Remaking classic games so that they closer fit the current standards of gaming is such a brilliant concept in theory. I mean, how many times have you thought "I wish they would make a new version of that game I used to play for hours on end when I was a kid. It would be so cool if they made a smoother and graphically superior edition of it." Sometimes a remake of that very game pops up and sometimes it doesn't - but if it does, it's not always the dynamite idea like you thought it was.

Sega Rally is one of those calls for a remake that has popped up, and you're probably eager to know whether it's an indulgence in nostalgia heaven or a severe bottom-forking in retro hell. To cut to the chase, it's not really either extreme; it's pleasant in places and unsatisfying in others. Luckily, the most important aspect of any remake is present - it has stayed true to its roots. Although a few changes have been made to increase its graphical power and lifespan, it still looks and feels like a Sega Rally game. The cars still handle in the same arcade-style powerslide way, the co-driver still gives simplistic instructions, plenty of the menu sounds are exactly the same and of course that guy still sings "Game Over yeeeaaaah!" at the appropriate moment (never has the game being over been a more exciting experience!)

There's no disputing that this is one excellent remake - I don't think you could get closer to the original experience of Sega Rally without just doing a straight conversion of it. Yet something just doesn't sit well - as a racing game in general it isn't quiet as excellent as the competition. Perhaps its best quality is also its greatest downfall, because it fails to do anything overly exciting by today's standards and there are a lot more titles out there that outshine this one. Colin McRae: DiRT, for example, will probably be more appealing to rally fans because of its simulation aspects, and with its current swerve a little closer to an arcade style of play it has also become accessible to the more casual racer (unfortunately for Sega Rally).

Sega Rally is definitely aimed at those who love an arcade racer, rather than the hardcore rally fans. First of all, you race against other cars on the track at the same time, rather than competing for the best time on a course separately. You also race laps on fictional rally circuits rather than real-life courses, which don't involve laps. Furthermore, the co-driver's calls are simplified too - rather than giving you a distance or an angle of the corner, he simply says how difficult the corner is (easy, medium, hairpin etc). Even the handling has an arcade feel to it, and most corners can be dealt with using a long powerslide - only the trickiest ones need a harsh application of the brakes. That doesn't mean to say that the game is too easy though, because each rally tends to get progressively harder - the best way to describe it is as a little more forgiving than racers that concentrate on simulation.

That brings me onto my next point, regarding the complete lack of damage modelling on the cars, no matter how badly you drive. Crashing into the scenery just slows you down quite a bit and you tend to bounce off it without a scratch rather than burying your car in a hedge, rolling into a ditch or totally annihilating it beyond recognition in a heavy patch of trees. Although this might be more appealing for younger gamers and less experienced racers, I think it detracts from the feeling of rallying. A big aspect of the sport is about cars being damaged and whether or not the driver can put in a good performance despite such problems (and whether they can be fixed in time for the next round) - it's one of the elements that sets it apart from circuit racing. Furthermore, to use a more mature analogy, it is refreshing to witness automobiles in this destructive nature… because it looks frickin' cool! Part of the beauty of the McRae series is your car's smashed windscreens, the bumpers hanging off and the horrific scratches to the paintwork. The progressive deterioration of the sound of the engine after every crash and the grinding gear changes once you had damaged your transmission also added to the experience, and sadly this aspect is not present in Sega Rally.

However, there are elements that give this game some rallying atmosphere, namely how the road surface interacts with your vehicle. The graphics engine is superb at displaying dust effects as rival cars drive over dirt tracks, even kicking up stones that rain onto your car with a metallic clunk. Tyre tracks remain in each surface where cars have been and the softer it is, the deeper the marks become. Dust clings to your car's bodywork and mud splatters onto the cars in layers too, rather than just looking like it has been painted on. I am willing to go as far as saying that this is the best aspect of the game, and if not then definitely the most notable feature of the graphics. Furthermore, if you splash through water, some of the mud is washed away, only to be reapplied by the splattering from your wheels, which is a very nice touch indeed.

