Richard Burns Rally

Richard Burns Rally is a sim racing game, published by SCi and developed by Warthog with advice of WRC champion Richard Burns.

It was released in July 2004 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, and in July 2005 for Gizmondo. A GameCube release was planned but cancelled, similarly North American releases of all but the Gizmondo version were axed due to lukewarm reception of the game in Europe.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Eight rally cars to drive from the 2000 Subaru Impreza WRC to the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII.
 * 2) Thirty-six stages to compete.
 * 3) Great graphics even by 2004 standards.
 * 4) The game features a tutorial known as "Rally School" (similar to the tutorial with the same name from the first Colin McRae game), as it might help you out with a vast information about how to control your car, messing around in the parking lot or even mastering the corners.
 * 5) Outstanding licensed soundtrack such as "Burns Attack" by Paul Oakenfold, "Creepshow" by Plump DJs and "Go" by Andy Hunter (which was also featured in SSX 3).
 * 6) Large, active modding community who keep the game alive plus tons of mods to mess with. As the result, the developers released tools and assets in order to aid them.
 * 7) An excellent choice for hardcore racing game fans out there.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Massive difficulty spike even when playing the first stages on Harwood forest (UK), which requires a very careful and slow pace to avoid crashes. Otherwise; If you're used to playing other rally games like WRC or Colin McRae Rally and try to play RBR while speeding, you're in for a world of pain.
 * 2) The graphics, although great, are rather dated, as some of the environment look like it was made out of cardboard.
 * 3) Mediocre damage models even for a realistic racing sim.
 * 4) The game itself was going to have a sequel. But due to Richard Burns' passing, it was eventually cancelled.