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Colin McRae Rally
Page 3
Almost perfect graphics
So, how are Colin's graphics? Well superb I should say, but not 100% because as I already mentioned, it does have some flaws.
First, you may already know this or not but Colin McRae Rally is really a port of the PSX (Playstation). And do you know what happens when they port games from consoles to PC? They don't have that special 3DFX-only-for-pc feeling anymore. For example, Resident Evil on PC wasn't really good but not bad either in graphics. The characters were all 3d rendered but not the scenery!
In this game, almost everything is quite good rendered. There are some conversions made from the PSX to the PC but the trees and people behind fences are just 2d sprites. And there you have it, the rest are polygons but some of the scenery is just sprite based (2D). And on the PSX, its all sprite based. When you look at those trees (PC version), they aren't really 3D, just are basically flat. Same goes for the people (or you might call them Rally Supporters) that are standing behind those fences.
It might be rendered completey in 3D but then again, what would the system requirements be if you know that some tracks have just too many trees. In the New Zealand track, it is just trees that you see. So if you render those with polygons instead of using
sprites, I think that you would need a PII 400 or something similar and everyone doesn't have such 'speed machines'.
After all, it is just a tiny tiny detail because you are mostly focused on the track then on the scenery anyways.
Oh yes, before you panic, the game ran smooth enough and was very playable on my system. And if you know that my system where I test all the games on isn't really a speed machine as you would call it, you know enough. Much Ram and good reliable drivers and you will be able to play most of the games very smoothly.
Colin McRae Rally is very detailed, I already said that but there is more. Little things are making the real difference.
For example, if the track is covered with mud or snow and you race, it will stick on the car!! Very realistic. Even the cars have several damage models. You can just brake and bend it all. Lights, windows, base ... you can smash it all!
 
Other opponents are invisible
I would also like to mention that a rally game isn't quite the same as other racing games where you race against other cars.
Well, in CMR you race against other opponents but you just don't see them! That's not weird if you know that a real rally race is always with a stopwatch rather then race against live opponents.
In the several stages, there are so called sensors. When you pass such one, it indicates your position on the track and also the seconds and/or minuts that you have won or lost. That doesn't apply to the super special levels. In some countries there is a Super Special Level available.
And what is that exactly? Well such a level is a special event where 2 rally cars compete on the same track. So only on those special levels, you will actually see the opponents car. Only 4 countries have such a level and they are Greece, Australia, Corscia and the UK.
Wacky Controls?
Controlling your car in Colin McRae Rally is not that easy. It's not just accelerate all the time. You will have to use your brakes and hand brake efficiently enough if you want to be one of the first cars that finish the line. But watch out for the exhaustement of those things because once they are broken, for example the gears you will need to repair them and that is not always easy.
Repairing? Not easy? Yes, before you race you can repair and tune your car. Great you should mumble and it is great but it takes time. When you race you just have 60mins to repair the things that doens't work anymore. Like the gears, electricity, handling of your car and more. The more you repair, the less time there is left to complete the race.
You can also change tyres from slicks (excellent grip for tarmac roads), dry grooves (best grip on dusty and gravel roads, wet grooves (for muddy conditions) to spikes (used for snow and ice). Suspensions can also be changed depending on the track that you will race on.
Clear and Realistic sounds
The different sounds that are used in Colin McRae Rally are all clear and very realistic. Even the voice-overs are quite nicly done without any scrathing.
There isn't any music when you race and that's just fine. Who needs music with Rally games? Noone.
The last thing I would like to mention is that there is also a Rally School available. School? Just some
exercices so you will be able to handle your car more efficiently on the road.
Conclusion
Codemasters brought us years ago, one of the most fun race games which was called Micro Machines (probably a title that will end up in Game Fame) but now they have done even better.
With Colin McRae Rally they have developed a true simulation rally game that differs a lot from the other competing rally games.
It has very realistic handling, impressive cars and tracks and good sound effects. The most important thing is that you will have even more fun playing this title then any other rally game.
So, if you want a real arcade game you better buy Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit because thats the best you can play now.
If you want a rally game, less arcade but more sim, check out this game, because ... it just rules!
-Bjorn
Ratings
Manual:
80% |
Graphics:
88% |
Music & Sfx:
90% |
GamePlay:
92% |
|
This game scores
 
on our 5-point Rating System
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