The sixth time is the charm, as WRC 6 finally nails the winning formula for a properly decent rally game that emphasises accessible fun over unforgiving precision. It’s not perfect, but it’s easily the best use of the official FIA World Rally Championship in many a year.
Kylotonn manages to offer a better experience than 2015's game, although there are ways to improve in order to get closer to other games of the genre. Arcade and simulation together in the right measure make it an easy-to-learn game for any player, although the true fans of rally world series might be disappointed. The franchise keeps evolving, although at a really slow pace.
WRC 6 improved a lot in graphics and handling, but I think sound it can improve much more. Definitely it's not Dirt rally, but WRC 6 is the better iteration of WRC series by far. There are stunning stages, the cars are beautifully detailed, and the handling it's not perfect, but it's really good compared to the last ones.
As I said, the worst area of this game is the sound. Engines sound good, but not in a powerful way as it should be (Dirt rally its way better for example), and the sound of the gravel and asphalt should be improved a lot, because you don't feel the extremely conditions that this cars have to face in every stage.
It's a game that easily it's a 7 or an 8, but I give them a 10 because I think they improved a lot since WRC 5. Maybe now they are in the good road and can make amazing games for the WRC in the next years.
Best WRC title on the previous console generation. We have tested ever single game in the series and WRC 4, WRC 6 are still a better deal than any of these rally games like V-Rally 4, Loeb title etc. (Reviewed controller gameplay and overall handling).
WRC 6 provides a fun arcade tear through the country with an accessibility which should appeal to a lot. It handles the on-track action fairly well, although the lack of split times and the co-driver’s torrent of notes can really dampen your enjoyment. The damage model and penalty system are perhaps too forgiving to add to the game’s challenge but there’s a fair amount of joy on hand from the driving. It’s by no means deep but it is enjoyable.
A fairly decent rally game. But one that lacks a certain depth that the competition represents. The engine still needs a lot of work, and level design could be more consistent.
WRC 6 isn't all that bad. It's up to you to learn how to drive the rally way, as the game fails to help you out in that regard, but everything feels fine once you master it. The career mode is lengthy, and the number of available tracks and the various multiplayer options give you plenty of ways to extend the experience long after the career is finished. However, the bad co-driver system makes things unintentionally harder, and the presentation lacks some real polish. It certainly isn't the best rally racer out there, but it does well in a pinch, especially if you've already worn out Dirt Rally and are trying to satisfy your craving until Dirt 4 hits.
Although the WRC license is appealing, gameplay-wise the game fails to deliver a believable racing experience, and falls behind some of its competitors.
Even with the WRC and FIA license, coupled with lots of content and a split screen mode cannot make up for the performance issues I experienced; resulting in a game that I am unlikely to go back to. If you are hankering for some rally action, I would recommend waiting until June to see if Dirt 4 scratches your itch.
WRC 6 is the official licensed game of the World Rally Championships and follows the 2016 season in all of its glory. Released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as PC, all current gen has been covered, however, previous gen has been dropped so as to concentrate on present hardware.
Kylotonn Racing have apparently spent their time improving the quality of the physics and graphics of this motor racing game since their initial outing into WRC a mere 51 weeks ago, well according to Kylotonn anyway.
For me, the WRC franchise (since 4 at least) has always felt very accessible. You see, I am not actually a die-hard rally enthusiast. If I find myself flicking through TV channels I will often stop on Motors TV if they are showing a rally, but my knowledge beyond that is pretty much all made up of what my friends bark at me in late night discussions via Steam chat.
The reason I find it the most accessible of the rally games is because the learning curve, whilst still quite brutal, is less punishing than other rally games (Dirt, I am looking at you…with a judging eyebrow raised and pursed lips).
I wouldn’t dare go as far as call WRC 6 ‘arcady‘, yet I would happily call it a sim-cade. Whilst it isn’t packed full of silly events which are nothing to do with the World Rally Championship, it still has arcade like qualities and this is where it focuses it’s energies. Technically and even graphically Kylotonn are never going to be able to compete with the likes of Codemasters, so rather than go head to head with beautiful mechanics and the inclusion of more dials than the Millennium Falcon (See F1 2016 as an example), their efforts should be pressed on the aspect of fun and accessibility which is exactly what they have done.
