Rally Arcade Classics pays homage to the golden age of arcade racing. With vibrant pixel art, a pulsating soundtrack, and a relentless focus on high-speed thrills, Rally Arcade Classics seeks to recapture the magic of classic coin-op racers. Does it successfully transport players back to the arcades of yesteryear, or does it crash and burn? Read on to find out!

The Essence of Arcade Racing

At its core, Rally Arcade Classics is about speed, precision, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. The game features a roster of classic cars, each with its own unique handling characteristics. From nimble hatchbacks to powerful rally monsters, players can choose their weapon of choice and conquer the winding roads.

Compared to other recent releases in the genre, Rally Arcade Classics focuses on the core elements of classic arcade racers: car performance and track design. It avoids the complex tuning and detailed realism found in modern simulations, which can sometimes detract from the overall experience of what a racing game really is. Weather also plays a part, but only slightly. When it’s wet, your car will slide. When you’re driving on a dirt track, your car will drift on turns above a certain speed.

Rall Arcade Classics features a variety of modes – such as tour, rally and arcade – and each one is unique and interesting in its own way. Features such as these keep the game engaging as it gives players something to aim for, rather than aimlessly driving around at high speed. At it’s core, Rally Arcade Classics keeps everything simple, staying true to its inspirations from a couple of decades ago.

A Competitive Spirit

Rally Arcade Classics offers a variety of multiplayer modes, allowing players to test their skills against friends and rivals alike. Whether it’s a head-to-head race or a time trial challenge, there are several ways to compete against others, and this is what helps to keep things more interesting still. Rally Arcade Classics also features online leaderboards, placing you against your respective ranking after each event.

A Retro Revival

The visual style of Rally Arcade Classics is a throwback to the racing games we had the privilege of playing more than 20 years ago. The tracks are meticulously designed, with each one offering a unique visual flair. The audio is equally impressive, featuring a soundtrack that perfectly captures the arcade atmosphere. Both car models and tracks alike are varied and look good. There are reflections on wet tracks and rain looks decent. Despite appearing retro at first glance, there is a lot more to it when you look under the bonnet/hood (pun totally intended).

Enduring Appeal

Rally Arcade Classics offers a surprising amount of depth for a semi-retro arcade racer. The challenge of mastering each track and perfecting your driving technique across different surfaces and environments is what keeps players coming back for more. The competitive multiplayer modes add another layer of replay value, ensuring that there’s always something new to strive for. As such, it’s difficult to run out of things to do in Rally Arcade Classics.

Conclusion: A Modern Classic

Rally Arcade Classics is a triumph of retro-inspired design. It captures the essence of early-21st-century classic arcade racing while adding its own modern flair. There are occasions where the game might feel too simplistic overall, so those of you who are looking for a deep and meaningful experience will probably do better looking at more complex titles elsewhere. With its challenging gameplay, vibrant visuals, infectious soundtrack, and nostalgic gameplay style, Arcade Rally Classics is a must-play for fans of arcade racers and retro gaming alike.

Grade: 8.5/10