The content of WRC 4 may seem light with only a "Campaign", "Exhibition" and multiplayer mode, the essential is there: all the teams of the current season are present with their respective drivers, and this as well in WRC than in WRC 2, WRC 3, and Junior Academy. All officially entered vehicles are available with their faithfully reproduced liveries. Among the big names, we find Sébastien Loeb of course, but also Mikko Hirvonen, Robert Kubicka as well as the brand new world champion Sébastien Ogier. In terms of rallies and tracks, there again, we are spoiled for choice: all the dates on the official calendar are respected. From Monte Carlo to Finland's 1000 Lakes to the Acropolis Rally, Milestone's developers have forgotten absolutely nothing. Even the markup equipment for the stages is strictly authentic. In short, we believe it. To go into a little more detail, in "Exhibition", you can choose any team in any category, then take part in a full rally or a specific special. The multiplayer mode also offers exactly the same thing, without the need for a second controller since everyone plays in turn.
Once at the controls of a car, as soon as you press the accelerator, you can see that the realization of WRC does not fly very high. No change since the previous version: the contours are crenellated, the textures extremely simple, and the decorations made in a hurry."
The "Career" mode, meanwhile, turns out to be the most interesting insofar as it proposes to follow the destiny of a young driver who aspires to win the supreme title. Nothing really new, but it's a mode that remains pleasant and which above all allows you to take the game in hand easily, with fairly docile vehicles. After going through the traditional team creation phase (driver, co-driver and manager), we are given a wildcard to take part in the Germany rally in Junior Academy, at the wheel of a barely modified Ford Fiesta. At the start of each event, you will have objectives to complete, with points to unlock, not to mention those also won thanks to the ranking. By nurturing one's reputation in this way, the chances of finding a bucket seat with more and more prestigious stables increases, as well as those of reaching the higher categories. As far as the interface is concerned, it remains extremely classic and allows you to keep an eye on the classification, the vehicle chosen, the calendar without forgetting the various nice little press releases. Once at the controls of a car, as soon as you press the accelerator, you can see that the realization of WRC does not fly very high. No change since the previous version: the contours are crenellated, the textures very simple, and the decorations made in a hurry. In fact, only your vehicle manages the feat of remaining in the drinking area..
CRASH TEST
As for handling, it continues to oscillate between simulation and arcade. And then, it must be said that the game greatly favors the WRC, the other categories being there only to dress up the game. Suddenly, if the behavior of the cars evolving in the WRC remains more or less plausible, that of the others is downright horrible . This lack of consideration for the lower championships is also illustrated by the behavior of the co-driver. If the indications that the latter distills are precise, configurable and audible in the din, the notes read are always the same for a given special. Clearly, whether you have a Fiesta with 2 wheel drive and 100 horsepower under the hood, or a WRC with 4 wheel drive and 300 horsepower, the co-driver provides the same information. In short, it's ultra monotonous and it's not the layouts of the specials that will raise the level. Indeed, WRC 4 only offers a maximum of 6 stages per rally. If we find the Col de Turini in the Monte Carlo rally, it is only a feint for the fans. More concretely, each rally is a unique map on which a certain number of routes are drawn. So don't be surprised if the bends have a taste of deja vu.
To put an end to these cursed specials, it should be added that the weather changes will have absolutely no impact on the grip of the car."
As a result, it is very difficult to understand why the loading times are so numerous, since the specials come from the same map. It takes just over a minute and a half (watch in hand) to go from one stage to another. Mind-blowing. To put an end to these cursed specials, it should be added that the weather changes will have absolutely no impact on the grip of the car.. Note also the disappearance of legendary cars that are normally offered. If you are a fan of the R5 Maxi Turbo, the Peugeot 205 T16 or the Audi Quattro, you will have to highlight the previous opuses in the series. Pity. To end on yet another disappointment, let's not forget to mention the Google Trad-style localization. Translation errors, misinterpretations, spelling errors, Milestone will have spared nothing in its quest for savings.
