V-Rally 4
What is V-Rally 4?
V-Rally 4 is a racing video game developed by Kylotonn and published by Bigben Interactive for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch in 2018. The developer had previously worked on the official 2017 WRC game. V-Rally 4 is a racing game where players drive rally cars through a series of stages. The game features five disciplines, with 51 cars from 19 manufacturers, including Porsche, Skoda and Norma. Courses include Monument Valley, Niger, Romania and Malaysia. [1]
The Golden Feature: Handcrafted open worlds with procedurally generated rally routes
- I still play V-Rally 4 to this day for this one particular feature
- There are six handcrafted, rather large, open world areas you can rally in
- Each rally area has a series of interconnecting road networks with many, many junctions, which can be approached from every direction, depending on the route being driven. This means one junction can be driven in up to a dozen different ways (number of entries multiplied by number of exits). It works, it really works well, and it feels really good.
- The routes are procedurally generated so the world feels familiar and handcrafted but the routes always feel fresh and every run has something new to show you
- The number of possible combinations of routes is huge: Possibly up to 300,000 routes or more. As far as I can tell, it's not faked, it truly is designed in such a way that there are that many combinations.
Bigben and Kylotonn Describe V-Rally 4 Procedural Rally Route Generation
Entire road networks have been created for the Rally environments, with an impressive level of detail. In addition to the pre-defined specials, V-Rally 4 provides an even more unpredictable challenge through the specials generator. Just like rally organisers, the specials generator randomly opens and closes road intersections, meaning there are hundreds of different possible routes through each environment. Your route is not a collection of pre-defined roads and bends: it uses parts of the road network and each special is different, with unique characteristics. That makes it rather difficult to learn the bends by heart. Once at the starting line, you need to demonstrate courage and concentration, and you also need to listen carefully to your co-driver.
Notes:
- I see they say "hundreds of different possible routes". I wonder if they're being modest. Their own route counter has enough space for 999,999 variations and I've seen route numbers up to 300,000. It very well might be just hundreds but it feels like vastly more. I have never experienced feeling like I've already run a random route before even after 280+ hours.
Highlights
V-Rally 4 is Special
Video Game Novelty Done Right: V-Rally's Natural Locations and Procedurally Generated Rally Routes
Controller Settings
Tested on PS5 with DualShock 4 controllers. Also works nicely with an XBox Core Wireless Gaming Controller on a PC.
- Steering Sensitivity: -10
- Alleviates overly twitchy steering
- Throttle Sensitivity: -5
- Provides more trigger travel on the low-end allowing for improved throttle application, reducing spinning the tires under throttle
- Brake Sensitivity: -5
- Provides more trigger travel on the low-end allowing for improved braking application, reducing the chance of lock-up under braking
Comments
- I guess I like it a lot: V-Rally 4 is Special
- Surprisingly good simcade rally game
- I've only recently got into rally games, such as Dirt Rally 2.0, but it seems like DR2 owes some of its choices to this and other WRC games
- The team simulation elements, where you can recruit better talent, which that gives you better car upgrades but costs more, and team salary you have to pay every in-game week, is a pleasantly engaging way to make your races feel like they mean something
- This is how arcade/simcade driving games should feel. The sense of speed feels fast and the hookup from dirt to tarmac just feels so good. Looking at you, Forza Horizon, Test Drive Unlimited, The Crew Motorfest, Need For Speed, etc.
- Try WRC 5-10 + Generations, also by Kylotonn/Bigben (now Nacon SA) if you want more of the taste of what V-Rally 4 brought to rally racing