V-Rally 99 is not a bad as critics make it seem.
Pros:
Fairly good textures, car models and sense of speed.
Cons:
No damage, poor play control and collision physics.
The Bottom Line:
V-Rally 99 is not the worst N64 racer, but it's one that could have used more work. Try it before you buy it.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
V-Rally Edition 99 is not exactally a videogame critic's favorite racing game. The most modest review I've seen was by ign.com who gave it a 5.9. I'm here to say that V-Rally 99 is not as bad as it may seem, and there may actually be some good in it.
V-Rally 99 by far has the most courses in a rally racer, or almost any N64 game in general. Courses range from jungles to a Spanish countryside to the Swiss Alps and more. Most stages have good texture design, and pretty much looks like the PlayStation versions of V-Rally with anti-aliasing. Though there are flat objects to be seen, and draw-in is present.
Though not as graphically exquisite as Top Gear Rally or World Driver Championship, V-Rally 99's graphics are decent. Car models are pretty good, but they tend to "warp" on tight turns. A slight problem, but can be overlooked. The framerate is stable, and the game does convey a good sense of speed, which is important in racing games.
Sound, well, is there, but not in large amounts. The cars are a bit crude in sound, and collision sounds are almost vacant. Music is only in the menus and is missing from the actual race, which Eden Studios may have had good judgement to do so. They may have saved us from bad music, which is in many N64 racers such as California Speed.
The biggest problem in V-Rally 99 lies in it's control. Cars slide around with no real traction, and collisions result in heavy oversteer and spin-outs, which results in lost time. Though this has also occured in V-Rally 2 on the PSX, the traction in VR2 is actually better.
The biggest appeal may be in it's 40 courses with varied locales and conditions, along with officially licensed cars, which is rare to see in an N64 game.
V-Rally 99 should be rented before it's bought, becuase it would only appeal to a certain demographic, mainly racing fans. Don't expect the arcade racing thrills found in the Rush series, or even the the learning curve of Gran Turismo. This game is for those who were dissapointed with the lack of courses in Top Gear Rally or those who want to see real cars with great car models.
