Wave Rally

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 17
  3. Negative: 4 out of 17
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  1. Hot Games
    80
    The quirky controls don't reach the levels of brilliance that the level design or overall look of the game do.
  2. GamePro
    80
    The excellent tracks alone are worth a look.
  3. Yahoo!
    80
    The locations are truly stunning, especially in Venice and New Zealand and the pounding music score perfectly complements the daredevil speed of the races.
  5. GameSpy
    74
    Its lack of innovation, crude trick control scheme, and lousy opponent AI might tempt you to look elsewhere for your watercraft kicks...but I can't help but smile as I weave my way through the course.
  6. IGN
    71
    It's still entirely possible for the strange behavior of the water to throw you off, no matter how hard you try.
  7. GamerWeb Sony
    70
    The game is just a little more tedious to play than it is enjoyable.
  8. Gamezilla!
    68
    It just feels like the same hacked out stuff that we've seen before. Lack of player choices and absurd overall difficulty don't serve well for impressing a player.
  9. Armchair Empire
    65
    Its problems stalk it like Jason stalks his victims – they’re always right behind you just when you thought you had lost them.
  10. GameSpot
    63
    Stiff controls, some questionable AI, and other quirk...ruin an otherwise entertaining experience.
  11. TotalGames.net
    60
    This will sink without trace and rightly so.
  12. GameZone
    59
    If you're playing this after finishing "Splashdown" or "Wave Race: Blue Storm," the graphics don't seem quite as spectacular.
  13. PSX Nation
    50
    Probably my biggest gripe with the game is that the tricks are hard to perform. That's not so bad except that pulling them off is pretty much useless on the races.
  14. PSM Magazine
    50
    From the course design to the interface to the tricks, everything about Wave Rally is very ordinary. [Feb 2002, p.40]
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  15. Game Informer
    40
    Don’t confuse Wave Rally for a Baby Ruth floating in the PS2 pool – It’s a turd. [Feb 2002, p.84]
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  16. Play Magazine
    40
    There just isn’t anything about this game that excites the way a jet-ski racer should. [Feb 2002, p.62]
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  17. Game Revolution
    33
    It's got some nice waves, but a bad camera, tough controls, and some unsatisfying gameplay cause an evil tsunami of massive proportions.
  18. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    30
    This game looks so great, but the controls may very well be the worst I have ever seen in a racing game. [Feb 2002, p.114]
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Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 2 out of 4
  1. Stealthgear
    Jan 20, 2013
    2
    This is the worst game on PS2 I've ever played and the worst wave/ski game ever. The graphics, sound, and presentation are good, but theThis is the worst game on PS2 I've ever played and the worst wave/ski game ever. The graphics, sound, and presentation are good, but the controls are awful and the physics don't make sense. Both in freestyle and racing, this game is almost unplayable. I couldn't seem to do a trick. Even though its sort of arcade style, you won't have fun with this. I think Kawasaki and Eidos wish they had never made this. Get Rides Gone Wild or WaveRace 64 instead. I can't believe how disappointing Wave Rally is. If they had made this on PS1 or N64 I'd still give it 2 stars.… Full Review »
  2. EdwinM.
    Jul 6, 2002
    3
    I have played wave race 64 for the nintendo 64, and it's way better than this game!! it's a piece! A piece of junk! i expected muchI have played wave race 64 for the nintendo 64, and it's way better than this game!! it's a piece! A piece of junk! i expected much more from this game.… Full Review »
  3. MasterQ
    Feb 12, 2002
    7
    Great graphics, poor controls.
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