Old School Rally
- July 18, 2024
- Frozen Lake Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Old School Rally" is a retro-style racing game with fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Race across diverse rally tracks from around the world in a variety of classic-inspired rally cars. Compete against other drivers on the leaderboards and earn achievements, while providing feedback to help the game evolve over time.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of classic PS1-era rally games, reminiscent of titles like Colin McRae Rally.
- Fun and engaging arcade-style driving mechanics that are easy to pick up but challenging to master.
- Great variety of cars and tracks, with a charming retro aesthetic and enjoyable soundtrack.
- Handling can feel inconsistent, with issues related to braking power and car inertia, making it difficult to maintain momentum in corners.
- Co-driver callouts are often too late or inaccurate, leading to frustrating moments during races.
- Limited content currently available, with repetitive gameplay and a lack of competitive elements such as AI opponents.
- graphics221 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their authentic PS1 aesthetic, capturing the nostalgic charm of 90s racing games with low-poly models, texture warping, and a retro color palette. While many players appreciate the visuals as a faithful homage to classic titles, some note that certain environments can feel barren and that graphical quality could be improved, particularly in cockpit views. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and nostalgic visuals creates a satisfying experience for fans of the genre.
“The graphics are gorgeous and capture that retro PS1 charm, with inbuilt texture warping and dithering (that can be toggled on or off at your leisure).”
“The pixel-perfect graphics transport you back to the golden age of gaming, yet the gameplay is smooth and exhilarating, capturing the essence of rally racing flawlessly.”
“Everything from the graphics, cars, and tracks bring massive nostalgia from those PS1-era rally games.”
“The only issues I noted were some graphical issues with holes in the terrain and the occasional texture glitching on some of the road textures.”
“Sorry for thumbs down, but in this state, especially the pixelated graphics on the road, I don't really enjoy it.”
“Finally, I think the art style feels a bit weird at high (1080p+) resolutions, as many blocky textures have incredibly crisp edges.”
- music128 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its nostalgic quality and fitting style, effectively complementing the gameplay and graphics. While many players enjoy the soundtrack, some express a desire for more variety and additional tracks to prevent repetition. Overall, the music enhances the arcade experience, evoking fond memories of classic racing games, though a few players noted that the in-game music could be improved or diversified.
“The soundtrack is amazing!”
“It handles like a dream and the soundtrack is superb.”
“The music is great, you can select different tracks during the race and you can toggle whether or not you want it playing while you go, there's a wide variety of wonderfully on-point tracks to enjoy and I would absolutely love to buy a copy of it someday.”
“The music and track scenery is quite basic when compared to a classic like Need for Speed III (1998).”
“The driving is very good, the in-game music is terrible though (had to mute it) and the first person view is disappointing but I really enjoy the drifting and the scenery and handling of the different cars.”
“I expected similar music, as in the video trailer, more acid electronics with a 90s atmosphere, but most tracks are not like that (poor music).”
- gameplay89 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic rally games like Colin McRae Rally, offering a fun and engaging driving experience with straightforward mechanics that are accessible to both new and seasoned players. While some players find the damage system and collision mechanics frustrating, the overall gameplay loop of racing and upgrading cars is enjoyable, complemented by smooth graphics and a well-balanced difficulty. Despite minor issues, the game successfully captures the essence of old-school rally racing, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
“The smooth gameplay complements the graphics, creating a racing experience that’s both satisfying and engaging.”
“Im absolutely in love with this game, the core gameplay loop is very fun!”
“This game is a good example of when gameplay is prioritized and creates replay value.”
“Damage is a pointless addition because in time trial it only seems to serve as a distraction, and in rally mode it's frustrating when you pick up damage from invisible walls (and the repair mechanic isn't explained).”
“The setting is nice, but the physics and collision are a buggy mess. Cars don't slide like they should, yet you can't grip the corners either, making the gameplay quirky to say the least. The worst part is that walls are like glue; China is the absolute worst map because the walls trap you so hard. I understand it's to keep people from wall riding, but even a slight tap and you have to reset; there's no coming back from it.”
“It feels like an unnecessary grind that doesn't align well with the core gameplay experience.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting good performance, excellent battery life, and responsive controls, particularly on devices like the Steam Deck. However, some users have reported issues with FPS stuttering and a desire for improved performance on lower-end hardware, as well as hopes for future updates to enhance vehicle variety and environmental interactions.
“The controls feel great, the performance is good, and battery life is excellent.”
“I've been playing on my Steam Deck and it's been great; battery usage is low and performance is steady, which is good.”
“Basic car customization (tuning) allows for certain parts for performance tuning, such as tires for better handling.”
“Vehicles as a whole are really nice to look at, but they all have pretty similar performance that you can’t tell apart until you start comparing them side by side.”
