Xpand Rally

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Xpand Rally is an off-road racing game that features over 30 tracks and 20 cars. The game includes post-release support with additional cars and tracks. Players can compete in different racing modes, such as rally, rallycross, and hill climb, with various weather and time of day options.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 210 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Fun and engaging gameplay with a good balance between simulation and arcade elements.
Solid graphics for its time, with detailed car models and varied environments.
Low system requirements make it accessible for players with less powerful PCs.

Outdated graphics and physics that may not hold up to modern standards.
Limited car selection and repetitive track design can lead to a lack of variety.
Poor handling mechanics, especially on tarmac, can frustrate players.

graphics
44 mentions
30 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Xpand Rally" are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2004 release, with many users noting that while they were impressive for their time, they now appear muddy and simplistic compared to modern standards. Despite this, some players appreciate the visuals as "good enough" for an indie rally game, highlighting the detailed car models and varied environments, while others find them lacking and reminiscent of older console graphics. Overall, the game's graphics may not be a priority for many players, who value the fun and immersive gameplay experience over visual fidelity.
- “For its time, 'Xpand Rally' boasted solid graphics, showcasing detailed car models and varied environments.”
- “Xpand Rally was and still is a pretty good rally game, with graphics that blew us away completely in 2004 and the ability to customize the tracks, you got and still can get some great visuals.”
- “The sound, visuals, and physics all are quite modern and are great!”
- “The graphics are tolerable, but the tracks are very plain.”
- “Graphics definitely look like a cheap 2006 PC game, very muddy (and no, not muddy like rally, just blurry).”
- “The game is okay; the graphics are awful and the controls are dodgy, but meh.”
gameplay
17 mentions
35 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "xpand rally" offers a blend of simulation and arcade racing, providing an engaging off-road experience with vehicle customization options. However, players note that the tracks can become repetitive and the grouping of locations feels disjointed, leading to a less immersive experience. While the game features interesting mechanics, such as driver injuries from crashes, the overall structure and menu design detract from the gameplay enjoyment.
- “The gameplay in 'xpand rally' strikes a balance between simulation and arcade, providing a satisfying off-road racing experience.”
- “The variety of vehicles and the ability to customize them add depth to the gameplay.”
- “'xpand rally' delivers an engaging off-road racing experience that straddles the line between simulation and arcade gameplay.”
- “The tracks do start to feel very samey after the first few hours of gameplay, and the locations of different stages don't make sense the way that they are grouped; one moment I am racing in Arizona, and then to Poland, Kenya, and back again, all part of the same group.”
- “If I were to review it in my first two hours of gameplay, I wouldn't really recommend it... but then you start upgrading the higher tier cars and the handling becomes enjoyable and satisfying as hell, as you will kind of ignore some of its physics quirks (basically any terrain from outside that is not flat may get you stuck).”
- “About an hour of listed gameplay was spent playing the same stage trying to win since there is literally nothing else you can do.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is criticized for occasional stuttering and a lack of support for 1920x1080 resolution, leading to a frustrating experience for players. While the game features impressive weather and water effects, its overall performance is hindered by poor optimization, reminiscent of other Steam titles. Despite these issues, the dynamic car destruction system adds an interesting layer to gameplay, affecting vehicle performance in a realistic manner.
- “Moreover, each bump and crash your car survives may (and will) affect the performance of your vehicle and its components, sometimes even completely destroying your car.”
- “I am not a rally driver, but I checked the FWD performance against Live for Speed (an acknowledged 'realistic' sim) on its rallycross tracks, and I was able to get a similar FWD car (the Mini clone) to oversteer using throttle lift-off and brake, just like I was doing in Xpand.”
- “Occasional stuttering... that can get bad at some points.”
- “Too bad it can't be optimized for 1920x1080 support.”
- “The game is a headache; it looks nice and has some pretty good weather and water effects, but playing in a box really irks me like lots of other Steam games that are poorly optimized.”
story
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its masterful crafting, drawing comparisons to acclaimed titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, while also offering a streamlined experience that avoids lengthy cutscenes and tutorials, allowing players to focus on gameplay. However, some users note a lack of narrative depth for those seeking a more traditional story experience.
- “The highly advanced multiplayer is second only to the campaign, which features a masterfully crafted story that something like Red Dead Redemption 2 could only hope to live up to one day.”
- “There is no story if you want one.”
- “The constant quest for cash 'drove' me on.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing locked races and expensive upgrades that necessitate excessive repetition of races, often leading to boredom and a lack of motivation to progress. The need to replay difficult races for advancement or grind easier ones for resources detracts from the overall enjoyment and curiosity to explore new content.
- “Locked races that require too much grinding to unlock.”
- “Expensive upgrades and new cars that require a lot of grinding.”
- “Boring races with weird difficulty, money farming, and career advancing. I literally felt like completing the game just to end it once and for all; I had no ambitions to reach the finish and no curiosity to check what's new after advancing.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
"Xpand Rally" offers a moderate level of replayability, particularly appealing to fans of off-road racing. However, its multiplayer community may be constrained by the game's age and the presence of newer racing titles. Overall, it receives a replayability rating of 3 out of 5.
- “"Xpand Rally" offers a decent level of replayability, especially for players who enjoy the off-road racing genre.”
- “While this adds replayability, the multiplayer community may be limited due to the game's age and the availability of more recent racing titles.”
- “Replayability (3/5):”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with most players reporting very few glitches after extended playtime. However, some users have experienced minor visual issues when running the game on modern machines.
- “It's an older game that has some issues on modern machines; I had some slight visual glitches in my short time playing.”
- “Stability-wise, there were very few glitches; I can count them on one hand after months of play.”
music
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in "xpand rally" is minimal, as there is no music during races, but the sound design effectively incorporates engine noises and environmental sounds to enhance the off-road racing experience. Overall, the audio complements the gameplay, though it may feel lacking in musical variety.
- “The sound design in 'xpand rally' is serviceable, with engine noises, environmental sounds, and music that complement the off-road racing experience.”
- “There's no music during races, and no competitors in sight at least as far as I got.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the meticulous attention to detail in track design significantly enhances the immersive atmosphere of the off-road racing experience.
- “The attention to detail in track design contributes to the immersive off-road racing atmosphere.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating a truly captivating atmosphere.”
- “The dynamic weather effects enhance the overall experience, making every race feel unique and atmospheric.”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unrealistic elements, such as the ability to perform powerslides in front-wheel-drive cars, which adds a lighthearted and amusing touch to the gameplay experience.
- “One funny thing is that you can perform powerslides in front-wheel drive cars in Xpand, which is obviously unrealistic.”