16-Sep-2003 The perennial rally racing king series returns to reclaim its crown in style
These days, there are probably more racing games than cars on the roads. Wandering into the driving section of your local games store can be like staring out across an M25 pile-up.
Some might question the endless quest of developers to add to a vastly saturated genre. Others, CVG included, simply subscribe to the spectacular Colin McRae series and thank God for the wonders of gaming.
When the harshest criticism you can dish out to a game is that it suffers from excruciatingly slow loading times, you know it must be good. Except that CMR04 isn't just good, it's the videogame equivalent of a Lamborghini showroom. And by that we mean the very top end of the market.
I Feel The Need... Even if you own the previous outings, you can't fail to be impressed by this latest offering. It boasts so many new gameplay modes that any review is in danger of reading like a press release.
Firstly, starring as good old Colin is no longer compulsory - instead you create your own tyre-squealing maniac to give the revered Scotsman a race for his dosh. And to say there is a plethora of race modes would be a tragic understatement.
Championships devoted to 2WD, 4WD and classic rally cars all rear their humble heads, along with quick races, split-screen face-offs, customisable country rallies, 'ghost car' challenges and cooperative or competitive multiplayer championships for up to four players (racing alternately). Challenge-wise, it's as tough as ever too. Two immediately accessible difficulty levels determine how much punishment your car can take before transforming into a broken heap of smouldering metal. However, beat the best and as well as unlocking new cars, you'll also uncover the no-holds-barred ultra-realism of the 'Expert' mode. Saves taking your dad's Ford for a spin in the local forest, then...
The Need For Speed Of course, all this would be immaterial if CMR04 disappointed in the gameplay stakes. Fortunately, it's packed with more juice than a row of highway petrol stations. Despite failing to differ in style from its predecessors, it boasts subtle improvements in just about every area imaginable.
It looks nicer (excellent terrain and weather effects), feels more real (skidding over gravel feels like you're actually skidding over gravel), handles sweeter (astonishing car physics) and basically conjures up a whole load of small but noticeable touch-up jobs to ensure that CMR04 is one of the most compelling racers around at the moment.
So, is there anything bad at all that we can say about CMR04? Well, we scoured and searched, and aside from the frustratingly slow loading times (on the PS2 version), the only thing that really annoyed us was that smashing head-first into a tree didn't result in a glorious, Technicolor explosion. But then maybe you just can't have it all.
Subtle improvements in all areas plus tons of new gameplay modes and cars mean that CMR04 is a giant. Even if you own the previous games, this is essential if you're serious about driving.
Unlock the 'Expert' Rally Championship and witness videogame realism being taken to the next level. As well as making the in-car view and manual gear changes compulsory, it features the most unsympathetic of race times and severe of damage levels. Eek!
// Scrap Heap Challenge
One of the highlights of this game is the improved damage modelling. Your car can develop all sorts of problems and it's not unknown for body parts to fly off following a hastily taken bump. Fortunately, your mechanics have a chance (within a limited time period) to repair your vehicle in between stages.
A 360Ţ camera lets you survey your wreckage prior to each race stage
Drive too recklessly and windows crack, smoke billows, engines stall...
// Part-time Racer
With a variety of different terrain (be it the slippery snowscapes of Sweden or the harsh dirt tracks of America), tinkering your car to suit different courses is essential. You can play around with everything from tyre grip to the brake ratio, which has a significant effect on the way your car handles.
...And then give your souped-up rally beast a run-out in the trial ‘Shakedown’ sections
Prepare for different terrain by modifying your car’s tyres, brakes, steering, gears, ride height...
A series of ‘Parts Testing’ mini-games enable you to compete for improved car technology
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