Assetto Corsa Rally Preview

Appearing completely out of the blue, Assetto Corsa Rally landed from a “Jump, maybe” at the perfect time. With news of EA calling time on the development of current and future WRC titles meaning that particular horse is out of the race. And even though stalwart racer Richard Burns’ Rally is still proving popular due to the hard work of some dedicated modders, in terms of modern usability and graphics it’s really showing its age, despite how good it handles.

Diving into Assetto Corsa Rally during the early access phase, it feels like it's being handled a bit differently than other early access racers we’ve had previously. Instead of trying to impress you with loads of cars and stages, there’s only a handful of each. Keeping the scope narrow like this in the early release versions allows for a more concentrated approach in the development of the title. Instead of making a change to the physics engine and then wondering if your roster of 50 cars is still functioning properly, you only have a handful to test. For me at least, this approach is inspiring for what’s to come.

What’s refreshing over other rally titles is the sheer uncompromising attitude it’s taking to handling. With all of the assists off, it can be very unforgiving. Your throttle input isn’t just the loud pedal, it’s the balance to keep that slide round a corner. Hitting the brakes isn’t about coming to a halt; it’s the subtle shift of the car's weight onto the front tyres to better increase your ability to turn in. Overcommit and you’re off for a picnic in the nearest ditch. Too cautious and your stage times suffer as a result.

Graphically, Assetto Corsa Rally looks amazing, especially if you try the Welsh rally stages in the wet. There are pools of water all over the surface as it would land amongst the various ruts made by the cars rolling through. Those surfaces are also laser scanned, making them some of the most accurate rally surfaces gamers have ever had the pleasure of driving on. Spectators also line the stages in various groups, some of which are a little too eager to see the cars on their approach...

The audio sounds superb too, with the engines for the different cars all having their own profile, that reverbs around the stages very convincingly — especially when you’re watching a replay of your endeavours to get from A to B quickly. The noise of gravel being kicked up into the body of the car is ever-present in the Welsh stages, adding an additional layer of depth to the sensation of piloting a tin can down a narrow road with trees either side at 80 miles per hour.

Overall, Assetto Corsa Rally is shaping up to be something special. A handling model that’s both accessible and unforgiving for novices and the hardcore alike, stages that look amazing and a development cycle that’s looking to be full of smaller quality updates, rather than doing too much too early. Add in that the developers have mentioned that they’d like to include mod support if possible, and we could be onto a real winner for the rally aficionados out there.