Sega Rally Championship #BestOfSaturn

Frequently rated amongst the Saturn’s greatest titles, 1995’s SEGA Rally Championship hit the system with a mission — to show the world that the Saturn can competently handle 3D graphics. And boy, did it deliver. Excellent use of colors, a steady framerate, and fine texture work made this a looker.

The gameplay is equally supreme. Ported from the Model 2 arcade board by the original AM3 development team, the sensation of drift and the weight of the cars came off spectacularly. Playable with either the standard control pad or the arcade racer, the game handles so well that a bad turn or crash never feels like a cheap outcome — only that the gamer must continue to hone their skills.

Featuring a total of four tracks and three real cars, the game provides excellent challenge and replay value. A two-player split-screen option is also available, with various boost and delayed start options. Replays of the best runs can be saved, provided that a memory cartridge is present. Finally, it is possible to merge the SEGA Rally save file with the later SEGA Rally Netlink Edition, so that records and best times transfer over to the updated version of the game.

The game fulfills the Saturn’s promise of bringing the arcade experience home. When it came out, it was the best console racer available anywhere, and even all these years later, the upbeat soundtrack, the excellent visuals, and the near-flawless gameplay make this game a winner.