WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship
- October 16, 2015
- KT Racing
- 4h median play time
WRC 5 on the PlayStation 4 is good rally game but is lacking that next-gen feel and look
Get on SteamWRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship is an exciting racing game that offers a realistic simulation of the 2015 World Rally Championship season. With over 65 special stages across 13 countries and a variety of cars and drivers to choose from, players can compete in various game modes, including Career, Online, and Rally School. The game also boasts improved graphics and physics engine for a more immersive rallying experience.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- WRC 5 offers a fun and engaging rally experience with a variety of licensed cars and stages, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The game features a decent handling model and damage system, providing a satisfying driving experience, especially with a steering wheel.
- Rally school mode is a great addition for newcomers, helping them learn the basics of rally driving and improve their skills.
- The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and frame rate drops, making it difficult to play smoothly on various systems.
- Graphics and audio are dated, with poor sound design and low-quality textures that detract from the overall experience.
- The co-driver's pace notes can be confusing and poorly timed, leading to frustrating moments during races.
- graphics92 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting that while there have been improvements since WRC 4, they still fall short of modern standards. Some players find the visuals acceptable for a 2015 title, appreciating certain effects like snow and lighting, but others criticize the performance and overall quality, describing them as glitchy or reminiscent of last-gen consoles. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable but inconsistent, with significant room for improvement.
“Very nice graphics and no silly story: just hardcore rally driving with respect for the real rally rules.”
“Looks great if you turn up the resolution and the graphics and you can have some fun with your friends taking turns on the controller.”
“Good graphics, good sound and realistic driving experience.”
“Sure, the graphics have improved from WRC 4, but the environment looks very poor at mid to high distances.”
“Horrible frame rate/performance, horrible car handling, poor graphics even on its max settings.”
“Graphics are glitchy and worst of all there are so many things about it that are inconsistent like the damage model for instance.”
- optimization32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and input delays, making it nearly unplayable on certain systems. While some users report acceptable performance with adjustments, others find the overall optimization abysmal, especially compared to competitors. Despite decent graphics for a 2015 title, the game's technical shortcomings significantly detract from the experience.
“The performance is really good with no issues so far.”
“+ acceptable graphics for a 2015 game, perfect optimization.”
“Pros: better performance and graphics than WRC 4 (surprise surprise!).”
“Practically unplayable due to extreme performance issues with random several seconds long spikes of lags so bad that the game can't even be called a slideshow anymore, more like static photo display, all on hardware that should, based on the on-paper requirements, run 10 instances of this game seamlessly.”
“The technical side of the game is decent, albeit on the simpler side - the graphics, the soundscape, the physics, and driving model, etc. Without the technical issues, it could perhaps be recommended for its current price (10 EUR or equivalent), but given the abysmal optimization, you should probably look for one of its competitors.”
“Horrible frame rate/performance, horrible car handling, poor graphics even on its max settings.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the well-executed steering and challenging mechanics, while others criticize the car handling and overall experience as lacking compared to previous titles. The introduction of weather effects and checkpoint mechanics adds depth, but the need for practice to master the controls is noted. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some rating it a 7 out of 10, indicating that while it has potential, it falls short of expectations.
“A positive on the gameplay side is the presence of weather.”
“Steering is really well done and the whole gameplay is really satisfying but challenging at once.”
“Leaving the track will result in a reset and punishment in added time, but to avoid it, the game features mechanics such as an option to manually reset your vehicle and a snapshot, allowing you to restart from the last checkpoint.”
“After playing WRC4, I can tell that the gameplay feels different for sure; I believe it feels slower than in WRC4.”
“In the scale from 0-10, I give a 7. I was expecting better gameplay and graphics, but in my opinion, it does not have it. However, for the price, it's okay.”
“There is something really wrong with this game. I love the graphics, but the gameplay and the car handling are just awful.”
- stability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while it boasts quick loading times and no frame rate drops or crashes, users report significant issues with buggy tracks and menus, including unresponsive controller settings. Overall, the experience can be described as inconsistent, with some players encountering frustrating lag and glitches.
“The game had no frame rate drop, no glitches, crashes, and loading time is super quick.”
“Unbelievably buggy menus -- framerate limit and some controller button rebinding just don't register.”
“This may change with further playtime, but currently it's a buggy, laggy mess.”
“Buggy tracks at times - the car can be flung at high speed.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being bland, with users noting that the menu music lacks variety and there is no noticeable soundtrack or background music during gameplay. Overall, the audio experience is considered minimal and uninspired.
“The menu music is rather plain and I don't think there even is any sort of soundtrack or background music playing at any point in time during the game.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered to have low replayability, with users noting that it does not provide many incentives or modes to encourage repeated playthroughs.
“The game offers a variety of play modes that enhance replayability.”
“With multiple paths and choices, each playthrough feels unique and engaging.”
“The diverse gameplay mechanics encourage players to return for new experiences.”
“Not a title that offers a lot of replayability.”
“Not a title that offers a lot of replayability.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment with the monetization strategy, viewing the new product as a cash grab that fails to justify its higher price compared to its predecessor. Many feel that instead of creating a new title, the developers should have expanded on the original game.
“I wouldn't know why you'd spend twice as much for an inferior product that has nothing going for it, apart from a wider track selection. I wish they had just added more to Dirt Rally 1 instead of making a cash grab successor.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its authenticity and relatability, often eliciting genuine smiles and laughter from players. This blend of true-to-life realism enhances the comedic experience, making it a standout feature.
“It's so good that I find myself smiling and laughing at the true-to-life realism.”
“The humor is spot-on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue that keeps me chuckling throughout.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game focuses on delivering an authentic rally driving experience, prioritizing realistic gameplay over a narrative, resulting in a lack of a traditional story element.
Critic Reviews
WRC 5 Review
A surprisingly solid racing game, WRC 5's biggest undoing is its evident lack of budget. Kylotonn Games has put its priorities in the right place, delivering a slick handling model that captures the spontaneous nature of the sport well, but the presentation is fairly poor across the board – and the frame rate issues really detract from the responsiveness of the driving. Still, this is a strong base to work from, and we can only hope that the positive reception results in the studio receiving a bigger budget for the release's inevitable sequel.
70%WRC 5 PS4 Review
WRC 5 on the PlayStation 4 is good rally game but is lacking that next-gen feel and look
64%WRC 5 review
30%
