New Rally-X Review

By Kristan Reed Published 3 January, 2007

New 26 years ago, anyway.

Version tested: Xbox 360

There are innumerable retro classics that instantly warrant a place on Xbox Live Arcade. Now and then we sit down over a few pints and get all dewy eyed about the past and reel off a giant list of all those all-time greats that we'd love to revisit. Never once has New Rally-X appeared on that list, and yet here it is, shining proudly as the latest ancient title to be dusted off for the Xbox Live Arcade treatment.

Released way back in the arcade boom years of 1981, its continual reappearance on the five billion Namco retro compilations put out over the past decade has been mystifying enough. Despite reportedly being a big hit in Japan and 'modestly' popular in the rest of the world, it certainly never featured in any of the bustling arcades I used to visit as a pre-teenager, if that tells you anything. But despite its charming simplicity, it just doesn't have the iconic, evocative charm which oozes out of the many classic arcade titles that Namco issued around that era, such as Galaga, Pac-Man, Xevious and Dig Dug.

And yet here we are in 2007 and most of us old-schoolers have managed to accumulate at least three copies of the flippin' thing by osmosis, and have probably acquired a MAME Rom to boot. Just to make extra, extra sure, Namco has somehow convinced Microsoft to slap it up on its expanding download service for the princely sum of 400 points - but you'll see all you need to see on the free trial download.

Game of the week

'New Rally-X' Screenshot 1

Start your engines. We preferred Ulitmate's Trans-Am. Remember that?

At times like this you really wonder what the XBLA selection criteria involves, and why Microsoft imagines that releasing (maybe) one game a week via Live Arcade is going to be enough to keep people interested. By comparison, in the past four weeks Nintendo has released around 35 games on its Virtual Console service - a hugely interesting feature of the Wii we'll be taking a regular in-depth look at very shortly.

Anyway, back on topic, New Rally-X isn't a bad game. It's just not one that's going to keep you entertained for more than a few rounds before you get utterly tired of driving a little car around a top-down maze and collecting 10 flags before your fuel runs out. It's not really the game's fault - this is 1981, remember, and it ran on Pac-Man hardware - but the charming simplicity soon wears a bit thin as you duck and dive around a series of mazes trying to outmanoeuvre the red cars that try to chase you down.

If getting a high score's an attractive option, then you can aim to collect the special (flashing) flag first to ensure that the value of everything you pick up from that point onwards is doubled. In itself, this presents a bit of an extra challenge as you run the risk of either running out of fuel or being cornered by your pursuers. At the start, this isn't such an issue as there aren't too many red cars making chase, but with each additional round comes another 'chaser'. In your favour you have a little mini-map to alert you to any nearby enemies, as well as the ability to fire a smoke-screen at them if they're getting too close. This sends them spinning off for a few seconds and helps gives you a bit of breathing space, and once you've cleared all ten flags the whole process starts over.

Novelty value

'New Rally-X' Screenshot 2

Holy smoke.

With some of the most basic sprite-based visuals of any retro game, probably the most impressive element about New Rally-X at the time was the presence of a large, smooth-scrolling play field - something of a novelty at the time. It also featured a bonus stage (which was essentially much the same as a regular course except the red cars don't move until you've run out of fuel) and a little ditty that played throughout, but apart from that it was a relentlessly simple game with few frills.

Of course, its arrival on XBLA means that the real hardcore fans can prove their mettle via the online worldwide leaderboards that accompany each and every XBLA effort, but you knew that anyway. As with all the Namco re-issues, there's no attempt to enhance any part of the offering, with no updated visuals or audio or co-op modes and the like. It matters little, but what you're left with is a game that you'll doubtless play a handful of times and possibly never return to.

As usual, it's pointless damning a game for being old, and hardly worth grumbling about an old game being sold at a cheap price. It's not really a question of whether New Rally-X is worth buying again (it isn't), but whether Microsoft is doing itself any favours drip-feeding games that hardly qualify for legendary status. New Rally-X is fun for about ten minutes, but that's all, and for the price that's just not enough.

