Have you ever driven a rally car? Have you ever felt free? Now's your chance to experience the ultimate rally game.

Rallisport challenge kicks you into the far ends of every part of the world with tracks that vary from Mediterranean coast tracks to South African desert landscapes.

As many rally games there are different sections you can choose from, career mode, single race, time attack and multiplayer, in which career mode is the more elaborate part. Unlike many other racegames, unlocking cars and tracks will only occur when finishing a career level by earning enough points (Classic, Pro, Expert and Unlimited).

For a change there are some superb new additions unlike I've ever seen. Hill climbing and Ice racing have become separate disciplines. Ice racing is the most fun part, let alone just for the rush you get when sliding into a curve, getting out of it and leaving a 2sec gap between you and your opponents. Throwing your car into that curve is unequalled to any other game, if you're used to Colin McRae you'll agree me about the maneuverability of the RSC cars. Nevertheless the Hill climbing feature gives you the sensation of going up, but really going up … you won't be playing courses like the bikes do when competing in 'la montée impossible' but will be driving on 3 km long tracks. Any mistakes will be punished and you'll probably never get a hold on your competitors again.

Speaking of cars, Microsoft and Digital Illusions have not only brew a fantastic rally game, but managed to get a hold on the official licenses of 25 rally cars, including the all-time Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer, Peugeot 206, Citroën Xsara … but also some new cars like the new VW Beetle, some Saabs, Audi Quattro's, Suzuki Vitara …

All these cars are handled in a varied way, you'll have to pick the perfect car for the track, otherwise you might lack of speed and/or handling or even acceleration for the hill climb feature. Knowing the tracks by heart will help you making this choice, and it's definitely a good thing to know these tracks by heart, since my co-pilot isn't really a smarty-pants, he forgets to mention the distance to the next curve "How far did you say?? What??" And before you know it …

As for the graphics, they're pretty amazing and all without glitches. The tracks are detailed as if you could pick up a grain of sand, the sand-like tracks also deform themselves when driving over them (you'll see your tire trail sometimes), grass and bushes are neatly generated, miss a curve and see the grass fly high up in the air (makes me think about something … I have to mow the grass). Birds fly by, people cheer (no flat graphics, but bump-mapped people).

Aah, final stage the sound, and what a sound! Power³. That's what you'll hear. If you'd happened to have the chance to play with the Saab, just listen to that engine, vroaaaap, vrooooooap … just wow!! Attached to a Dolby Surround 5.1 system it cranks the level up.

Multiplayer mode can be played up to 4 players a box and really is nice, just like Colin McRae rally, nothing beats 4 Human players playing against each other.

The only irritating thing I've encountered, which was really annoying, is when you slide out of the track and get reset back on the track. I'd rather have had the choice upon that.

Gamers who don't know which driving game to pick, RSC or PGR, will have a hard time making up their minds. So for those who haven't yet bought any of those 2 games: go rent them and try them out … buy the game that lies best in your opinion. They both are nice though.