Art of Rally

Last updated

Art of Rally
Art of rally Kenya update Steam header.jpg
Developer(s) Funselektor Labs
Publisher(s) Funselektor Labs
Noodlecake Studios (iOS, Android)
Designer(s) Dune Casu
Programmer(s) Dune Casu
Adrian Tosello
Perren Spence-Pearse
Artist(s) Dune Casu
Jamie Churchman
Composer(s) Slava Korystov
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
Release
  • September 23, 2020
  • Xbox One & X/S, Switch
  • August 12, 2021
  • PS4, PS5
  • October 6, 2021
  • iOS, Android
  • January 18, 2024
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player

Art of Rally (stylized as art of rally) is a racing video game developed and published by Funselektor Labs. The game was released on September 23, 2020 for Windows, macOS, and Linux; on August 12, 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch; on October 6, 2021 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5; and on January 18, 2024 ports for iOS and Android published by Noodlecake were released. [1] Art of Rally is set during the golden era of rally, in an alternate timeline where Group B was never discontinued. Players compete in rallies, unlocking classes and cars as they progress through the game.

Contents

Art of Rally received generally favorable reviews for Windows and Xbox, while the Switch version received mixed reviews.

Gameplay

Art of Rally is a racing game played in a top-down perspective. The game is set in the "golden era of rally", featuring rally cars from groups such as Group 2, Group B, Group A, and Group S. The game takes place in an alternate timeline where Group B was never discontinued. [2] Art of Rally has a career mode and a free roam mode. Career mode starts with Group 2, and progression is made by completing rallies. Players unlock new rally classes and cars as they progress through career mode. [3] Cars can be damaged, which affects their performance. [4] Free roam allows players to use any previously unlocked cars, and also contain collectibles for players to collect. [5] The game has online events, taking the form of daily and weekly challenges that players can participate in. [6]

Development

Dune Casu was creating a prototype of the game while working on the console ports of Absolute Drift, but full development of the game started in 2017. Casu wanted to use what worked in Absolute Drift by refining the controls and making a "bigger, better, and more powerful" experience. [7] Funselektor Labs released an announcement trailer for Art of Rally on May 15, 2019. [4] The game was featured at EGX 2019, showing off content and gameplay. [8] A free public demo of the game was released for PC on March 27, 2020. [9] Funselektor later released a gameplay trailer on August 19, presenting a new handling system and new vehicles. [10]

During development, Funselektor Labs partnered with porting company Do Games. The game was supposed to launch on consoles with PC on September 23, 2020, but were unable to so due to the small size of team at the start of 2020. Art of Rally developer Dune Casu stated that it was a "big effort" to get more developers and producers "just to finish the PC version". However, Casu referred to it as a "blessing in disguise", allowing the team to improve and update the PC version of the game. [11]

According to Casu, the visuals of the game was meant to be a "minimalistic take on nature". The 2016 puzzle game The Witness was a source of inspiration for Casu, with the developer stating that he was "enamoured" by the game's colors and vegetation. [11]

Art of Rally first released on Microsoft Windows, MacOS, and Linux on September 23, 2020. [12] Art of Rally later released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. and Nintendo Switch on August 12, 2021. [13] [14] The game was also added to the Xbox Game Pass library the same day. Art of Rally's console release included an update that added a map set in Kenya. [15] The update also added more vehicles, songs, and stages. [12] PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of Art of Rally were released on October 6, 2021. [16] [17]

On May 12, 2022, Serenity Forge announced that it would be producing physical copies of the game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. [18] [19] On the same day, Funselektor Labs released a trailer that announced a free update for Art of Rally to include six more tracks set in Indonesia. [20] The Indonesia update released on September 22, 2022, [21] and the physical versions released on January 24, 2023. [22]

Reception

Art of Rally received "generally favorable" reviews for PC and Xbox Series X/S, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [23] [24] The Nintendo Switch version received "mixed or average" reviews. [25]

Martin Robinson of Eurogamer recommended the game, referring to it as "brilliantly playable" and "arrestingly stylish". Robinson praised the cars' visuals and game's soundtrack, calling the latter "decent". [5]

