First off I have no idea if this is hitting PSN, I would assume so.
I am just talking about the xbla version, because thats the one I just bought and played.
Ok so this is a basic no frills arcade racer. It feels to me like a mostly straight up conversion of the Old Sega Arcade game. But don't let that stop you.
Here is the thing, most racers have verged themselves on the hard to drive. I know some will agrue but I am convinced. In most games your fighting the cars, track, and mostly the physics engine. I beleive this is done so that players are spread out on the track in online play. If you got 5 players the exact same speed/skill they would be right on top of each other race linewise. So the devs call it realism, and most gamers eat it up.
I have no use for that. Thats frustrating, not fun, imo.
Then we have so called Arcade style racers. From Burnout to Split Second to Mario Kart. Most of them with gimmicks other then just racing. Either eye drying speed, exploding enviroments, or heating seaking shells. Fun? It can be.
But it isn't racing either.
Sega Rally on xbla is racing. Wheel to wheel, bumper to bumper, racing. Your going to be looking at the back of and side of other players cars the whole way around the track. Go ahead hit that car next to you, you know what happens? Very little. Your not going to run someone off the track, or be taken out. Your not going to get spun in the last corner of the race. Rubbing is racing, and here you can bang, hit, swipe, rub, and just plan drive into each other. Its part of the race.
I like that.
The controls are silky smooth. The HD is glossy and pretty. The tracks are classic and familer. Cars selection is a decent handful. Online is upto 6 players, and you can use AI cars to fill the gaps if your short on players if you want to.
I like what Sega brings to the table. Sega Rally is cheap, fast, and fun.
I'd like Sega to put out a Daytona USA Arcade/PSN game next!