Yet this unusual racing game distinguishes itself in a number of ways, not the least of which is its car lineup. Rally Trophy's racers aren't top-of-the-line 21st-century rally automobiles, but rather they are vintage rally cars from the 1960s and 1970s, painstakingly reproduced down to the very last detail, including handling, chassis, ornaments, and even engine sounds. Since Rally Trophy features car models that are 30 to 40 years old, they don't handle like state-of-the-art rally machines--they handle very much like cars that didn't have modern amenities, and as such, tearing about each of the game's courses seems like a much more exciting, and much more perilous, prospect.

Despite the fact that Rally Trophy's computer opponents can be almost unreasonably difficult to beat, Rally Trophy is a remarkably realistic rally racing game that looks amazing--the game's car models look outstanding, and its environmental effects are top-notch. It was a very competitive year for PC driving games, but Rally Trophy's unusual premise and its exhilarating seat-of-your-pants racing puts it over the top.