Ollie Reynolds from Nintendo Life rated the game 8/10 stars, praising the authenticity and challenge of the gameplay, the visual style, and the variety of content in the game. However, Reynolds felt that there were notable visual downgrades and frame rate issues on the Nintendo Switch version. [26]

Push Square 's Brett Posner-Ferdman rated the game 7/10 stars, commending the visual style and atmosphere, stating that they "stand out". He enjoyed the free roam and praised the rallying experience, calling it "solid". Brett wrote that the environment felt "copy-pasted" at times, and criticized the "constant" object pop-in. [27]

VideoGamer.com reviewer Josh Wise gave the game an 8/10, describing it as "the video game as essay". [28]

Notes

  1. ↑ Score based on 15 reviews.
  2. ↑ Score based on 6 reviews.
  3. ↑ Score based on 8 reviews.

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References

  1. ↑ "'Art of Rally' for iOS and Android Has Been Delayed to January 18th, Includes Australia DLC – TouchArcade". December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ Good, Owen S. (September 25, 2020). "Art of Rally's love for the sport, and its greatest days, shines through". Polygon . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ Seagrave, Richard (October 7, 2021). "Art of Rally Review". GameSpew. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Chalk, Andy (May 22, 2019). "Art of Rally is a stylized racing game from the maker of Absolute Drift". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Robinson, Martin (September 22, 2020). "art of rally review - a slight yet stylish take on off-road driving". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ Romano, Sal (September 24, 2021). "Art of Rally for PS5, PS4 launches October 6". Gematsu. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ Moyer, Phillip (July 8, 2020). "Art of Rally Evokes the Most Dangerous Era of Rally, and It's 'Way Bigger' Than Absolute Drift". The Escapist . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Martin (October 18, 2019). "art of rally is rally done artfully". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ Clayton, Natalie (March 29, 2020). "Art Of Rally's free demo takes Absolute Drift's minimal powerslides to the woods". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  10. ↑ Robinson, Martin (August 19, 2020). "art of rally gets closer to the craziness of 80s off-roading". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Parijat, Shubhankar (November 2, 2021). "art of rally Interview – Art Style, Development, and More". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Good, Owen S. (August 4, 2021). "Art of Rally's console launch includes new racing course in Kenya". Polygon . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  13. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (August 12, 2021). "Art Of Rally Arrives Today With New Kenya DLC Included". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (March 26, 2021). "Art of Rally is coming to Xbox consoles and Game Pass this summer". VG247 . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  15. ↑ Prescott, Shaun (August 13, 2021). "Art of Rally's big free Kenya update is out today". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  16. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (September 25, 2021). "Art of Rally hits PS4 and PS5 in October". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  17. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 6, 2021). "Art of Rally coming to PS5, PS4 this summer". Gematsu. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  18. ↑ Doolan, Liam (May 13, 2022). "Art Of Rally Speeds Onto Switch With A Physical Release, Pre-Orders Now Live". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (May 13, 2022). "Art Of Rally Will Be Getting A Physical Release This September". Bleeding Cool . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (May 13, 2022). "Art of Rally's Next Free Update Introduces Indonesia This Summer on PS5, PS4". Push Square . Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  21. ↑ Munro, John (September 22, 2022). "Hands-on with art of rally's new Indonesian stages". Traxion.GG. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ Noah, Steve (January 25, 2023). "Art of Rally Physical Standard and Collector's Editions Available Now". Operation Sports. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  23. 1 2 "art of rally for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  24. 1 2 "art of rally for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "art of rally for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Reynolds, Ollie (August 16, 2021). "Mini Review: art of rally - Stylish Driving With Plenty Of Substance". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  27. 1 2 Posner-Ferdman, Brett (October 11, 2021). "Mini Review: Art of Rally (PS5) - Proof You Don't Need to Reinvent the Wheel". Push Square . Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  28. 1 2 Wise, Josh (August 17, 2021). "Art of Rally review". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
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