There’s nonetheless one thing there.
When you get into the circulate of a stage just like the seven kilometers of winding, snaking gravel spaghetti that’s the Portuguese Fafe stage. As soon as you actually really feel the automotive come to you want this agile, zippy 2012 Citroen DS3 has.
Why, then, has it taken this lengthy – till the week of 2025’s Monte Carlo rally – for me to come back again for a correct, days-long second serving to of what EA Sports activities WRC has to supply after reviewing it again in late 2023? Why hasn’t it lured me again earlier, earlier than digging its claws in, and convincing me to rack up over 100 hours of stage runs that both finish in a roll, dish out a slight battering, or – when all the things hooks up concentration-wise – type perfectly-executed time-toppers? Why hasn’t it finished what Filth Rally 2.0 managed?
My enjoying habits normally have shifted in direction of spending 20 to 50 hours with a wider spectrum of rapidly-changing video games extra typically than ploughing tons of into a reasonably static block of some titles, however is there extra to it than that?
Having now delved again into WRC to take a look at its newest DLC pack – Le Maestros – I believe there could be.
As I alluded to within the intro, there’s nonetheless a powerful driving expertise on the coronary heart of the primary Codemasters rally title launched following the studio’s absorption into EA. You might need some qualms with particular facets of how the sport handles issues just like the hybrid energy deployment of the fashionable WRC automobiles or its racetrack-style tarmac rallying, in case you’re the form of hardcore simmer who actually digs into the nerdy trivia. Usually talking, although, in case you’re only a informal racing fan armed with a typical wheel or controller trying to have a little bit of enjoyable sliding or powering via levels, there’s time available.
The Le Maestros DLC pack, which provides a smattering of recent automobiles and levels into the combo, is not any totally different. Themed round celebrating all issues French, it’s heavy on Citroens – providing you with the keys to the DS3 WRC, 2018 C3 WRC, C2 R2 Max, and Xsara equipment automotive – with Sebastien Ogier’s 2013 VW Polo and an excellent 1600 Peugeot 206 rounding issues out.
It’s a reasonably trendy lineup, with essentially the most retro trip being the late 90s Xsara, however there’s a strong quantity of selection, with automobiles added to 4 present classes, in addition to the creation of a WRC 2012-16 class for the DS3 and Polo. If I’m getting nitpicky, it’d nonetheless be good to see the sport’s behemoth 1997 to 2011 WRC automotive class cut up extra cleanly into the 2 late 90s/early 00s and late 00s to 2010s classes it’d lend itself to, only for roleplaying’s sake, however the automotive selection has by no means been EA WRC’s downside.
As you glide via the 12 new levels added to the Monte Carlo and Portuguese rallies by the DLC, you’ll nonetheless really feel among the identical fundamental bugbears that folks had with the sport on launch. Except for the odd little bit of stuttering or drop in frames, I didn’t run into as many efficiency points as others reported again then on my PC, and the sport nonetheless runs fairly effectively on it now. The addition of anti-cheat software program that appears to account for portion of the detrimental critiques which have landed the sport a ‘Blended’ score on Steam didn’t noticeably impression my expertise both. Nonetheless, on second reflection, it’s apparent to me how a lot the change from in-house engine to Unreal has put a damper on issues.
The levels Le Maestros provides – headlined by the prolonged Briançonnet-Entrevaux and Fafe routes that the opposite levels are, as within the base recreation, typically simply reversed or shorter sections of – are nonetheless struggling to match the visible constancy of Filth Rally 2.0. Neither recreation fares all that effectively within the wider pictures of replays, however the quantity of foliage pop-in in WRC when the shot switches – even when put in on a C drive so it will probably pull on all of the tech juice it ought to want – is pronounced.
It’s in no way horrible, but it surely’s clear that additional optimising and growing this facet of issues – in addition to issues just like the physics and visuals of how the automobiles and atmosphere work together with mud, rain and snow – ought to be a spotlight going forwards, with the intention to try to conclusively surpass 2019’s 2.0. It’s unhappy too, as a result of driving these levels is usually nice, the principle two are each classics which can be steeped in WRC historical past – particularly Fafe with its iconic bounce.
As somebody whose favorite online game rallying expertise got here on Filth Rally 2.0’s quick, flowing New Zealand levels, undoubtedly there’s one thing of that within the newly-added Portuguese routes, with fast switchbacks requiring you to anticipate every kink and be prepared to change your path of perma-slide completely. Once you’re in rhythm, it’s sensible. The DS3’s my favorite of the Le Maestros additions, and I had as a lot of a ball slinging it about as I ever did the early 2000s Impreza that grew to become my 2.0 staple.
The Polo and 2018 C3 boast comparable efficiency and 4WD grip, with the one hangup being that as automobiles of comparable period and regulation-spec, all three don’t sound that distinctive. The Xsara equipment automotive actually got here to life on the Monte tarmac, as you’d anticipate of an F2 machine. The tremendous 1600 206 is one other addition to a class I really like resulting from its means to supply the identical form of grip as beefier 90s/2000s machines, however with much less grunt so that you could be a bit extra of a hooligan with the throttle with out worrying as a lot about hurling your self on the surroundings. The C2 R2 Max is a good addition to the Rally4 ranks, and a plucky little charger which may develop on me extra with time.
Time will inform whether or not EA Sports activities WRC finally ends up getting that point from me by sliding its approach into my common rotation. This Le Maestros re-visit has undoubtedly whetted my urge for food, and I’m nonetheless rock-steady in my conviction that the driving on the coronary heart of WRC is stil good.
Nonetheless, it’s fairly clear to me now that EA Sports activities WRC isn’t going to be one thing I maintain up like I do its predecessor in 5 or ten years time. Like its newest DLC pack, it’s doing sufficient within the enjoyable division, but it surely will not blow away your expectations. It’s a hop into a unique trying automotive that’s acquired some teething troubles, however on its day may be simply as quick as one you beforehand completed prime of the standings in.
The hope is that with some extra refinement of the brand new bits, its successor can vault issues again as much as – or above – that form of degree.
