WRC 4 - The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship (Europe / Australia / No / Fi)
PlayStation 2
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Reviewed in 2004
84
✪ Reviewed on December 5, 2023
78
WRC 4 reaches a fine peak for the official championship. Finer handling, lots of stages and polished FIA presentation. Likely the best WRC PS2.
Your verdict
Category
Racing2 players3+
Split screen
Description
An Evolution Studios and Sony racer released in 2004, the fourth main WRC franchise entry. Official 2004 FIA World Rally Championship simulation with full roster of 16 official teams, 14 world rallies and over 70 special stages. More expanded narrative World Rally mode, refined rally physics and online multiplayer improvement up to 8 players. Penultimate entry before Rally Evolved, pre-finale franchise peak.
WRC 4 - The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
WRC 4 banks on the grime that builds up. Over a stage, the bodywork cakes with mud, the windscreen clouds with splatter, dust dulls the liveries that were dazzling at the start, so that a car at the finish no longer resembles the one from the pits. This visual wear, more than impacts, tells of the effort of driving and the harshness of the terrain.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Taming demanding stages on terrain from around the world unfolds a rally simulation with a hearty championship. Wrapping up the season, tuning your car and clawing back every second fills long hours of attentive driving. That rigour, paired with hearty official content, founds a longevity dear to rally fans.
The European release of WRC 4, the sequel to Evolution Studios' official rally sim that refines the handling and broadens the content, judged more accomplished than the previous entry. Still common, its desirability rests on these tangible improvements and the period FIA license rather than scarcity. A solid piece for an off-road racing set of the PS2 era, accessible in a complete box.
Better with friends
A polished installment of the official rally, refining the handling and fleshing out the stages for ever-tighter two-player time duels. The competition stays a matter of finesse and consistency, where taming shifting grip and anticipating traps makes the difference. Demanding yet fair, it sets up a merit-based rivalry where every mastered stage is savored and the instant rematch becomes a ritual among enthusiasts.
Is WRC 4 - The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2, Evolution Studios' project refines the official world rally championship series with a more credible driving physics, more content and a fleshed out career mode. The precision of driving on dirt, snow and tarmac rewards learning the stages and the fine management of the slide, in a successful balance between demand and pleasure. The variety of surfaces and conditions keeps a solid replay value. The production and a sometimes predictable artificial intelligence show their age. An excellent vintage of console rally, recommended for fans of technical driving and of racing on varied terrains.
