Old School Rally

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Old School Rally features fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay, with emphasis on driving skill and high-speed maneuvers. RETRO STYLE VISUALSCarefully crafted retro style visuals, reminiscent of the late '90s rally games full of nostalgia and charm, making it a must-play for everyone. RACE THE WORLDWith a variety of rally tracks from around the globe, race across different surfaces such as dirt, tar…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 496 reviews

graphics48 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Captures the nostalgic feel of classic rally games from the PS1 era, reminiscent of Colin McRae Rally.
Variety of locations and cars, each with distinct handling characteristics, making the gameplay engaging.
Fun and simple controls that are easy to pick up, allowing for enjoyable casual play.

Handling can feel odd and unresponsive at times, particularly with braking and cornering.
Pace notes from the co-driver are often too late, leading to frustrating moments during races.
Limited content currently available, with a small number of stages and repetitive gameplay.

graphics
105 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic racing titles with low-poly models, texture warping, and a retro color palette. While many players appreciate the authentic visuals and smooth gameplay, some note that certain environments can feel barren and that graphical quality could be improved in specific areas, such as cockpit views. Overall, the visuals successfully evoke a sense of nostalgia while providing a satisfying racing experience.
- “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.”
- “Charming PS1-esque graphics, with JPEG trees, proper texture warping, dithering, and everything.”
- “The graphics fit that of the genre yet are for now a little on the less side than would ultimately be needed when finished.”
- “Sorry for the thumbs down, but in this state, especially the pixelated graphics on the road, I don't really enjoy it.”
music
61 mentions
49 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received praise for its nostalgic quality and fitting style, with many players enjoying the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience. However, some users noted a desire for more variety in the music selection, as the limited tracks can become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack complements the gameplay well, evoking memories of classic racing games while maintaining a high-quality sound.
- “The soundtrack is amazing!”
- “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.”
- “Killer soundtrack, driving feels great, and the graphics absolutely smoke triple-A games!”
- “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).”
gameplay
43 mentions
40 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic throwback to classic rally games, featuring straightforward driving mechanics that are both accessible and engaging. While some players find the damage system distracting and the mechanics could use fine-tuning, the overall experience is enjoyable, with a well-balanced difficulty and a satisfying core gameplay loop. The visuals complement the smooth gameplay, making it a fun and immersive rally racing experience reminiscent of late '90s titles.
- “The smooth gameplay complements the graphics, creating a racing experience that’s both satisfying and engaging.”
- “The game's driving mechanics are straightforward, making it accessible even for those who might not be seasoned gamers.”
- “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).”
- “It feels like an unnecessary grind that doesn't align well with the core gameplay experience.”
- “The oversteer mechanics/physics feel a little odd though.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming retro vibe and nostalgic elements, enhanced by atmospheric menu music that sets the tone for the experience. While the level design features daring tracks and solid layouts, some players noted a disconnect between their expectations for the music and what was delivered. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's appeal despite minor gameplay inconsistencies.
- “I absolutely love the vibes this game gives; fantastic atmosphere, perfectly simple controls, and some daring tracks in the level design.”
- “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 to what was in the video trailer, with more acid electronics and a 90s atmosphere, but most tracks are not like that. It's poor music.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the ambiance fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
optimization
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with good performance and excellent battery life on devices like the Steam Deck. However, some users report issues with FPS stuttering, particularly on lower-end hardware, and express a desire for future updates to enhance performance and variety in gameplay environments. While vehicle aesthetics are praised, the similarity in performance metrics may detract from the experience.
- “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 to enhance performance, 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, but I want to be able to play this on a 1080 card for a laptop while on the go.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and exhausting, particularly when it comes to unlocking cars and accumulating currency through repetitive competitions. Many express a desire for more rewarding activities, such as time trials providing coins, to alleviate the monotony of grinding the same circuits for extended periods. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant hurdle in achieving full completion.
- “The rest of the content is grinding through finished competitions for gold to buy missing cars and driving to get 1000 km done.”
- “But the next almost 8 hours was pretty much exhausting due to the money prize grinding in order to complete the overall car collection.”
- “I've only one achievement left, which is to get all the cars. It gets a bit grindy; I wish the time trials would give you some coins so I would have a reason to unlock them instead of just grinding the same circuit over and over to earn coins to buy the other cars.”
stability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck, users report occasional buggy controls that can cause the car to stop responding, as well as some texture glitches. Additionally, players may need to adjust to the strong braking mechanics.
- “Runs great on Linux too!”
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck and plays super smooth.”
- “Runs great on my deck, unlike a certain other rally game.”
- “The worst part of the game is that the controls are buggy at times, causing the car to stop responding to keyboard inputs.”
- “If I had to be nitpicky, there are some unintentional glitches with the texture work, and you have to get used to the very strong brakes.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Old School Rally is praised for its emotional resonance as a tribute to classic racing games, evoking nostalgia and a sense of connection to the past. However, gameplay issues, such as unrealistic car handling and bugs, detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration that undermines the emotional engagement. Despite these flaws, players still find moments of exhilaration that remind them of legendary racers like Ari Vatanen.
- “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.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game's simplicity and focus on gameplay contribute significantly to its replayability, with features like Dirt 4-style track generation offering endless variety and encouraging players to return for more. Overall, the consensus is that the game is highly replayable.
- “Sometimes simplicity equals replayability.”
- “This game is a good example of how prioritizing gameplay creates replay value.”
- “Dirt 4-style track generation offers infinite replayability.”
- “Sometimes simplicity equals replayability.”
- “This game is a good example of when gameplay is prioritized and creates replay value.”
- “Definitely replayable.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding the quirky unlockable cars amusing and others noting that the ill-timed pacenotes can lead to unintentionally funny moments, such as crashing into walls or cliffs. Overall, while some aspects elicit laughter, the humor may not consistently resonate with all players.
- “The extra cars are quite funky; it's very funny what you can unlock.”
- “Pacenotes can be ill-timed, leading to situations where, unless you've played through a particular map previously, you won't be able to react accordingly before being thrown into a wall or off a cliff (kind of funny, though).”
- “I can't even make a review with jokes like I normally do since I can't think of anything funny for this, but I still want to write a review anyway.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the game has been 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 delivering a more genuine gaming experience.
- “There are no microtransactions or filler content.”
- “The monetization model is fair and transparent.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
- “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.”
- “The monetization strategy feels intrusive and disrupts the overall experience.”
- “It seems like every aspect of the game is designed to push you towards spending more money.”