There’s nonetheless one thing there.
When you get into the move of a stage just like the seven kilometers of winding, snaking gravel spaghetti that’s the Portuguese Fafe stage. As soon as you actually really feel the automobile come to you want this agile, zippy 2012 Citroen DS3 has.
Why, then, has it taken this lengthy – till the week of 2025’s Monte Carlo rally – for me to come back again for a correct, days-long second serving to of what EA Sports activities WRC has to supply after reviewing it again in late 2023? Why hasn’t it lured me again earlier, earlier than digging its claws in, and convincing me to rack up over 100 hours of stage runs that both finish in a roll, dish out a slight battering, or – when every thing hooks up concentration-wise – kind perfectly-executed time-toppers? Why hasn’t it finished what Dust Rally 2.0 managed?
My enjoying habits generally have shifted in direction of spending 20 to 50 hours with a wider spectrum of rapidly-changing video games extra typically than ploughing tons of into a reasonably static block of some titles, however is there extra to it than that?
Having now delved again into WRC to take a look at its newest DLC pack – Le Maestros – I believe there may be.
As I alluded to within the intro, there’s nonetheless a robust driving expertise on the coronary heart of the primary Codemasters rally title launched following the studio’s absorption into EA. You might need some qualms with particular elements of how the sport handles issues just like the hybrid energy deployment of the fashionable WRC vehicles or its racetrack-style tarmac rallying, should you’re the type of hardcore simmer who actually digs into the nerdy trivialities. Typically talking, although, should you’re only a informal racing fan armed with a regular wheel or controller trying to have a little bit of enjoyable sliding or powering by levels, there’s a very good time available.
The Le Maestros DLC pack, which provides a smattering of latest vehicles and levels into the combo, isn’t any completely different. Themed round celebrating all issues French, it’s heavy on Citroens – providing you with the keys to the DS3 WRC, 2018 C3 WRC, C2 R2 Max, and Xsara equipment automobile – with Sebastien Ogier’s 2013 VW Polo and a brilliant 1600 Peugeot 206 rounding issues out.
It’s a reasonably trendy lineup, with probably the most retro experience being the late 90s Xsara, however there’s a stable quantity of selection, with vehicles added to 4 present classes, in addition to the creation of a WRC 2012-16 class for the DS3 and Polo. If I’m getting nitpicky, it’d nonetheless be good to see the sport’s behemoth 1997 to 2011 WRC automobile class break up extra cleanly into the 2 late 90s/early 00s and late 00s to 2010s classes it’d lend itself to, only for roleplaying’s sake, however the automobile alternative has by no means been EA WRC’s downside.
As you glide by the 12 new levels added to the Monte Carlo and Portuguese rallies by the DLC, you’ll nonetheless really feel a few of the similar predominant bugbears that folks had with the sport on launch. Except for the odd little bit of stuttering or drop in frames, I didn’t run into as many efficiency points as others reported again then on my PC, and the sport nonetheless runs fairly nicely on it now. The addition of anti-cheat software program that appears to account for a very good portion of the adverse opinions which have landed the sport a ‘Combined’ ranking on Steam didn’t noticeably impression my expertise both. Nonetheless, on second reflection, it’s apparent to me how a lot the change from in-house engine to Unreal has put a damper on issues.
The levels Le Maestros provides – headlined by the prolonged Briançonnet-Entrevaux and Fafe routes that the opposite levels are, as within the base recreation, typically simply reversed or shorter sections of – are nonetheless struggling to match the visible constancy of Dust Rally 2.0. Neither recreation fares all that nicely within the wider photographs of replays, however the quantity of foliage pop-in in WRC when the shot switches – even when put in on a C drive so it could pull on all of the tech juice it ought to want – is pronounced.
It’s certainly not horrible, however it’s clear that additional optimising and creating this facet of issues – in addition to issues just like the physics and visuals of how the vehicles and setting work together with mud, rain and snow – needs to be a spotlight going forwards, as a way to attempt to conclusively surpass 2019’s 2.0. It’s unhappy too, as a result of driving these levels is mostly nice, the principle two are each classics which can be steeped in WRC historical past – particularly Fafe with its iconic soar.
As somebody whose favorite online game rallying expertise got here on Dust Rally 2.0’s quick, flowing New Zealand levels, positively there’s one thing of that within the newly-added Portuguese routes, with fast switchbacks requiring you to anticipate every kink and be prepared to modify your course of perma-slide completely. Once you’re in rhythm, it’s sensible. The DS3’s my favorite of the Le Maestros additions, and I had as a lot of a ball slinging it about as I ever did the early 2000s Impreza that grew to become my 2.0 staple.
The Polo and 2018 C3 boast related efficiency and 4WD grip, with the one hangup being that as vehicles of comparable period and regulation-spec, all three don’t sound that distinctive. The Xsara equipment automobile actually got here to life on the Monte tarmac, as you’d anticipate of an F2 machine. The tremendous 1600 206 is one other addition to a class I really like because of its means to supply the identical type of grip as beefier 90s/2000s machines, however with much less grunt so that you is usually a bit extra of a hooligan with the throttle with out worrying as a lot about hurling your self on the surroundings. The C2 R2 Max is a good addition to the Rally4 ranks, and a plucky little charger which may develop on me extra with time.
Time will inform whether or not EA Sports activities WRC finally ends up getting that point from me by sliding its approach into my common rotation. This Le Maestros re-visit has positively whetted my urge for food, and I’m nonetheless rock-steady in my conviction that the driving on the coronary heart of WRC is stil good.
Nonetheless, it’s fairly clear to me now that EA Sports activities WRC isn’t going to be one thing I maintain up like I do its predecessor in 5 or ten years time. Like its newest DLC pack, it’s doing sufficient within the enjoyable division, however it will not blow away your expectations. It’s a hop into a distinct wanting automobile that’s received some teething troubles, however on its day will be simply as quick as one you beforehand completed prime of the standings in.
The hope is that with some extra refinement of the brand new bits, its successor can vault issues again as much as – or above – that type of stage.