The cars don't look half bad before you splatter them with various colours of muck either; aside from the road surface effects, this is where most of the PS3's power is applied. The windows glint perfectly, the paintwork is crisp and the tyres collect generous helpings of whatever road surface you are on. It's a shame that the more exciting view to use is the in-car view, but luckily all your opponents' cars look just as good too. The actual rally circuits are far from shabby, but they are far from photo-realistic as well. There is also a little bit of pop-up in the distance and in some sections the frame rate seems to slow down - it is rare, but it's a little more than what I would expect from a PS3 title. It may seem like I'm being picky, because the environments certainly aren't bland, with elephants grazing in the distance and planes soaring overhead, but it just didn't make my jaw drop like other PS3 titles have done.

As I have mentioned, the classic style of gameplay is still present and it does manage to entertain for a while, but there seems to be an element missing. It's not just the lack of damage modelling that detracts you from your enjoyment - it seems to lack the element of breakneck speed like other arcade racers such as Burnout or in contrast the satisfaction of skilful handling in simulation racers like Gran Turismo. I may be burnt at the stake by hardcore PS3 fans for mentioning this, but I also feel that the SIXAXIS is to blame for subduing the excitement. This is the first time I've really noticed the exclusion of a rumble feature from the PS3's control pad. On other games it hasn't bothered me, but in a driving game when you are constantly riding over rough surfaces, jumping over bumps in the road or colliding with other vehicles, a bit of feedback from the controller is very welcome. Without it, the roads just don't feel as rough and disobedient and the collisions are nowhere near as exciting. In fact, I'm willing to go as far as to say that the lack of rumble is Sega Rally's Achilles heal on the PS3 and that it's the greatest aspect to subdue its overall excitement.

To try and combat this I greatly recommend using the in-car view for a more exciting experience; while it's a little more challenging to get the perfect lap time, it greatly enhances the atmosphere of the game, accelerating the feeling of speed while the faint engine sounds are replaced with a throaty roar. Overtaking other cars seems more like a close up battle as your bodywork thuds into theirs and gravel pings off your bonnet. I don't normally use in-car views on racing titles where you powerslide a lot in, but using this saved the game for me in terms of enjoyment.

This still wasn't quite enough though, because I eventually found myself not caring whether I progressed in the game or not. Don't get me wrong, the amount of tracks and cars you can unlock has greatly increased since the original, but I believe that time is better spent unlocking goodies on Need for Speed, Project Gotham or Forza Motorsport 2, because the journey there is a lot more exciting. With its numerous rallies across different surfaces (course types include Safari, Alpine, Canyon, Artic and Tropical circuits) and its time attack and multiplayer capabilities, it may last a very long time - but I think it's unlikely to tear you away or distract you from getting the perfect lap time or score in the other titles I have mentioned. A lot of the original sounds are there and plenty of the classic gameplay is still intact, but it doesn't quite cut it in today's world of incredible racing games. On the other hand, Sega Rally is perfect for inexperienced or younger drivers, and those who just like a bit of nostalgia in their lives. It's not one for the rally fans really, as there is no damage modelling and the only adjustments you can make to your vehicle is the paint (choice of three styles), tyres (off-road or road) and transmission (automatic or manual). Having said that, there are plenty of licensed cars, including a masters division that has classic rally cars like the Ford Escort RS Cosworth and even the Celica, Delta and Stratos from the original Sega Rally.

The PS3 version of Sega Rally has managed to stay true to its roots without seeming too dated or ruining the formula completely, and also sports huge graphical improvements since its last outing, but it isn't quite as exciting as some of the competition and doesn't quite capture the essence of rallying. I don't think we should be saying farewell to the series forever, because it still has lot of character and there is plenty of enjoyment to be had, but (just for now) it's time to sing "Game Over yeeeaaaaah!" Sorry, it just had to be done...

Reviewed by Liam Bennion for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).