With a title like 4x4 Extreme Rally, most people would know what to expect; extreme rallying. And that's exactly what you get, 9levels of heart racing action. Gamers seem to enjoy the special thrill that only off-road rallying games can provide, and thereis no shortage of it here. There are few extras, there is little in the way of sound and the courses are quick and fast, but Gameleons has done the job well, for purists or casual gamers.
4x4 Extreme Rally is not a huge game. With a decent 9 levels, and 4 different cars to choose from, there is enough here for the average fan but nothing more. It is the steep challenge of the game that kept me playing, and if it was any easier I would say that the game would've been over very quickly.
The racing system is done well, turns can be completed very accurately with a bit of practice, and there are many, many shortcuts on offer for the thinking player. There's also plenty of hazards on the courses to slow you down!
To go onto the next race in 4x4 Extreme Rally you will need to come first out of 4 drivers. In reality, this is basically the same as any 'time trial' mode for console racers, as you are really racing against the time of the number one driver, and there are no other cars driving at the same time as you. If you come 4th, 3rd or 2nd you have to try again, which tends to get on the nerves after 20 or so tries. Once you do beat a level though, it is a very good feeling indeed.
Inside 4x4 Extreme Rally lies a beast. This beast is similar to that nasty high school teacher who gave you detention for not doing your homework. It's this beast inside 4x4 Extreme Rally that penalizes you for hitting a wall or a tree, or turning slightlytoo much. Let me put it to you simply - if you crash into something, or make a mistake, the race is all but over. Well, not over, but you will not have a chance of winning, as the time needed to progress is always pretty hard to achieve. It can be done, but beating the game takes practice.
There is a nice bonus at the end of the game, when you finish all 9 levels you unlock a link to a wallpaper and ringtone based on the game. I didn't use either of them, but it's a nice treat to get a reward for the hard work needed to beat the game.
One think that slightly irked me about the game is the inability to restart races. With a racing game as unforgiving as this, one mistake will generally cost you the race. Call me a cheater, but I would like the ability to restard the race if I accidentally get stuck. In 4x4 Extreme Rally, you will either have to fully complete the race or just quit the game and start again, which I ended up doing quite often.
4x4 Extreme Rally's graphics are very good, for a top down racer. There are lots of details to be seen, and the game looks sharpin all areas. There are only 3 variations in the levels; desert, forest or snow, so some other types would have been nice, maybe an unlockable urban level?
The sound isn't anything to boast about. The music option simply turns on the menu music, as there's no music to be heard duringthe race itself. With the sound effects, there are a couple of beeps for the '1, 2, 3, go!' and another couple of beeps at the end of the race, but that's it. A bit disappointing, as when I'm racing hard I like some tunes to get me moving, but not a terrible effort.
4x4 Extreme Rally is the kind of game that can annoy you easily, but also is very rewarding when you finally get it right. Practice does indeed make perfect, and it's worth putting in the effort here!
If you're a bit of a rev-head at heart, and don't mind a bit of frustration every now and then, 4x4 Extreme Rally is a great game and very rewarding.
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