Get Ready to Conquer the Challenging New Interstellar Rally Simulator!
I was tearing through an alien landscape, just moments away from the finish line, when I lost grip and hit a steep hill at an awkward angle. No big deal, I thought; I could use my thrusters to adjust my intergalactic dune buggy and avoid a nasty crash. But then I realized I had burned through my last bit of thruster fuel. I slammed into the ground and had to restart. Next time, I’ll play it a bit smarter.
And there will definitely be a next time because I’m really enjoying Exo Rally Championship, a challenging yet thrilling rally sim that swaps the familiar forests of Europe and California’s dunes for exotic locales on distant moons and planets.
Just released on Steam, Exo Rally Championship comes from the mind behind Exo One. While that game offered a more laid-back journey through alien worlds, this one is all about the adrenaline rush of racing to the finish line while dodging crashing meteors, towering cliffs, and treacherous terrain. The vibes are definitely different, but I’ve been having a blast navigating the game’s diverse intergalactic tracks, customizing (and repairing) my space buggy, and gradually improving my skills to avoid landing upside down.
Make no mistake: you will crash frequently in Exo Rally Championship. The game has a sci-fi aesthetic, but its mechanics are a hardcore and precise rally simulator. You’ll need to manage fuel weight, tire quality, repairs, your vehicle’s ride height, and a host of other settings. While the game allows you to bypass some of the intricate details, you’ll need to get your hands dirty between time trials to ensure you have enough fuel and tires that are fit for the planet you’re racing on next.
Fuel is crucial in Exo Rally Championship, as it powers your various thrusters, controlled with the right stick. For example, if you hit a jump too quickly while trying to navigate a checkpoint, you can use the right stick to activate your front thrusters to lift your nose and aim for a smoother landing. If you unexpectedly bounce off some small dunes and start flipping, you can counteract that motion with your thrusters to avoid rolling over. But overuse them, and you’ll run out of fuel. Plus, you can’t restock between certain trials, so you’ll need to be strategic and cautious with your driving.
The end result is that Exo Rally Championship is a tough yet incredibly rewarding rally racer that stands out from most other racing games, thanks to its sci-fi backdrop and gravity-defying thrusters. Just remember to watch out; that hill might not seem too daunting, but the drop on the other side can be quite a surprise.
