Introduction

V-Rally 4 arrives like a reunion tour for an old band: familiar riffs, a few guest stars, and a handful of moments that make you shout along - but you're left wondering if somebody remembered to tune the amps. Developed by Paris-based Kylotonn (some of whom worked on earlier V-Rally entries and the 2017 WRC title) and published by Bigben Interactive, the game promises five rallying disciplines, 51 cars from 19 manufacturers (yes, Porsche and Škoda both make cameos), and exotic stages that range from Monument Valley to the deserts of Niger and the humid twisties of Malaysia. On PS4 it inherited something of a mixed legacy; critics largely agreed the core driving felt okay, but the career mode and polish left fans wanting. If you want a traditional review, that's the spine. If you want something more dramatic - a character study of cars, tracks and the career that binds them - read on. This is the version of V-Rally 4 that wears its racing suit like a costume drama.

Gameplay

Think of V-Rally 4 as an ensemble cast drama where the cars are the actors and the disciplines are different film genres. The game serves five distinct disciplines (stadium events, rally, hillclimb, buggy, and extreme-Khana style stuff) like chapters in an anthology: sometimes you're in a glossy sports-car rom-com, other times a dirt-streaked revenge thriller. The roster - 51 cars from 19 manufacturers - gives the cast variety. The Porsches play the polished veteran lead: fast, confident, and occasionally aloof. Škoda is the underdog that wins your heart by being reliable in awkward conditions. Norma is that eccentric indie-breakout car nobody really expected to steal the show but somehow does during a brutal stage in Niger. Races are structured like episodes. Monument Valley is the slow-burn arthouse piece, where striking landscapes are juxtaposed against razor-thin technical driving. Niger is the survival horror episode: sand, dust and the constant worry that a misplaced turn means vehicular doom. Romania and Malaysia provide contrasting acts - one offers narrow, twisty forest stages (think stealthy character beats), the other drenches you in tropical chaos with slippery surfaces that force improvisation. These locales aren't just pretty backdrops; they act as emotional tests for the cars. A Porsche that breezes through Monument Valley can be humbled in Malaysia, and that fall from grace is part of the story. The player-character in this tale is the hapless career driver you shepherd from newcomer to (potential) legend. Unlike tightly scripted narrative games, V-Rally 4's career mode often reads like an indie movie where the protagonist's motivations are implied and the production budget shows in a few rough edges. Critics called it "disappointingly shoddy" and that diagnosis is fair: the arc of progression - earning reputation, unlocking cars and disciplines - exists, but the connective tissue that would make you emotionally invested is thin. There are moments that feel cinematic (winning a clutch event, pulling off a perfect drift), but the career skips over the smaller, human moments: the late-night tuning, the slow-burn friendships with AI rivals, the defeats that teach you something. It's as if the game wants to be a character-driven drama but only affords the cast a handful of scenes. Driving mechanics are the dialogue the characters use. Kylotonn's previous work on WRC shows; the rally fundamentals are present, with cars that handle differently across stages and a tuning system that rewards attention. When things click, the sensation is genuinely satisfying - the kind of moment cinema-goers clap at. Critics described it as "an arcade racing game with some spectacular moments, whose roots are guiltily stuck in the past," and that's apt: there are flashes of old-school V-Rally spectacle mixed with modern handling nuances. Multiplayer offers cameo appearances where your car's personality can either shine or be swallowed by the pack, depending on how well you built your character (and tuned your ride). Where the narrative stumbles is in the game's inability to fully realize rivalries. The antagonists - AI drivers, harsh environments, and the game's own shaky progression - threaten to derail memorable arcs. In some playthroughs you'll build a believable rivalry with a fast, sneering Porsche S competitor. In others, the AI is a faceless mechanic that exists solely to finish in first. That inconsistency is why the game's reception skews mixed: it has the seeds of great character stories, but doesn't always water them.

Graphics

Visually V-Rally 4 wears its costume well even when the set dressing is sometimes cheap. Stages like Monument Valley are postcard-perfect in moments, offering vistas that make you want to pause and pretend you're taking a travel vlog. Detail on cars ranges from handsome to 'could use a trip to the carwash': Porsche and other marquee models get decent modeling, while some secondary cast members lack the same fidelity. Lighting does heavy lifting in the storybeats - sun-scorched deserts and dripping tropical canopies create moods that help sell the emotional ups and downs of a race. That said, polish is hit-and-miss. Animations and environmental pop-in occasionally remind you this is a mid-tier production trying to punch above its weight. On PS4, the frame-rate can wobble in busy scenes and some textures betray the limits of the budget. Critics flagged these rough edges; Metacritic's PS4 score around the high 50s reflects a consensus that the look is serviceable rather than show-stopping. In short: the visuals do enough to make the characters readable, but they don't always make the world feel alive.

Conclusion

V-Rally 4 is an oddball ensemble piece: talented cast, a few great scenes, and a career arc that wants to be an epic but often reads like a draft. Kylotonn's experience with rally fundamentals shows up in satisfying driving moments and the variety of disciplines offers thematic variety, yet the game's weakest asset is its narrative glue. The career mode rarely gives characters (be they cars, stages, or rivals) the full arcs they deserve - sometimes a promising subplot fizzles because of clunky progression or thin presentation. For PS4 players who enjoy rallying from a mechanical, moment-to-moment perspective, there is still a lot to like. Fans of flash-and-fury arcade racing will find spectacle; completionists will enjoy unlocking every car and proving their mettle across Monument Valley, Niger, Romania and Malaysia. If you wanted a deep, character-driven motorsport saga with emotional crescendos and meaningful rivalries, you'll likely be disappointed. Reviewers largely agreed: mixed-to-positive notices on PC and middling scores on consoles reflect a title that does many things adequately but few things exceptionally. V-Rally 4 doesn't quite take pole position in 2018's racing lineup, but it does offer some memorable turns in an otherwise ordinary lap. Treat it like a quirky indie film about fast cars: not flawless, occasionally brilliant, and definitely worth watching - especially if you're rooting for the underdog Škoda to have its breakout scene.

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