The sequel to the chaotic off-road rally racing game, Rally Cross 2 , builds on the original's rough terrain with even more jumps and crashes. The lead programmer, Mark Lyons, and the lead artist, Scott Atkins, from Rally Cross had left Sony and formed a new company, Idol Minds. Rally Cross 2 was one of the first two games developed by Idol Minds, aiming to create a game with a simpler learning curve.
Rally Cross 2 features 2-player split screen racing, as well as the ability to control attributes such as suspension, tires, and steering. Players can also personalize their cars with a primary and detail color from a large palette. The game retains the original's courses, but with additional options for forward and backward racing, as well as suicide mode.
One of the biggest additions to Rally Cross 2 is the track editor, which allows players to create completely new tracks by rotating and dropping different pieces into a 2D grid. The game also features a multi-race season mode, where players can compete in multiple races with their custom-created tracks.
The gameplay has undergone significant changes since the original, with cars now requiring only a single button press to flip upright instead of multiple rocking motions. While high-speed crashes will still result in upside-down cars, handling has improved overall, with less fishtailing around corners.