4 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Genji #1 5 years ago

    I wish I had a nose like that. I could rest drinks on it for a party trick.

  • DDevil #2 5 years ago

    I think you were over generous with the 4 to be quite honest. But whatever, the end score isn't all that important as you've put over the main message clearly...

    DO NOT BUY THIS GAME.

  • NthSimulachum #3 5 years ago

    Now, what if XBLA gave games like this away for free?

    Would it still be worthwhile?

  • BBIAJ #4 5 years ago

    Yep, the very same... :o(

  • Genji #5 5 years ago

    It does seem a bit too much review space for a 25-year-old game.

  • Furbs #6 5 years ago

    It does seem a complete waste of the reviewers time. Having to write 500 words on piles of shite must be really demoralising. No wonder the top 50 sounded like you all hate games.

    Just do a monthly round up fellas.

  • haowan #7 5 years ago

    Doesn't even deserve 4.

    0/10 would be more appropriate. The release of this game is an affront to Xbox 360 owners.

  • Genji #8 5 years ago

    Yeah, but they'll kill themselves trying to do 500 words on every VC release, in addition to all the other stuff that comes out.

    Just keep the reviews shorter. I don't think many people would mind

  • haowan #9 5 years ago

    It doesn't even merit a review TBH. 0/10 would be doing it the favour of recognising it's there.

  • itamae #10 5 years ago

    Nintendo has released around 35 games on its Virtual Console service - a hugely overpriced feature of the Wii we'll be taking a regular in-depth look at very shortly.

    Fixxored.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #11 5 years ago

    This game is an atrocity. I suspect such games are only there to make to other XBLA titles look better. There aren't any titles on XBLA that you simply must have.

    I gladly payed for Doom (imho the best game on XBLA, at least for what you get for your money), Geometry Wars is also a great game, but many of the other games are kind of weak.

  • Dizzy #12 5 years ago

    I remember when this game just arrived in the arcades we were all in awe by the large virtual maze. Basically it is a Pac-man close with the maze being the "new" feature.

    I am a bit sad that some of you guys just dismiss old games like this. They have a value for people who used to play them in the arcades and for people who are interested in the history and "art" of games design. So the EG review of 4 is probably very accurate for the casual (young) player, giving this game a 0 is just not fair.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/07 @ 08:51

  • Furbs #13 5 years ago

    Dizzy I'm plenty old enough to remember Rally X. Thing is, the only people who are going to be interested in paying for this certainly wont need a full page review of it.

  • Instinct #14 5 years ago

    I vaguely enjoyed this when I played Ridge Racer on my PSP. For about thirty seconds, anyhow.

  • BM #15 5 years ago

    Dear Microsoft,

    Stop pissing about and bring out Track & Field. Someone might actually pay for it, which I reckon would be a shock to your meagre coffers.

    Lot of love

    Me

  • Frogger #16 5 years ago

    They got a wrong business model with this XBLA retro thing.
    People are already paying 60€ a year to connect to their service, those 80's games should be included in.
    People will soon be tired of paying for such miserable games. Games that are so easily playable for free on any PC, by the way.

  • oerhoert #17 5 years ago

    <em>New Rally-X is fun for about ten minutes, but that's all ...</em>

    Hence ... four out of ten? *puzzled*

    Then, threes and twos must be fun for about five minutes, then? And ones for about two minutes?

  • w00t #18 5 years ago

    Bobbins, really.

    Where's more stuff like Geometry Wars and Outpost Kaloki. You know, NEW GAMES?

  • EmiliasHorse #19 5 years ago

    Proof that it's not only Konami that can release SHIT XBLA games. I had a version of this on my BBC Model 'B' called "Hell Driver" by Micro Power, that was a game that when you pressed break and typed list you recoiled in shock to find the bugger had been entirely written in Basic......Oh I seem to be going off subject.

