Lancia's famous rally legends, the 037 Rally and Delta S4, as well as the current Fiat Punto Super1600, are all honoured in the latest Playstation game by Evolution Studios, 'WRC: Rally Evolved' which went on general release on 28th October. The World Rally Championship franchise really established the developer's name in the first place, and it just keeps going from strength to strength. This latest edition represents a huge leap forward for the series. Not only does it offer the most intense and satisfying racing action to date, it also brings the glamorous, jet-setting motorsport thrill ride that is the World Rally Championship to life more vividly than ever.

Topping the commendably long list of upgrades and fresh features in WRC: Rally Evolved is a new element of unpredictability. Now, whenever you tackle any of the game's multiple stages or challenges, you frequently face 'interactive events' - randomly generated obstacles on the track. These can range from opponents' wrecked vehicles (complete with bemused looking driver and co-driver standing in the road) to boulders rolling onto the track, waterfalls and a selection of local wildlife tearing across your path. These unpredictable events present varying degrees of challenge. As a general rule, immovable objects such as broken-down vehicles and large rocks need avoiding - crash into them and you'll lose valuable seconds.

The more animated obstacles (horses, sheep, racing fans etc.) will endeavour to get out of your way, but tend to be more of a distraction than anything. They're randomly generated each time, so there's no knowing when or where an obstacle will crop up. This brings a real sense of immediacy to the game; even if you're racing a stage for the hundredth time, you can't take anything for granted. Besides testing your concentration to its limits, unpredictable events add loads of atmosphere to the WRC experience. More than ever, it really feels like you're driving through a living, breathing world.

The WRC series has never been much of a slouch in the graphics department, but WRC: Rally Evolved excels itself with some outstanding eye candy. Environments are rendered in astonishing, near-photo-realistic detail and there's a real sense of depth and perspective as well. An overhauled damage system means that cars smash, buckle and crumple more accurately than before. This time, however, it's not just the cars getting trashed. WRC: Rally Evolved includes deformable environments, so you'll see walls collapsing when you hurtle into them at top speed, for example. Particle effects, such as smoke and fire, have been greatly improved and the water effects are spectacular. Don't be surprised to find yourself reaching for an umbrella when plump drops of rain start to fall. Incidentally, the fact that the game's weather is changeable - it occasionally starts raining mid-stage - is a nice touch. Few racing games bother to include more than one weather type per race.

Besides looking the business, WRC: Rally Evolved handles beautifully. The controls have a really solid, satisfying feel about them and, playing on the default settings, it's easy to throw the car into grin-inducing power-slides. More experienced drivers will immediately notice various driver assists steadying the vehicle and slowing the car down before turns, but these can be disabled if you relish a challenge. Visual indicators come in the form of your co-pilot's notes, as scrawled on a spiral-bound pad, with arrows displaying the direction of turns and numbers representing the gear you should ideally be in. It's a small touch, but it all adds to the feeling of 'being there'. Incidentally, your co-pilot is more vital to your success in WRC than ever before. Besides guiding you through every turn in the road, he'll also warn you of obstacles in the road and of approaching jumps (of which the game does seem to have more than its fair share).
 

He's also far more 'human' than in previous games, reacting swiftly to events on the track and displaying the full gamut of emotions. If you're approaching a hairpin turn at breakneck speed, you'll hear real fear in his voice. Win a stage and he'll offer up hearty congratulations ("Nice one!"). Break something on the car and he'll sound worried and helpless ("Ummm, we've lost power steering").

WRC: Rally Evolved boasts easily the richest array of modes of any game in the series. As ever, you can play any single stage or rally independently, but the full Championship now has a progressive structure. Stages get steadily tougher as you work your way around the globe, making for a much more cohesive single-player experience throughout. If you fancy going up against other drivers rather than just the clock for a change, Rally Cross mode lets you do just that; simply pick a class of vehicle and you're away. Be warned, though - your AI opponents in this mode are a surprisingly aggressive bunch, taking every opportunity to cut you up or force you off the road. Remember, offence is often the best form of defence. Mixing it up with AI cars in Rally Cross mode should prove excellent practice for the outrageously addictive online Multi-car mode, which truly is WRC: Rally Evolved's crowning jewel. Compete with up to seven other human players on sixteen custom-built tracks that represent the very best that each rally country has to offer, jostling for position in keenly fought races. Now in its fifth year, you might have expected WRC to be suffering from a touch of 'franchise fatigue', but happily the opposite seems to be the case. With truly breathtaking scenery, beautifully modelled vehicles, essential new modes, plus heaps more atmosphere and sparkle, this is absolutely indispensable rallying action.