New Rally-X
Old and Busted
Posted December 27, 2006
Developed as a sequel by Namco in 1981, New Rally-X offered slight different gameplay and more tracks for those addicted to Rally-X, the maze, racing game in their local arcade. 25 years later, Namco decided to bring this arcade classic to the Xbox Live marketplace via Live Arcade. The presentation is very minimalistic and the menu design is reminiscent of the old-school cabinets of those bulky arcade machines. The artwork is well crafted and fits the simple menu structure. 
Gameplay:
For those unfamiliar with the game, it shares many similarities to Pac-Man. You are in control of a tiny car navigating a huge maze. The object of the game is to capture all the flags strewn randomly around each level while avoiding moving enemy cars and stationary rocks. Two of the flags on each level offer a bonus: one flag increases your overall point total according to the amount of fuel the car has left and the other adds a x2 multiplier to each flag that’s picked up. You also have access to a smokescreen when the enemy cars are too close. It sends their vehicles into an uncontrollable spinout and allows for a bit of getaway time. Also, Namco included a handy one-page help screen in the options menu for those have trouble understanding the gameplay.
The controls are obviously simplistic and usually effective. The left thumbstick controls the motion of the vehicle and the green A button lays down the smokescreen. Additionally, the smokescreen can be assigned to a different button per your layout preference. The car typically responds to direction changes quickly, but occasionally the car will be unable to turn a corner in time. Also, the car will repeatedly get stuck in a wall on certain portions of each level; which means certain death by the impending onslaught of red racers.
The programmed A.I. of the enemy cars can be conniving, but the execution frequently fails. Those little red machines will constantly flank your position on the upper levels of difficulty and take several alternate routes to your location. Unfortunately, they often get stuck in an area and cannot move for the remainder of the round. This action removes any challenge the level previous offered and makes for a boring experience.
Beyond the single player game, there is little to peruse through. The two-player found in the 1980’s version is woefully absent, as no multiplayer mode made it into the final release. The only section of note is a basic Xbox Live leaderboard for comparison for friends.
Namco continues their arcade quest for moronically simple achievements with New Rally-X. The 12 single player achievements can be knocked out in less than an hour and can be garnered very cheaply. For instance, the game can be started on any previously reached level. This eliminates the challenge of getting to Level 12 or 16 on only three lives. Also, the “Reach Level 7 without losing a life” achievement can be picked up by simply starting on level 7 and finishing without dying. The only achievement that takes any amount of time is reaching 100,000 points. Still, a little understanding of the point system will send your overall total skyrocketing. Similar to arcade ports like Pac-Man and Dig-Dug, Namco’s pitiful achievements eliminates the need to play this game more than once.
Graphics:
Namco included more screen area this time around as the level layout is designed for constantly looking ahead to the next turn. It’s easier to see than their other arcade offerings due to its size. The game looks fairly identical to the classic, especially the color scheme. The game board doesn’t look particularly beautiful in high definition and it’s tough to see any substantial improvements implemented as an upgrade from the 1980’s version. Technically, it’s a graphically solid build, but it’s far less impressive than any of the recent Live Arcade releases.
Sound:
The classic sound effects have been preserved within each level and speak to the nostalgic feel of the game. Oddly, there is no midi musical tune in the menu background, which makes for a strange silence as the game loads up.
Overall:
In short, New Rally-X is a total waste of 400 marketplace points. It would be much more appropriately priced around 100 to 200 points. Namco’s lazy achievement structure and complete lack of a multiplayer mode kills any amount of replay value that this title may have had. While competing for the top leaderboard spot may appease some gamers, the single player game offers very little challenge and the repetitive nature of the gameplay rapidly becomes tiresome. The only gamers that may briefly enjoy Rally-X are the growing numbers of gamerscore junkies in existence. Save your precious points for original arcade content as this port reeks of mediocrity.
Gameplay:
For those unfamiliar with the game, it shares many similarities to Pac-Man. You are in control of a tiny car navigating a huge maze. The object of the game is to capture all the flags strewn randomly around each level while avoiding moving enemy cars and stationary rocks. Two of the flags on each level offer a bonus: one flag increases your overall point total according to the amount of fuel the car has left and the other adds a x2 multiplier to each flag that’s picked up. You also have access to a smokescreen when the enemy cars are too close. It sends their vehicles into an uncontrollable spinout and allows for a bit of getaway time. Also, Namco included a handy one-page help screen in the options menu for those have trouble understanding the gameplay.
The controls are obviously simplistic and usually effective. The left thumbstick controls the motion of the vehicle and the green A button lays down the smokescreen. Additionally, the smokescreen can be assigned to a different button per your layout preference. The car typically responds to direction changes quickly, but occasionally the car will be unable to turn a corner in time. Also, the car will repeatedly get stuck in a wall on certain portions of each level; which means certain death by the impending onslaught of red racers.
The programmed A.I. of the enemy cars can be conniving, but the execution frequently fails. Those little red machines will constantly flank your position on the upper levels of difficulty and take several alternate routes to your location. Unfortunately, they often get stuck in an area and cannot move for the remainder of the round. This action removes any challenge the level previous offered and makes for a boring experience.
Beyond the single player game, there is little to peruse through. The two-player found in the 1980’s version is woefully absent, as no multiplayer mode made it into the final release. The only section of note is a basic Xbox Live leaderboard for comparison for friends.
Namco continues their arcade quest for moronically simple achievements with New Rally-X. The 12 single player achievements can be knocked out in less than an hour and can be garnered very cheaply. For instance, the game can be started on any previously reached level. This eliminates the challenge of getting to Level 12 or 16 on only three lives. Also, the “Reach Level 7 without losing a life” achievement can be picked up by simply starting on level 7 and finishing without dying. The only achievement that takes any amount of time is reaching 100,000 points. Still, a little understanding of the point system will send your overall total skyrocketing. Similar to arcade ports like Pac-Man and Dig-Dug, Namco’s pitiful achievements eliminates the need to play this game more than once.
Graphics:
Namco included more screen area this time around as the level layout is designed for constantly looking ahead to the next turn. It’s easier to see than their other arcade offerings due to its size. The game looks fairly identical to the classic, especially the color scheme. The game board doesn’t look particularly beautiful in high definition and it’s tough to see any substantial improvements implemented as an upgrade from the 1980’s version. Technically, it’s a graphically solid build, but it’s far less impressive than any of the recent Live Arcade releases.
Sound:
The classic sound effects have been preserved within each level and speak to the nostalgic feel of the game. Oddly, there is no midi musical tune in the menu background, which makes for a strange silence as the game loads up.
Overall:
In short, New Rally-X is a total waste of 400 marketplace points. It would be much more appropriately priced around 100 to 200 points. Namco’s lazy achievement structure and complete lack of a multiplayer mode kills any amount of replay value that this title may have had. While competing for the top leaderboard spot may appease some gamers, the single player game offers very little challenge and the repetitive nature of the gameplay rapidly becomes tiresome. The only gamers that may briefly enjoy Rally-X are the growing numbers of gamerscore junkies in existence. Save your precious points for original arcade content as this port reeks of mediocrity.