Rally Cross 2

Description

Rally Cross 2 is a 1998 off‑road racing game that builds on the 1997 original with a more robust feature set, expanded vehicle options, and a larger suite of tracks, positioning itself as a more complete and technically ambitious sequel. It arrived during a period when arcade‑style rally racing was gaining traction on the PlayStation.

Gameplay centres on aggressive, physics‑driven off‑road racing across 16 tracks, each also playable in reverse for a total of 32 layouts. The game has multiple modes including Single Race, Season, Time Trial, and Practice, along with sub‑modes like Head‑On and Suicide, where opponents race directly against the player’s direction. Vehicles can be customised extensively, with adjustable shocks, steering, brakes, gear ratios, tyres, and paint schemes. A new 3D engine improves terrain handling, damage modelling, and mud accumulation, while a track editor allows players to build their own courses.

At release, the game received favourable reviews, earning aggregate scores around the mid‑to‑high 70s and individual ratings ranging from 7.5/10 to over 90%. Critics praised its expanded content, improved physics, and strong sense of speed, though some noted that it still fell short of genre leaders in refinement. Retrospectively, it is often viewed as a solid, feature‑rich sequel that significantly improved on its predecessor—ironically becoming the final entry in the series despite being described at the time as a promising step toward establishing a long‑running brand.