Easy right, Medium left...Jump!

Sega Rally is one of those classic Sega arcade games that, no matter how much time passes, gamers always talk about like a beacon of sheer racing quality. Indeed, Colin McRae may have defined the rally game in recent years, but it's Sega's series which can claim to be the Daddy of the rally genre - which makes the emergence of Sega Rally 2007 style particularly exciting.

Eagerly awaited on next-gen systems in particular, it's nonetheless the PSP version of Sega Rally we've been playing preview code of. And if the style with which Sega have brought their flagship rally sim onto PSP is anything to go by, things bode extremely well for Sega Rally fans on all platforms.

Pick up and play

'Sim' is perhaps an inaccurate way to describe Sega Rally, which focuses more on racing to the finish against other cars in rally-style terrain than an actually you-against-the-checkpoints system favoured by Mr McRae. That said, the lack of rallying authenticity is no bad thing - especially on PSP, where a 'pick-up-and-play' experience is the order of the day.

To that end, Sega Rally's front end offers Three standout options. Time Attack is obvious, while Quick Race also does exactly what it says on the tin, giving you an initial choice of 15 tracks and 9 rally cars, which are based around Sega Rally's three distinct difficulty settings; Premier for beginners, Modified for intermediates, and Masters for...well, masters.

Sega Rally's Championship mode, however, is where the meat of the game would appear to lie. It is first split into the same distinct three categories as above, with the Premier competition the only one unlocked fro the get-go. Premier itself boasts Amateur, Professional, Expert and Final competitions, with only the former unlocked to start with - and that itself boasts two three-race tournaments! As you can imagine then, the real Sega Rally fans will find frankly hours of rallying fun to be found in Sega Rally's PSP version.

And enjoy they seem sure to, because Sega Rally is fantastic full-speed racing fun like we remember it from the old arcade heydays. Controls are pretty standard fare for a PSP racer, with X accelerating, Square breaking and Circle as handbreak - though Sega Rally's two other configurations are also available at the options screen - and rally cars, from the reliable ol' Subaru Impreza to the Ford Escort RS Cosworth can all be flung around with reckless, powersliding abandon.

Sega Rally is also a bit of a looker, pushing the PSP with detailed environments, varied terrain and a convincing sense of speed. Of course, it's a rally game, so don't go expecting the bright lights and diverse visual thrills of a new WipeOut, but Sega have undoubtedly put in a lot of effort into the looks of their premier racer on the small screen.

That deadly combo of addictive arcade handling and great looks should win Sega Rally on PSP many admirers, and see Sega Rally become a well-played online title too. With online races promised (though not tested yet by us, due to the unfinished nature of our code), an Ad-hoc wireless multiplayer option also in there for none wireless broadband gamers, and even a game sharing option part of the package, Sega Rally looks as promising a rally game or racer as the PSP's yet seen.

Preview by: Mark Scott
Preview Published: 17.08.07