Sega Rally was a revelation when it arrived in arcades in 1994. Running on Sega’s Model 2 board, its 3D graphics set new standards for arcade driving games, while the four-player multiplayer link-up cabinets kept players coming back.
Sega Rally was also one of the first driving games with multiple surface types from asphalt to dirt and gravel. It popularised rally games, paving the way for rally racers like Colin McRae Rally, which morphed into the DIRT series.
Sadly, we haven’t had an official sequel since Sega Rally Revo in 2007. One fan wants to change that.
Over Jump is a fan remake made in Unreal Engine 5
Created by indie developer Alessandro Schiassi, Over Jump is an unofficial homage to Sega Rally made in Unreal Engine 5. While the project is still a work in progress, it already looks sensational.
Work on the modern Sega Rally remake began last year. To show how the project is progressing, Schiassi has released a short but sweet ten-second gameplay clip showcasing the Lancia Delta Integrale rally car and photorealistic environments. The original game’s Toyota Celica and Lancia Stratos are also driveable in Over Jump.
There’s still some optimisation work to be done as the frame rate averages at around 40-50fps, but it still looks smooth considering it's running at 4K with Ultra graphics settings. Even at this early stage, Over Jump looks and sounds like a modern-day Sega Rally with a 4K coat of paint.
It also retains the original game’s signature arcade handling as Schiassi says the “driving game mechanics are already accessible in UE5 out of the box.”
For the last 16 years, Schiassi has worked as a VFX Supervisor and VFX Artist and is using his knowledge of CGI and photography to create photorealistic graphics in Unreal Engine 5.
For added authenticity, Johnny Gioeli, vocalist for songs in Sega's Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, recorded vocals for an original song in Over Jump inspired by the Getting Muddy music track from the original game.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, Over Jump has a unique take on Sega Rally’s “Game over yeah!” sound clip voiced by a “special guest.”
Playable demo
As for when we can get our hands on Over Jump, plans to release a free playable demo with the Forest track and a Time Attack mode. We’d love to see a full release, and the developer says he will make a full game based on the demo with extra features if Sega approves it.
Schiassi also hopes to release Over Jump on next-gen consoles. The Matrix Awakens demo on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S has already shown how Unreal Engine 5 will revolutionise console game graphics in the future.
Sega has a history of turning fan projects into full games, so an official release of Over Jump isn’t out of the question. Sonic Mania and Streets of Rage 4, for example, started as unofficial fan projects before they were officially released by Sega.