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GT Advance 2: Rally Racing

Score: 80%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: THQ
Developer: MTO Co, LTD
Media: Cart/1
Players: 1 - 2
Genre: Racing

Graphics & Sound:

A very quick follow-up to the successful first chapter in THQ's Game Boy Advance racing series, GT Advance 2: Rally Racing is more of the great stuff present last year, but with the addition of off-road action and spotters to lead you through the tight curves. Although the sheer amount of detail is down a bit since the tracks are supposed to feel more open and natural, graphics look excellent. The lead-in animation is awesome, and the look of the game through menus, on-screen displays and the background you'll find in any location rocks out. The cars don't seem to bend and stretch as much as they did in the first game, so a more fluid, organic feeling is created. The hilly tracks help suggest even more of a sense of speed in the game as you fly through rough terrain, catching air and dodging the occasional tree or rock. There still isn't a sense of blinding speed, but there will be plenty of times when you feel yourself leaning as your car slides out to avoid an obstacle.

The music and voice effects really take GT Advance 2 to a higher level, and the voice shouting 'GOAL!' when you cross the line does the most to make me forget I'm playing this on a handheld. Several musical tracks play out as you race, and there's no skimping on quality here anymore than there was for the graphics. To see and hear this thing will make you a believer, but until you do see it, take my word for the fact that this is the best portable racing you're likely to get, if you're a rally fan.


Gameplay:

Rally? What's that, you say? Fans of rally know the difference, and it's still a fact that even with popular games like Colin McRae Rally, Rally Racing isn't widely appreciated or understood on our side of the Atlantic. Once you get a look at these cars, you may start to think about Rally differently. But, the cars aren't really at the heart of what makes Rally special. This is precision racing at its finest. Not insanely precise as in F1 racing, but a precision that sometimes teaches you a good turn in bad weather is worth all the speed in the world. More, really.

In World Rally Mode, a single player works through 14 stages to attain (hopefully) the crowning glory of world rally racing. Each stage is composed of multiple tracks, based on a location which looks consistent but offers tracks that vary wildly. Unlike racers who wait for good weather to race and get mad when fans throw stuff on the track, rally racing is all about taking things as they come. Rain or shine, tarmac or mud, you're out there jamming. Trees, rocks and other stuff is a 'no problem' proposition. Heck, it adds to the fun. Time Trial, Single Race and Practice let you work on technique in cars and tracks you've opened up, but the most demanding and rewarding way to learn the ropes is in License Mode. Here, you'll take on specific courses, each with a challenge to offer and a lesson to teach you. Although playing the license challenges was frustrating and each took a lot of time to master, I liked the fact that winning new cars is tied to more than just race performance. In fact, it's the other way around. If you can license the cars for racing, you'll be able to get that much further ahead and be a true competitor. There are 3 levels of license, and the whole point of each challenge is to make your way through the twisty curvies and not slide off the track. One small touch of a wheel in the shoulder and you're done. While this may seem overly harsh, the reality of this racing style is that precious seconds count, and sliding all over the road won't get you in the winners' circle.

When you think you know the roads well enough, another interesting mode is Co-Driver. As you may know, one factor in the precision driving and crazy course layout is the ability to have a Co-Driver help you through the race. Typically, being a co-driver means shouting out commands that let the driver know what kind of turn is coming up, and how severe it is. Road conditions may also be a part of the co-driver's warnings to his driver. So, as you might expect, Co-Driver Mode lets you help a driver through courses by giving them commands. It's a nice addition to the game that offers an interesting challenge beyond straight driving skill. And, the part of GT Advance 2 that really makes it a prize catch is a multiplayer mode using the link cable to allow 2 happy gamers to hook up and play one of two ways. A simple 'versus' mode is available, but you can also merge records of high scores and fastest times so that when you fire up your single-player game next time, your friend's records will still be in your machine for you to try and beat!


Difficulty:

The level of challenge in GT Advance 2 can be extreme. Simply racing the track conservatively is not going to net you any gold medals. And, I found that sticking to the dirt or driving 'in the lines' is also not the best way to reign supreme. A combination of dirty driving and precision seems to win the day, but the usual mode of racing does not always apply in this game. Understanding conditions and setting your car up accordingly, even choosing the right car for the road and level of competition, is key to winning. Gamers who ignore things like tire changing, adjustments to gear ratios and suspension do so at their peril. The winning here isn't easy, but I never had the sense that there was anything subpar or sneaky about the AI in the game. It's tough, but fair.

Game Mechanics:

Best feature by far: battery save! Not having to work with stupid codes is a huge improvement and just something we should be able to count on at this point. There doesn't seem to be any kind of auto-save option, which is too bad. But, moving through the main menu to reach the save point is not terribly difficult. And, when you turn on the game, you'll have to load your previous game to restore the cars you earned to your garage. Otherwise, the options to customize game settings are extensive. Transmission, gear ratios, braking, suspension and steering can all be adjusted, with the obvious lesson being that certain cars and certain tracks demand special settings. Really, I think all this stuff is about personal preference and maximum playability. Any of the cars you unlock or that are available after passing the first license can make their way capably through most tracks, so the extra tweaking is likely to be based on your preference for what makes a car excellent to drive. GT Advance 2 features some 40 cars from major manufacturers, souped up for rally racing, of course. You can view stats on each car, but it would have been good to have had more options in decorating a car or building a custom model. Issues around handling, acceleration and speed all affect what you'll choose to take into a race, but the choice itself is nice. There are a lot of really cool cars here. Once you get into the car, the racing display is solid, not overdone. I also would have liked a different viewing angle available or a way to disable some of the H.U.D., but they had to leave something for the 3rd installment, right? After a race, you're treated to an instant replay. Fancy camera angles really let you know that THQ was going for a look that would bring this little game on the level of its big-consoler counterparts.

Not that you have to be a fan of rally racing to enjoy GT Advance 2, but it helps. The precision involved and the idea that conditions don't always allow you to race in a breakneck fashion won't appeal to all racers, but those who get it really get it. And, for fans of Colin McRea or even ATV and Jet-Ski games on bigger consoles, this is a game that can fulfill a niche in the racing world similar to the best-of-breed in other offroad categories. The execution is excellent, and don't let the fact that GT Advance 2 is a bit of a niche title keep you away from getting a copy.


-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications
AKA Matt Paddock

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