Three things I like about this game, and one I don't
By Paul Hunter
The Fia World Rally Championship is turning 50 years old and to celebrate, the French developer Kylotonn and publisher Nacon have brought us WRC 10. The WRC series is known for its incredibly faithful driving realism and its plethora of exciting rally racing game modes.
WRC 10 is a bittersweet moment given that Codemasters has secured the WRC license from 2023 onwards. But it's really fitting that Kylotonn has produced what I think is the best game in the series yet with its improved physics, updated visuals and this year's enhanced career mode. So let's put the pedal to the medal, here are three things I liked about the game...and one I didn't.
As for the rallies themselves, the cancellation of some of the real-world races because of COVID-19 impacted what's in this game. At launch you get Croatia, Spain and Estonia, alongside Sweden, Kenya and Japan. Ypres and some Greek rallies will be added as a free update post launch. The Arctic Rally Finland doesn't make the cut since it was a last-minute addition after Rally Sweden was cancelled because of the pandemic. You have to really give your hats off to the game's developers, it must have been extremely challenging to keep up with all the cancelled and rescheduled WRC rallies!
Another huge improvement this year is the new tire management system. If you participate in the new optional shakedown before each rally you'll be granted extra tires you can use. It's a great addition since you can change tires mid-rally to get a boost on the competition. Graphically, tearing up the roads with your fresh tires looks amazing, and the effects are even better in extreme weather like snow or heavy rain.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Kylotonn
Publisher: Nacon
Genre: Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The Fia World Rally Championship is turning 50 years old and to celebrate, the French developer Kylotonn and publisher Nacon have brought us WRC 10. The WRC series is known for its incredibly faithful driving realism and its plethora of exciting rally racing game modes.
WRC 10 is a bittersweet moment given that Codemasters has secured the WRC license from 2023 onwards. But it's really fitting that Kylotonn has produced what I think is the best game in the series yet with its improved physics, updated visuals and this year's enhanced career mode. So let's put the pedal to the medal, here are three things I liked about the game...and one I didn't.
Liked: 50th Anniversary Mode
A major highlight of WRC 10 is its 50th Anniversary mode that consists of 15 events celebrating iconic moments throughout WRC history from 1973 to 2019. You get to re-experience historic moments like Sandro Munari 1974 victory and the reuniting of Loeb and Elena in the 2018 Rally of Catalunya. It's an amazing mode filled with nostalgia that brings to life some of the greatest WRC moments of all time.
Liked: The WRC Classes and Car
Fans of World Championship Rally are in for a huge treat as this game includes every official racing class like the junior WRC all the way up to WRC 2 and WRC 3. The game also has more than 55 cars ranging from popular modern roadsters all the way to legendary ones like the Lancia Fulvia. To help really make each car your own, a new livery editor lets you design custom bodies and paints.As for the rallies themselves, the cancellation of some of the real-world races because of COVID-19 impacted what's in this game. At launch you get Croatia, Spain and Estonia, alongside Sweden, Kenya and Japan. Ypres and some Greek rallies will be added as a free update post launch. The Arctic Rally Finland doesn't make the cut since it was a last-minute addition after Rally Sweden was cancelled because of the pandemic. You have to really give your hats off to the game's developers, it must have been extremely challenging to keep up with all the cancelled and rescheduled WRC rallies!
Liked: The Incredible Visuals
WRC 10 improves upon last year's edition with even more detail in the cars and environments, everything looks absolutely stunning. The dynamic weather includes rain and snow, and combined with the enhanced new lighting effects, they really add to the game's immersion.Another huge improvement this year is the new tire management system. If you participate in the new optional shakedown before each rally you'll be granted extra tires you can use. It's a great addition since you can change tires mid-rally to get a boost on the competition. Graphically, tearing up the roads with your fresh tires looks amazing, and the effects are even better in extreme weather like snow or heavy rain.
Didn't Like: Some Tearing and Visual Bugs
While the vast majority of the time WRC 10 runs buttery smooth, I did notice some occasional screen tearing at high speeds. I also saw some odd visual display bugs in my created liveries that does take away some of the creation fun. All that said, these graphical bugs are fortunately not too prevalent.
The Verdict
WRC 10 is my new pick for best game in the series with its new and enhanced game modes, livery editor, better graphics and improved physics. It's a nice celebration of 50 years of WRC rallies and I particularly thought the anniversary mode was an excellent touch. It's sad to see Kylotonn will soon pass over the torch to Codemasters, but great to see them wrapping up the series with the best entry yet.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
WRC 10 details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch PCDeveloper: Kylotonn
Publisher: Nacon
Genre: Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
A key was provided by the publisher.