#DRIVE Rally Review: A Retro-Styled Arcade Blast for Xbox

Launching a racing game so close to a powerhouse like Forza Horizon 6 is a bold move, but PM Studios has taken a smart approach with #DRIVE Rally. Rather than trying to compete directly, the developers have crafted an arcade-styled experience that leans heavily into the 90s golden age of rallying. While it isn't the most polished racer on the market, it offers enough charm to keep you coming back for quick, high-speed sessions.

The Retro Rally Experience

#DRIVE Rally keeps things simple. There is no elaborate story or "rags-to-riches" campaign here; it is just you, your car, the track, and a co-driver. The presentation has its ups and downs. Visually, the stages and cars capture a solid retro vibe, though it is disappointing that the game uses fictional names for recognizable car models to avoid licensing fees. Furthermore, the lack of realistic crash damage means your vehicle stays looking pristine regardless of how hard you hit the scenery.

The real highlight of the presentation is the co-driver. The voice acting is fantastic, featuring an Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque personality that adds a surprising amount of character to the stages. You can even adjust the co-driver’s personality to match your mood, which is a nice touch that helps distract from the otherwise forgettable engine noises and impact sounds.

Handling and Gameplay Hurdles

The actual driving in #DRIVE Rally is a mixed bag. The game follows a classic rally format where you navigate stages and hit split-time gates to track your performance. However, the difficulty is strangely tuned—it wasn't uncommon to finish a stage more than 10 seconds ahead of the pack, which lowers the stakes significantly.

More problematic are the controls. The braking system feels binary, lacking the nuance needed to tackle corners smoothly. The handbrake is equally inconsistent; sometimes it helps you drift perfectly, and other times it leaves you awkwardly stuck at a 90-degree angle. I often found it more effective to simply ease off the accelerator entirely rather than relying on the game's finicky brake mechanics.

Content and Verdict

Despite the control issues, there is a good amount of content to dig into. The game features a free-roam mode on large maps where you can hunt for collectibles like letters to unlock new areas or customization items for your vehicle. If you are looking for a casual, bite-sized rally experience and don't mind some rough edges, the charm of #DRIVE Rally might just be enough to pull you in.