    1/10 it is shit
    2/10 if you are a nostalgia fan who likes shit games.

  • glaeken #20 5 years ago

    Fun for 10 minutes? Really I was overwhelmed with it's crapness within 30 seconds.

    To port such an "also ran" game just amazes me. The fact someone put time into porting this is almost criminal.

  • haowan #21 5 years ago

    w00t+1

    More strategy / sim games, less recycled crap plz kthxbye

  • [maven] #22 5 years ago

    As good as Chromehounds? :D

  • Cuke #23 5 years ago

    Considering this was given away free as a token 'loading screen' game in PSP Ridge Racer is does seem a little off for MS and Namco to try and flog it now.... esp as it's never once interested me enough in Ridge Racer to play it longer than it takes the proper game to load....

  • AcidSnake #24 5 years ago

    I remember a similar game on the commodore...
    Only you were a blue mouse, being chased by red mice...
    And instead of a smokescreen you left behind stars, temporarily trapping the red ones...
    You had to eat cheese...

    Now that would be worth....well...30 cents I suppose...

  • #25 5 years ago

    Maven you old codger LOL

    Bliddy good point though :/

  • Steroyd #26 5 years ago

    MS has had a year head start with this, XBLA is going to get murdered by Nintendo's retro offering easily if they keep this up.

    And the Namco that put Rally X on XBLA is the same Namco that put Tekken 5 DR on Sony's PSN store. o_O

    Dare I say it MS could lose the online battle at this rate and it's only been a month.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/07 @ 10:35

  • AcidSnake #27 5 years ago

    No way, the online battle is not just XBLA...
    XBL is still dominant and a very well put together service...

    So far neither nintendo nor sony have even touched it...
    XBLA could well be bested (looks likely), but there's more to online than just that...

  • Celdrahil #28 5 years ago

    C64 version was named Radar Rat Race.

  • AcidSnake #29 5 years ago

    @Celdrahil:
    Thanks! I loved that game you know?
    Then again I was still young back then...
    Apart from the scrolling screen it is the very same as this game...

  • Tonka #30 5 years ago

    waste of time and money. And playing any arcade game with the abomination that is the Dpad on the, otherwise great, 360 pad is an insult.

    I have given up on even downloading the free demos. I remember Scramble fondly from my C64 days. Thought that the XBLA version would be a nice trip down memory lane. My god was I wrong.

    Com on MS, get some good games out. And relaease an arcadestick. You will have to now that youve got your hands on VF anyway. Don't stall.

    DO IT (said in the voice of Starsky)

  • Steroyd #31 5 years ago

    okay you do know that the most money comes from the marketplace.

    And Sony and Ninty offer free online gaming that might be the factor that ultimately makes their online services more popular than XBL despite XBL being more feature rich.

  • FTM #32 5 years ago

    why cant we have a decent old racer on XBOXLA

    something like super sprint which you could play 4 players would be much more fun

    there was also an off road one similar to super sprint with jumps and things..again 4 player fun

  • Der_tolle_Emil #33 5 years ago

    FTM: Not a retro title but you should look out for Mad Tracks on XBLA.

  • EmiliasHorse #34 5 years ago

    I would like to point out that while I do think New Rally-X is utter tripe, it does not mean in any way that I think XBLA is offal. The service is excellent and to be fair the demos are all free, so if this game gives only 10 mins of fun what harm has it done? None...also at 11Mb it only takes a few seconds to download decide it is shit and go back to playing Viva Piñata...Hooray!

  • haowan #35 5 years ago

    @Kato
    It's probably the most universally-renowned rubbish directional pad ever made, second only to the Xbox one. In fact I think your post is the only one I've ever seen doing anything but mocking it.

  • Kostabi #36 5 years ago

    I don't understand the score. It's fun for ten minutes and the review clearly states it's not worth buying, yet it gets 4/10?

