MAX Rally |
| Price:£19.99 UK Pounds | Developer/Publisher: Fortress | Requirements:All, 2MB Ram, HD Installable |
 I'm always a little nervous of a developer going it alone to publish their game, you always worry that without the backing of a publisher you're going to get 2 disks sent through the post, along with scribbled note informing you that you've just got the game you ordered. Worry not, for Fortress did a great little job with the packaging, with MAX Rally coming in a jewel case and with some fantastic covers. It's perfect for display in a shop, if only they would accept Amiga software.
MAX Rally comes on two disks, it can be played by floppy but to have it installed on the hard drive takes away all that annoying disk swapping. It's just a matter of double clicking on the MAX Rally icon, fasten your seat belts, put the clutch in, rave the engine and you're away just after you click on Championship, pick the player you want to be and choose the map you want to play from the various terrain's.  The MAX Rally Championship offers you the opportunity to race in 25 tracks up against 3 opponents. They have split up the tracks into 5 scenario that a racing driving would have to face, the Woodland section, Cosmic (in space), the Dunes, Alpine and best section has to be Challenge. Each of these sections contain 5 tracks all of varying difficulty levels, to find which ones are the easiest, is a matter of moving the joystick over the track where a star system gives awards the difficult tracks the most stars (the deadly ones have 5 stars). To complete the championship you must complete every course using only 5 continues or you're spun out of the Championship.
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 At last I have found a game that means what it says, MAX Rally in Easy mode is as it states easy unlike some other games that I won't name, but to some other games Easy mode means Insane mode for you're unlikely to beat it. For a few hours after winning numerous tracks, it seemed ridiculously easy but then I adjusted the settings. I must of had a big head at the time for I chose Hard mode, the race started somewhat differently for a few brave seconds I was in the lead and then they got pass, the speed was incredibly fast, the car made huge jumps over the mounds and flew around corners. Even though I thought I was doing well, from behind came the three computer cars to overlap me. After that race, I decided to play in Medium mode - suited me just fine.
 I've been doing driving lessons for quite a while now, so I know there is still something missing in MAX Rally. I have a tendency to brake at the very last moment when I'm out driving, it gives my driving instructor a heart attack, for at times you would think that I'm about to slam into the vehicle in front or into some other object and as my instructor keeps pointing out, I'll be doing his car in one of these days (especially after playing MAX Rally). It would have been really good if the rally cars in MAX Rally could be damaged when I ram into the car in front, or even some smoke just to give it some measure of realism.
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 I did play a preview of MAX Rally months ago and I thought at the time that it was pretty good but I did feel at the time that it wouldn't have that same appeal for those who would play it in one player compared with those multi-player games. But they have addressed this problem to some degree with the creation of a Challenge section, you've got to race 3 laps round the track, but this time you've got a few obstacles to deal with, the main one being that the screen moves independently around the track, so if you're going to slow then you are put out. You encounter such problems as falling off the edge of the track (use the moving platforms), or even off the side of the screen. And I won't explain about flashing pads. The name of this section really rings true, for it is a Challenge.
The tracks in MAX Rally have been designed well and my overall impression is that the graphics are of a good quality. I like the way they have added some obstacles to help and even hinder you, such as the ramp that allows you to jump ahead, or you can turn quickly in mid air for an upcoming bend, or jump straight into something off the track. |
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 Nevertheless MAX Rally offers mainly a good deal to multi-player Gamers, providing you have a 4 player adapter or serial cable, you could have your friends round for some racing fun. Alright, so it's no Sega Rally but in my book it's still a fine game and I look forward to playing more games from Fortress.
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