You also have adjustments for ABS, TCS, steering assist, and whether damage is cosmetic only or if it will impact your performance. Training is a set of training exercises on a closed track while Season mode is basically the core races of the Career mode without all the crew management, but for those looking for the ultimate immersion look no further than the epic Career mode a mode so vast and complete there is an extensive tutorial that will follow you through the first several weeks of racing, by which time you should have a good grasp of all the elements that go into this comprehensive mode.īefore we dive into the Career mode I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the robust options and settings for this game not just in technical tweaking but also in the level of racing realism that spans everything from casual arcade to ultra-realistic – I’m talking the “Permacrash” option where one good wreck can take you out of the race. Quick Play grants you access to any of the rallies with your choice of car and weather conditions, while the Test Area lets you play around with various car setups and try them out.

There is also a split-screen local mode, which makes for a fun way to compete with someone sitting right next to you.Ī majority of the content resides in the single player section of the game that includes Quick Play, Season, Training, and a Test Area, and of course, the Career mode. There are, however a few other ways to play online in competitive events that run for a duration and allow you to race and log your best times on the leaderboards. There are numerous ways to play WRC 8 although at the time of this review the online multiplayer Competition mode is still not available. There are 14 rallies and 100+ special events spread across the world of racing in 14 countries rendered to near photo-realistic quality, and with dynamically generated weather, your racing experience can change at a moment’s notice, not just visually, but in how your car handles and performs. I play dozens of racing games each year and I’ve have reviewed hundreds but nothing comes close to the level of complete and total immersion you will find in WRC 8, not just in the actual driving of the cars, but in every facet of what goes on behind the scenes of a profession race team.įor those looking to be dazzled with numbers, there are 50 teams you can drive for as long as you can maintain a good reputation and don’t get kicked. Here we are only six months later with yet another off-road rally racing game, this time the latest installment in the WRC franchise, and I can say without a doubt that WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship not only achieves reality, it surpasses it.

Earlier this year I reviewed DiRT Rally 2.0 and my main takeaway was that the game “ Closes the gap between game and reality”.

Wrc 8 included rallies