I finally got the game a week ago, on ps5, and i have to say im really relieved and surprised, and happy about it.
It seems most videos i kept seeing, plus comments were pretty misleading for me.
Either world records seemingly gliding over everything, or players that can't push cars to near limit, or with aids on, or less damage on etc.
Or it's examples of unusual crash recoveries, cutting, etc that make it look more arcadey.
I find it similar to dr2, but with more defined grip, and many cool, long, technical stages, and more grounded feel. And crashes and damage on hardcore are pretty solid, in feel and visually.
Have to apologize to the devs, as i let myself trash the game from being misled and so disappointed. And tip my hat at them and thanks for a very solid sim style rally game.
Plus at a bargain..
Im loving almost all cars and stages, kinda addicted even hehe, must have done near a 100 hours already, according to the pstore app.
I'm also so glad we can do custom championships, with any content, and you even have a nice narration, that is somewhat relevant for each stage, event, and your situation, etc.
And with all seasons, weather, time of day, degradation settings, it's a lot of variety, and up to 24 stages you can put for each rally, and up to 16 rallies championships. Cool..
Some cars seem to be lacking some sounds, or sound impact in some views though.
But many are very cool.
And it feels like downshifts don't give this up revs surge you should hear, and feel. And off throttle sounds could be better maybe.
And doppler effect could be sharper it seems in roadside cam replays, they seem not quite dynamic enough.
Braking seems really efficient and stable, not sure if it's overdone.
But i love tarmac in this, very well defined for me, but then i already liked it even in dr2 hehe, idk.
You can definitely slide, laterally enough to me, maybe longitudinally not enough, like when braking.
I'm using full cockpit pov for the most part, and loving the old Porsche, the manta 400, the wrx, the early 2000 mini, etc etc, cool inside sounds.
Love most cars on all surfaces. Well except ice in monte carlo, not fun much.
Wrx on Kenya stage,👌😍.
One little thing i find a little silly and annoying is, in car views, when you damage the radiator, the steam doesn't dissipate when moving, and keeps blocking your view.
It shows also in road side cams replays and looks pretty silly hehe.
Also, while after setting my ffb, on my g29, it feels fine, and i feel most of what i need, it could be more refined, like loss of grip effect, is a little rough.
Acc is smoother, refined in comparison.
Oh, and i love the dust trails, well done, staying long, and expanding far back with time.👌
For most part, it runs almost perfect, just sometimes tearing, maybe more with long shadows, like at dawn setting.
Now i find myself hoping for continued dlcs, and updates, as i worry if they put out a new game, that it will be more arcadey in feel and style of game. Plus again optimizations and bugs and improvements again for a year if new game or engine.
And i would prefer not loose content, just add more, like the 3 coming new rallies, maybe old ones like Australia. Maybe gt-r cars like modern Porsches, idk.
It doesn't seem to have sold well too, hope others like me, come around.., to me it's a super rally sim style game. Very enjoyable, fun, cool.
Long post i know..
Edit: i set all on max no aids, manual, hardcore, etc and it feels good.
The old quattro s1 e2 is so fun on dirt like Estonia, with slides and jumps.
It be cool to add the other old previous quattros.
The hybrids, i can't say i like the system so much, seems it's a more useful strategic way how it is in wrc gen. But i like the cars themselves.