Hands On Preview:

Colin McRae Rally 2005 (CMR 2005) is the latest in the now 7 Million plus selling series of mud, sweat, tears and heart pumping rally action games from Codemasters. Buckle up your harness and prepare for the most exhilarating and fastest drive in the series to date.

Colin McRae is actually without a drive in the World Rally Championships (WRC) this year which in turn has allowed Codemasters to expand on the license and incorporate more freedom, more cars (30+), more stages (300+) and more locations than ever before including UK, Sweden, USA, Finland, Australia, Spain, Greece, Japan and for the first time Germany.

Some might say another year another Colin McRae title, well not Codemasters, the fact that McRae doesn't have a drive in the WRC this year has allowed the team to express themselves in areas where previously they were restricted; for example CMR 2005 features a much wider range of vehicles and as a special vehicle will include the Nissan Pickup-Dakar 2004 which McRae competed in the Paris Dakar rally (McRae managed to win two stages of the endurance race with this vehicle). Gamers who want to drive the Pickup, will have to prove they deserve to drive it: in Colin McRae Rally 2005 it's the ultimate unlock for which you have to beat McRae himself in the game's career mode.

The Codemasters CMR series has always presented it's self with an excellent physics engine and this is evident throughout CRM 2005. Instead of simply reusing the old engine, Codemasters have reworked tweaked, modified and delivered one of the most realistic yet playable rally experiences available. Each of the available stages now has individually mapped surfaces which can, and will affect your vehicles characteristics. The most noticeable example of this in the code we were fortunate enough to play was on tarmac sections, where subtle but noticeable color changes in the surface indicated a different type of tarmac. The car's grip and handling was effected accordingly, similarly leaves, rocks, water and debris which may scatter across the track or lie stagnant off the racing line will also affect the cars accordingly.

If this was not enough CMR 2005 has under gone significant changes in the cosmetics department with a new menu layout and interface, which makes navigation through the options and challenges much more user friendly and pleasing to look at. CMR 2005 features an all new multi-discipline Career Challenge that allows gamers to experience their very own full professional rally career, whilst driving the most diverse selection of cars from the various manufacturers. A total of 23 + individual rally events have been included such as personal challenge, which offers non-linear progression and rewards, along with Cups, Super Cups, Shields and championships. Here you will need to earn the right to compete with the very best. A significant change from previous versions is you are no longer tied to a single car you select at the beginning; instead you choose the cars you drive and class in which you compete as your rallying prowess increase. If all of that wasn't enough for the first time gamers will be able to experience the wonders of CMR On-Line via Xbox LIVE although we were not able to test this from the version we had available.

Graphically CMR in game has gone under the technicians wrench and have again been improved and tweaked to add an even more authentic feeling and atmosphere to the CMR experience. The addition being a new concussion daze visual effect as you recover from a crash. The daze effect is sort of like seeing stars, and with a varying duration, dependent on how hard you crash or collide with the surrounding objects. Big or small you will now roar off with a bump on you head and blurred vision accordingly.

Along with the new daze effects come an enhanced vehicle damage system, which has been reworked and is now individual to each and every car. Cars show damage to paintwork; scrape a tree, clip a fence, rock or wall and your car truly shows the hazards of your trade. Previous outings in the McRae series have seen damage effects such as the bumpers hanging and then dropping off your car. Bonnets and boot lids flying off become repetitive, in fact almost a near certainty within each rally. This is no longer the case and although still featured the effect now truly reflects you're driving and collisions accordingly. Another feature is true engine damage which now can and more than likely will result in your car cutting out and on occasion even result in your retirement from the rally.

Replays have also gone under the wrench of the designers at Codemasters and reflect the in game details. Collide with a tree and you will see the tree not only shudder from the collision but also watch close as the leaves flutter to the ground. The crowds have also been improved, perform well and the spectators will now cheer, blow whistles and sound horns as you fly by.

Roundup:

Overall CMR has taken the realism to yet another level, the vehicles realistic collision system reacts to just about any and everything encountered and ranging from loose rocks, potholes, trees, posts or polls has a true bearing on the outcome of each and every event in which you compete, so beware!

CMR rally may not look as spectacular as either of the Rallisport titles but does produce a feeling of realism unlike any other Rally title. The cars handling and feeling which is finely relayed to the player through the controller is second to none. Fans and new comers to the series will be pleased with the new additions and the attentions to detail that Codemasters team have been able to incorporate. I'll see you on the starting line!

Preview By: Ade