still love playing this type of game, as we’ve seen from the vast success of DIRT 5 and the many games that have surrounded it. So…why not? Sigh. I guess while we wait, there are plenty of indies to dig into – like Pixel Perfect Dude’s #Drive Rally, which is finally available on consoles after a stop on mobile.
This game takes a different approach from its handheld brethren, doing away with the auto runner approach in favor of general racing. A few of you may have disappointment with this decision, but it does bring the game back to a simpler nature that everyone can enjoy. And though it lacks depth with missing multiplayer and online features, #Drive Rallycertainly gets the handling right.
Each car has a floatiness to it, but that makes it easy to master turns (with some practice) and nail the best times on a track. Plus there’s plenty of tracks to take on, with a bevy of content to unlock. The presentation is also pretty nice for a one-person development show, with a fine use of colors. I also enjoy the arrangement of co-captains to call out each turn, though it would’ve been ideal to hear them talk more.
There’s more than #Drive Rally could’ve done to carry the inspiration of the Sega greats of old, but it’s a divine little arcade racer in its own right. It has a lot to offer, including online leaderboards and a huge amount of terrain to cover. And it does so with just the right touch of indie charm. It’s not amazing, but certainly not a flat tire either.
#Drive Rally Wants You To Enjoy the Ride
Inspired by racing games such as Sega Rally and maybe even the V-Rally series, #Drive Rally carries those inspirations towards the starting line with ease. You can choose a number of campaigns across the globe and hit the road with vehicles like the Das Holzwagen and the Doggo (the Doggo!). As you proceed through the general mode, you can unlock new parts and cars to master your rally-driving skills.
It’s not rocket science, but keep in mind that #Drive Rally is the work of one man – Pixel Perfect Dude! And for a solo effort, he truly nails it out of the park. #Drive feels quite natural with its handling, especially when it comes to getting tight turns accomplished with the right amount of drift. And I’m also a fan of the floatiness of the controls, so that the car isn’t loose, but isn’t super tight with its handling either.
That said, I would’ve liked a little more to do. The general campaign is loaded with great tracks, and there’s a lot to unlock. But it lacks the fundamentals of, say, DiRT 5, with the ability to stretch across community or even rivalries with other players. There is a cool online leaderboards feature, but very little to boast about it.
But, hey, it’s an indie development, right? Again, #Drive Rally is a solo effort, and Pixel Perfect Dude did what he could with his resources. He built a great feeling racer with lots of content, and for those content on riding solo on the road, it might just call to you.
How Does #Drive Rally Perform Under the Presentation Hood?
Then we come to the game’s presentation, and it’s not bad.
I wanted to make note of the fine use of colors throughout #Drive Rally, as well as the sharp course design. It’s great to trot around different locales and get to see all sorts of cool stuff. Not to mention that the game’s performance is up to snuff, with a solid frame rate and some excellent camera angles (especially the upper distance one, which lets you see the road that lies ahead).
As for the audio, I do wish there was more music. But the sound effects are sharp for a game such as this. Plus the different co-captains, with their different nationalities, provide a nice touch. I just wish they had more to say other than calling out the turns.
#Drive Rally May Not Innovate, But It Runs Just Fine
There is a little more distance that #Drive Rally could’ve covered in terms of building with friends (or enemies) or maybe even adding a little more character. But as it stands, it’s still a very well done racing game, loaded with solid gameplay and enough presentation to crack a smile on your face. And those co-captains do lend well to the game, though they should’ve spoken up a little more.
For a one-man effort, #Drive Rally hums along as it makes its way onto the track. Sometimes, the lead-up is everything to a worthwhile racer. Just ask the Sega Rally team.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Pixel Perfect Dude for providing us with a review code! #Drive Rally is available now for Xbox,PlayStation, PC/Steam/Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch!
Need more racing goodness in your life? Check out our review of Forza Horizon 6!