    I realise XBLA games are treated/graded differently compared to full price titles but surely if there are no redeeming features of the game then 4/10 is a bit rich, don't you think?

  • haowan #37 5 years ago

    Nah it's rubbish. Always selecting other directions when you don't want them and unable to do diagonals easily. Just try using that virtual keyboard with it.

    Or the quick-select system in Oblivion for that matter.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/07 @ 11:16

  • Mr_Brown #38 5 years ago

    Yet another wasted opotunity. Of all the great Retro titles out there Micorosoft are just going for the lesser known age really badly ones. Personally I'm still shocked that there isn't a single retro RPG on ether XBLA and VC yet. Just shooters gallore at the moment with the odd platformer...yawn.

  • haowan #39 5 years ago

    yep a good RPG would be welcome but they just don't have those in the arcade, only on home computers + consoles.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #40 5 years ago

    Kato: Press right and then move your thumb slightly upwards. It now registers up; While you are still clearly pressing right. This does not happen with any other dpad, but with this one it does. Because it is a fricking disc and you can move the damn disc around, which is exactly what triggers the wrong directions.

  • EmiliasHorse #41 5 years ago

    I have to say I am with Kato on the pad issue.

  • MadMirko #42 5 years ago

    What's with the silly borders? Hated them in the days of the GameBoy player, and they were a technical neccessity back then.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #43 5 years ago

    I did not mean to sound harsh, sorry :) It's just a bit annoying that while the 360 controller is the best I ever held in my hands the d-pad is inferiour to nearly every other d-pad from the past 15 years.

  • keenest #44 5 years ago

    I must be the only one here to actually like New Rally X.

    Anyway a XLA release of Amidar would be great.

  • moggsy #45 5 years ago

    Trans-Am on the Speccy was ace.

  • Whizzo #46 5 years ago

    Trans-Am on the Speccy was ace.

    Tranz Am certainly was, it shits on Rally-X from a great height. Get Rare to put out a retro pack of Spectrum titles, it'd be better than crap like this.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/07 @ 16:12

  • Gnort #47 5 years ago

    You know, I'm sure it's been said many times before, but I think XBLA would do much better if they halved the price of all of their games, 200 MS Points for rubbish old retro games, 400 MS Points for indie titles and 600 or 800 for the bigger stuff (Doom, Lumines, Roboblitz). If that was the case, I'd probably buy all sorts of rubbish that I probably won't spend more than 15 minutes with (although I still wouldn't buy New Rally-X). At the current prices, I'm more picky, and I've only bought Geometry Wars and Assault Heroes. In the end, Microsoft's got far less money out of me, even at double the price.

    Then again, a lot of gamercards you see show people with achievements in New Rally-X, so clearly other people are casting their wallet-votes against me.

  • AOFanboi #48 5 years ago

    I like me some Rally-X now and then – but only because I know it's one of many games in a collection on my PSP. Paying for only Rally-X? No fricking way.

  • Bumadan #49 5 years ago

    Any of you who only played the few levels that are in the free download wont have much clue about what is good about New Rally-X. In the later levels this is a very challenging game and I had actually been looking forward to it being released on XBLA.

    My only worry was that it like so many other classic arcade games (Robotron 2084 is almost unplayable) would suffer badly because of the Xbox-controller because in New Rally-X its extremely important that you make the right turns at the rigth moment. Fortunately it handles quite good - not as good as I remember it in the arcade though. With all these classic games being released its a mystery to me why MS hasnt yet released a proper arcade controller. Preferably with 2 sticks so I could play Robotron hehe.

    I dont have a PSP so I dont know if its Rally-X or New Rally-X that is playable in Ridge Racers but theres a big difference with New Rally-X being a much better game.

  • LittleVoice #50 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • tormentuk #51 4 years ago


    I actually really like this game - it takes me back to skiving off school and playing this with mates in the back of a dodgy chippy in yokel land :)

    I paid 400 points for it and i've not even been drinking .