Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3817 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2002-11-29
• Rating: Universal, particularly children
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Utilising their exclusive licence to the FIA World Rally Championship, and making big improvements to the game too, Sony have thrown a sizeable gauntlet down to their rivals with World Rally Championship II Extreme. From the off, it's clear much work has been done. The graphics, for instance, are excellent, from the detailed cars to the various rugged terrains you race over. And as with most rallying games, it's a meaty challenge, particularly in the early stages as you get used to things, and towards the end, as you try to win everything. The option exists to dive in for a quick race, but the real dividends are reaped when you take on the WRC mode.

Said mode pits you into a full season, with multi-day and multi-stage races that take place right across the world over varying terrain. As such, the game calls not just for good driving skills--although they're understandably vital--but also a tactical approach as you adjust facets such as your gears, brakes and tyres to suit the forthcoming challenge.

And when it gets down to the action, World Rally Championship II Extreme delivers. It's presents an enthralling, if testing, series of races, which can also be run in multiplayer mode. Perhaps it's still a little way behind its main rival, the Colin McRae Rally series, but it's a genuinely enjoyable challenge for the more experienced rally game fan. It's less forgiving than Mr McRae for those new to the genre, but then this is a serious rally game for serious rally game fans, and they would argue it's all the better for it. It requires dedication, practice and persistence from those who beat it, but they'll certainly have got strong value for money by the time they get to the end. --Simon Brew

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine
"A really full-bodied sim, with a satisfying learning curve for those who can hang on for the ride. 9/10."

Edge
"The obvious purchase for those keen to recreate the overall WRC experience in their living room."

Customer Reviews

Very Enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this game. I thought the Graphics were very good, landscaping and sound effects were excellent. I particulary enjoyed the Time Trials sections. I would agree with othere reviewers in that the car will turn completely around if you even graze the side fencing. Having said that you will get a good few hours entertainment from this game.

Amazing! Simply amazing!
This is the best driving game ever. You'll be wanting this. If you say it's rubbish then you are an idiot. The graphics are very very good. you get bonus extreme cars which have power up to 700bhp and top speeds of over 200MPH. And when you unlock them. you'll love them! Still only got the demo because my dad said:You're not buying it! However. I may lock him in the bathroom and purchase anything I want. for example. this game! Best driving game ever.Throw away ugly Midnight Club poses and all your other street racers and then you'll have loads and loads of money to buy this game!!!

Has it improved?
The original WRC was a fine rally game, very fine indeed. WRC II is a fine rally game, very fine indeed. Even finer.

Graphics have improved and so has the sound [although the clattering and banging of the car can get a bit annoying after a while], the addition of buildings is a nice touch. Handling is a bit more difficult but adds to the feel of the game making the game sit somewhere between sim and arcade.

Quick race selects driver, car and stage for a quick blast. It has the usual time trial and multi-player option but the meat of the game is in Championship mode. The rallies may be similar but all the stages are different from the original WRC game, so you are getting a 'new game' for your money. Novice level is easy but the difficulty ramps up for Professional level which is a challenge. There is no Intermediate level like last time. Expert level is tough but you can access the Extreme rally cars [as the name suggests] which are souped-up prototypes of which there are 6 to choose from. Pity you can't race a championship with them. Beware it can take a bit of time to get through a championship, especially on Expert difficulty with 3 stages per day and 3 days to race.

The Challenge mode has been revamped too, to 4, each an individual rally. There is also the custom rally and custom championship mode. You can make up your own rally from any of the stages or reorder the rallies for your own championship. All bit of fun. You also have to repair your car at intervals but unless your hapless this doesn't interfere to much with the gameplay.

Overall, this is a very good, realistic rally game that has a steeper learning curve than the original but a definite improvement. It still stands the test of time and is as good a blast now as it was a couple of years ago. Well worth an investment at budget price if you like your motors mucky.