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"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.

Old School Rally screenshot
Old School Rally screenshot
Old School Rally screenshot
Old School Rally screenshot
Old School Rally screenshot
Old School Rally screenshot

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,392 reviews
graphics136 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions

  • The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic PS1-era rally games, providing a fun and straightforward racing experience.
  • The graphics and art style are charming, reminiscent of late '90s racing games, and the car models are well-designed.
  • The driving mechanics are enjoyable and accessible, making it easy for both casual players and rally enthusiasts to pick up and play.
  • The handling of the cars can feel inconsistent, with issues related to braking and cornering that detract from the overall experience.
  • Pace notes from the co-driver are often too late or inaccurate, leading to frustrating moments during races.
  • The game currently lacks content, with a limited number of tracks and no AI opponents, making it feel repetitive after a short playtime.
  • graphics
    314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic homage to the PS1 and late 90s arcade racing aesthetics, featuring charming low-poly models, texture warping, and a CRT filter option that enhances the retro feel. While many players appreciate the authentic visuals and the overall art style, some have noted issues with graphical bugs and a lack of detail in certain environments. Overall, the graphics successfully evoke a sense of nostalgia, making it a delightful experience for fans of classic racing games.

    • “Fantastic car models that emulate the classics, visually distinct low-res environments, a photo mode to make some aesthetic slideshows with.”
    • “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 retro visuals in the environments and vehicles look amazing and incredibly accurate to 90s PS1 racers, even down to the textures warping around!”
    • “The graphics suck!!!!!!!!”
    • “The only thing I do have to complain about is the graphics; they are very simple and lack shadows from where the source of light should be blocked.”
    • “Sorry for the thumbs down, but in this state, especially the pixelated graphics on the road, I don't really enjoy it.”
  • music
    170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its nostalgic and energetic soundtrack, which complements the arcade racing experience well. Many players appreciate the variety and quality of the tracks, noting that they enhance the sense of speed and excitement while driving. However, some users have expressed a desire for more music options and the ability to play custom tracks during races, as the current selection can become repetitive.

    • “The soundtrack is mostly excellent, and the tracks are a blast to race on.”
    • “An amazing callback to rally racing classics, with awesome iconic vehicles and a great thumping soundtrack to match the intense thrill of whipping around corners full sideways at full speed!”
    • “Buttery smooth driving, good selection of tracks, and the soundtrack just breathes nostalgic yet so originally done.”
    • “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
    132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with many praising its nostalgic appeal and straightforward mechanics reminiscent of classic rally games, while others criticize the driving physics and collision issues that detract from the experience. Players appreciate the simple loop of racing and time trials, but some feel that the game requires further refinement and responsiveness to player feedback to enhance long-term enjoyment. Overall, it offers a fun arcade experience, especially for fans of old-school rally titles, but significant improvements are needed in driving mechanics and gameplay fundamentals.

    • “The gameplay is a very simple loop of getting the best time on a stage to advance to the next stage; once all the stages of said rally have been completed, you win and advance to the next rally until you beat them all.”
    • “The smooth gameplay complements the graphics, creating a racing experience that’s both satisfying and engaging.”
    • “The actual gameplay is great, a nice arcade feeling that rewards you for being able to anticipate what's coming up.”
    • “Devs seem to be following a content roadmap and are seemingly ignoring any feedback in regards to the entirely too grippy and light on power-sliding gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “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).”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance and low bug incidence, with players reporting only minor issues like a single graphic bug and some FPS stuttering, which can be mitigated through settings adjustments. The game runs well on devices like the Steam Deck, offering good battery life and steady performance, although some players desire more distinct vehicle performance metrics and hope for future updates to enhance 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.”
    • “Car performance is measured by an arbitrary 1-10 scale for acceleration, top speed, handling, and braking.”
    • “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 bar for acceleration, top speed, handling, and braking.”
    • “FPS stuttering: the FPS limit helps with negating as much of the problem as it can, but I want to be able to play this on a 1080 card for a laptop while on the go.”
  • grinding
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, particularly when it comes to earning money for unlocking cars and completing achievements. Many express frustration with repetitive tasks, such as racing the same circuits multiple times for coins, and suggest that the game could benefit from more varied rewards to alleviate the grind. Overall, while some enjoy the challenge, the consensus is that the grinding can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Using grinding to keep players playing after they have 100% the campaign isn't preferable.”
    • “Rest of the content is grinding the finished competitions for gold to buy missing cars and driving to get 1000km done.”
    • “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 coin; 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.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming retro vibes and engaging level design, creating a nostalgic experience that resonates with players. While the menu music enhances the overall tone, some users expressed disappointment with the in-game tracks, which did not match their expectations. 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.”
    • “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).”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky elements, such as the amusingly low idle RPM of cars and the funky unlockable vehicles. Players find split-screen gameplay with friends particularly entertaining, although some aspects, like the frustrating physics and ill-timed pacenotes, can lead to unintentionally funny moments. Overall, while the game has its comedic highlights, the humor may not resonate with everyone due to gameplay frustrations.

    • “Third and finally... now 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.”
    • “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).”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to "Old School Rally," viewing it as a heartfelt tribute to classic racing games. However, concerns about gameplay mechanics and bugs detract from the experience, leading to frustration and questioning the game's depth. Despite these issues, moments of exhilaration, such as feeling like a legendary driver, highlight the game's potential for emotional engagement.

    • “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.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marred by significant issues with physics and collision detection, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly on certain maps like China where walls can trap players. Users report occasional unresponsiveness in controls and glitches in texture work, although the game performs well on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck. Overall, while it runs smoothly on some systems, the buggy mechanics detract from the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “The 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.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 variety. Players appreciate how these elements prioritize gameplay, enhancing the overall replay value.

    • “- 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.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 delivering a more straightforward 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.”

Buy Old School Rally

2h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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