Dakar Rally 08

Dakar Rally 08 is a racing game based around the annual Dakar desert rally that was meant to be held between 5th and 20th January 2008 from Lisbon to Senegal, but was cancelled one day before the start due to concerns over a possible terrorist attack aimed at the competitors. Compared to the previous game Dakar 2007 by the same developer the gameplay has become more arcade-like and there is a shift from a first-person perspective to a behind view now.

The Rally mode takes the place through the different stages. The HUD shows progress for the distance, current speed, current and best time, the condition of the car, the amount of boost and the number of collected flags. In addition to completing a stage without totalling the car, there are also ten blue flags to pick up as well as a souvenir piece. Based on the total performance a bronze, silver or gold medal is awarded. Controls consist of acceleration, braking and steering. Skidding through sharp corners is possible by braking slightly while turning at a high speed. Courses have obstacles and cracks in the road that need to be avoided. There are many pick-ups: manual boosts, a shield for a brief invincibility, a power-up that makes the car bounce like a frog several times, full repair, and a manual jump. Arrows with different colours warn for upcoming turns and their curve or large gaps.

Next to the main Rally mode there is Quick Race and Flag Chase. In Flag Races the course is littered with flags and they all have to be collected before time runs out. Stages can only be played in the Quick Race mode when they are completed in the Rally mode. Trophies are stored in a separate Trophy Room. There are four cars to choose from.