Reception
In Europe, V-Rally received very positive reviews from critics, who compared it favorably to Sega Rally Championship, praising its large number of tracks and challenging yet rewarding gameplay. Official UK PlayStation Magazine described V-Rally as "a huge game, by far the most comprehensive racer on [the PlayStation] or any other platform since Psygnosis' F1", while Edge credited it for adopting a different style from other PlayStation racing games such as Rage Racer, a market the magazine considered overcrowded at the time. Editors of the French video game magazine Consoles + considered V-Rally the most effective rally simulation game they had ever played.
Computer and Video Games editors felt that the simulation aspects give V-Rally a lot of depth, but remarked that the game is not as instantly accessible as Sega Rally and that its highly sensitive controls can frustrate some players. They also considered V-Rally a more attractive game due to its better-looking graphics, which were highlighted for their details and long draw distance. The replay value was seen as one of the game's strongest points, mainly because of the variety of tracks and weather conditions. The Spanish video game magazine HobbyConsolas noted the game's varied scenery, stating that each track offers unique challenges. The magazine said that, although it can take some time to get used to the controls, the effort is ultimately rewarding due to the game's "impressive" sense of speed.
In North America, reviews were generally not as positive. GameSpot condemned the controls, saying that the cars "spin out much, much too easily, and even with understeering turned all the way up in the options, the cars still tend to go wild". Although the website highlighted the game's "impressive" number of cars and tracks, especially when compared to most games of the time, it concluded that the game is not worth playing due to its "shoddy control". Electronic Gaming Monthly editors agreed, describing the car physics and collision detection as wacky and unnatural. GamePro instead asserted that "game control is responsive, but requires patience and practice, so arcade drivers will easily be frustrated". The reviewer concluded that V-Rally is more for hardcore rally enthusiasts than for the Need for Speed fanbase, but is a strong offering in that regard, citing its customization options, useful co-pilot voice, and detailed and smoothly scrolling graphics.
Other publications were more positive towards the game. GameRevolution enjoyed the fact that weather conditions impact the gameplay experience, stressing that "once you understand that you actually need to use your brakes and concentrate on the race, the realism proves to be a great asset", while IGN felt that the game was highly rewarding and fun, and that it is best experienced when played on higher difficulty settings.
Sales
In Europe, V-Rally was a commercial success, selling 15,000 copies during its first weekend of release. In the UK, the game was a bestseller for three months, and in August 1998, the game received a "Gold" sales award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland, indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As of November 1998, V-Rally had sold more than two million copies worldwide. It took home a "Gold" prize at the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, for revenues above €22 million in the European Union during 1998. In Australia, V-Rally sold nearly 100,000 copies in its first three months of release. By 2000, V-Rally had become the third best-selling PlayStation game of all time in France, behind only Gran Turismo and Rayman.[3]