With a Thrustmaster partnership I thought I’d have trouble with my Logitech G29 on my PS4 in WRC 6, but alas, not even a hint of trouble. Simply plug and play… and tinker with the settings if you are a tinkerer. WRC 6 offers support for over 35 wheel / pedal / shift combinations for PC, 17 for PS4 and 16 for Xbox One, including Logitech, Fanatec and Thrustmaster.
Graphically not on par with some of the bigger studios, but they are nice.
The car models are beautiful, the scenery is accurate with no distinguishable pop-in, the surface tearing when sliding around a corner or spinning your wheels wildly when stuck in the mud is lovely too, plus the 60 frames per second is consistent.
Graphically huge improvements have been made from WRC 5 to 6. Tonnes more foliage, rocks, even surfaces, both concrete and gravel have been upgraded. One downfall of WRC 5 was the sparseness of it all and the fact that it looked as though you were mostly driving on a brown rug. Gone is that rug, thank the graphical Lord. However, there is some noticeable screen tear every now and then.
5 camera modes: bumper, bonnet, cockpit and two external views. Why there are two external views is beyond me as they are so similar. But, having said that, you can adjust the external camera and cockpit camera distance in the option menu from close to very far, which is a very nice touch for those who have their preferred camera in racing games.
Various HUD options can be turned on or off too if you prefer a less cluttered screen. The HUD is improved from its predecessor yet remains simplistic and functional.
Sound FX: Co-Driver (annoying if you are focusing on it but reads pace notes well and clearly which is all you really want!) – turn your sub on and pop the cockpit mode on and you are in for a bass heavy guttural treat.
WRC 6 improves on WRC 5 in so many ways, most notably the graphics and physics, but also the inclusion of local multi-player split screen mode.
The handling is on point, with cars far less drifty than in WRC 5, yet a joy to master and when you pop a perfect slide around a hairpin you’ll be yelping with joy. Controls, both G29 steering wheel and DS4 controller feel very tight and very responsive. Clear improvements can be felt.
The WRC Career, or season, is a long one and with the Junior, WRC 2 and WRC modes all to beat there is more than enough content (as well as over 65 stages) to see you through.
I’m 100% confident that WRC 6 can outsell and outscore WRC 5 and I know I’ll be fully focused on perfecting my times on those global leaderboards and partaking in the eSport challenges when up and running.
Ultimately, WRC 6 is fun. Very, very fun.
Very much in the tradition of the previous games from the PS2 onwards, WRC 6 is a playable rally game that's more interested in making racing enjoyable rather than "realistic". As such it's not as technically impressive as Dirt Rally, but as a result is more accessible and fun to play.
A really challenging and fun rally race game but the controls and the physics are just the worst enemy. All of the environment on all stages is a great "caught in an eye" graphics.
Nice looking and sounds good. Some stages play smoothly while others are blighted by an inconsistent frame rate which make for a frustrating and unpleasant overall experience. I will most likely trade this game in. Will I give WRC 7 a chance? Perhaps...
The game here killed finally. Picture better, but not for it we get such games. The main thing: tyres feeling lost. In WRC 5 I can correct slidibg with gas as well as with wheel or brake. Now - wild shoves: I get WRC2 car - and fly from stay position like a rocket. In Seb Rally 1000 horse power Suzuki hill climb dont fly in such way. And then, yes, we see again crazy pracks... so, you fly to ditch, and for the ends of all - 15 sec penalty. What about they think? Idiots, really. Nothing else I cay tell.
SummaryAll 14 rounds of the 2016 WRC season, including for the first time Rally China; All the star WRC drivers and also a wide selection of WRC 2 teams and competitors from the Junior WRC category eSports WRC, the first international online competition of the WRC, which was launched in January 2016 with WRC 5, will continue in WRC 6.