“Car performance is measured by an arbitrary 1-10 scale for acceleration, top speed, handling, and braking.”
“FPS stuttering: the FPS limit helps mitigate the problem as much as it can, but I want to be able to play this on a 1080 card for a laptop while on the go.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming retro vibes and nostalgic tone, enhanced by atmospheric menu music that complements the gameplay. While some players noted a mismatch between their music expectations and the actual tracks, the overall ambiance, level design, and simple controls contribute to a solid and enjoyable experience. However, the wide tracks may feel unrealistic for a rally game, though they add to the forgiving nature of the gameplay.
“I absolutely love the vibes this game gives, fantastic atmosphere, perfectly simple controls, and some daring tracks in the level design.”
“Still, I think the devs have done an amazing job creating a charmingly retro atmosphere, which is the biggest selling point for me.”
“Complementing the in-game action is the atmospheric menu music, which sets the perfect tone for this nostalgic journey.”
“I expected similar music, as in the video trailer, more acid electronics with a 90s atmosphere, but most tracks are not like that (poor music).”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and exhausting, particularly when it comes to unlocking cars and accumulating coins through repetitive races. Many express a desire for more rewarding mechanics, such as earning coins from time trials, to alleviate the monotony of grinding the same circuits for extended periods. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“But the next almost 8 hours was pretty much exhausting for the money prize grinding in order to get the overall car collection.”
“I've only one achievement left and that is to get all the cars, which gets a bit grindy. I wish the time trials would give you some coins; that way, at least I'd have a reason to unlock them instead of just grinding the same circuit over and over to get coins to buy the other cars.”
“Rest of the content is grinding the finished competitions for gold to buy missing cars and driving to get 1000km done.”
- stability11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with reports of buggy controls that can cause cars to become unresponsive and issues with physics and collision detection, particularly on certain maps. While it runs smoothly on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck, players have noted unintentional glitches and strong braking mechanics that require adjustment. Overall, the experience can be quirky due to these inconsistencies.
“The game runs great on Steam Deck and plays super smooth.”
“Runs great on my deck, unlike a certain other rally game.”
“Runs great on Linux too!”
“The setting is nice, but the physics and collision are a buggy mess. Cars don't slide like they should, yet you can't grip the corners either, making the gameplay quirky to say the least. The worst part is that walls are like glue; China is the absolute worst map because the walls trap you so hard. I understand it's to keep people from wall riding, but even a slight tap and you have to reset. There's no coming back from it.”
“Worst part of the game is that controls are buggy sometimes, making the car stop responding to keyboard controls.”
“If I had to be nitpicky, there are some unintentional glitches with the texture work, and you have to get used to the brakes that are very strong.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Old School Rally" evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, serving as a heartfelt tribute to classic racing games. Players express a mix of emotional engagement, feeling like legendary drivers while navigating stages, despite frustrations with gameplay mechanics and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game resonates emotionally, but technical issues may hinder its full potential.
“Old school rally isn't just a game; it's a heartfelt tribute to a bygone era of racing games.”
“Made me feel like Ari Vatanen - surgically cutting through stages.”
“Old school rally isn't just a game; it's a heartfelt tribute to a bygone era of racing games.”
- humor8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding amusement in the quirky car designs and the absurdity of ill-timed pacenotes that can lead to comical crashes. However, others feel that the frustrating driving mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment, making it difficult to appreciate the humor fully. Overall, while there are moments of levity, the game's challenges can overshadow its comedic elements.
“The extra cars are quite funky; it's very funny what you can unlock.”
“Pacenotes can be ill-timed, leading to a situation where unless you've played through a particular map previously, you will not be able to react accordingly before being thrown into a wall or off of a cliff (kind of funny, though).”
“This is such a tiny thing, but I just wanted to bring it up: cars don't idle at 200 RPM. I don't know if it's just the car I was using, but I just found that funny as hell.”
“I personally find it really unfunny when the physics and driving model are actively fighting against you when racing. It's a really cool game, but sadly the handling of the cars and the fact they drift too much over the slightest movements makes it really hard to enjoy.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its simple yet engaging gameplay and features like Dirt 4-style track generation, which offers endless variations and keeps players coming back for more.
“- Dirt 4 style track generation for infinite replayability.”
“Sometimes simplicity = replayability.”
“This game is a good example of when gameplay is prioritized and creates replay value.”
“Definitely replayable.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its intrusive advertising, which disrupts immersion, particularly at key gameplay moments. However, players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and filler content, suggesting a focus on a more straightforward gaming experience.
“No microtransactions or filler content.”
“No microtransactions or filler content.”
“Brushing an advertising tarp is like hitting a wall of titanium, which you're forced to do at the end of the 2nd Finland stage - it's like there's no value given to a sense of immersion.”
