Colin McRae Rally 04

Added March 23rd, 2004 by Sallizar

Introduction:

Surprisingly enough, the somewhat obscure driving event of rally racing is the basis for multiple Xbox titles. Microsoft’s RalliSport Challenge set a high bar back in 2002, but Codemasters decided to give Xbox gamers an alternative with the Colin McRae series. This year’s version, Colin McRae Rally 04, features over twenty licensed rally cars and forty-eight different tracks all for $19.99. It’s hard to beat that price, but can it win the race for best rally game?

Gameplay:

There’s a reason why some people become drag race drivers instead of rally drivers. It’s called turns. Rally racing has so many turns that the driver has to have a navigator sit next to them to bark out the directions of the upcoming turns. So to make a good simulation of this, a rally game should have extremely twisty tracks. Let me tell you, Colin McRae 04 has some controller throwing tracks. The game comes across as very simulation heavy and each track demands very precise driving. This could make for a very frustrating experience, but luckily Codemasters has built one of the most impressive car physics engines I’ve ever experienced. The car’s handling is affected by the varieties of terrain and the tinkering you’ll do in the garage, but even when conditions and misguided tweaks make the car almost impossible to drive it still feels right. By giving gamers great control over their vehicle, the game becomes a real test of their driving skills instead of the challenge of the game being a design flaw to overcome.

The focus on simulation style gaming drives the championship mode of Colin McRae Rally 04. Gamers are treated to a worldwide jaunt, with events staged in the United States, Finland, Japan and many other nations. In each area racers will take a shot at six different stages. Now, before you start those engines, you’ll want to adjust your car for the conditions. You’ll have control over ride height, tire type, steering play and many other adjustments that can make or break your control on the upcoming stages. After you’ve tweaked things, you can run a shakedown course to see how it all handles, then make more adjustments before starting the rally. When you’re satisfied with your car setup you’ll start the stages. After each stage you’ll have the option to get back under the hood and adjust some more.

Once you get to racing, you’ll want to drive fast but careful because if you damage you’re car it can significantly affect performance. Luckily, after stage two and four you’ll be given the option to make repairs. You’re team only has an hour though, and each repair will use part of that time. Do you leave the damaged shocks in and repair the minor damage to the gearbox or do you tolerate sloppy acceleration to get a more solid ride? The critical decisions you’ll make between stages add a great amount of realism to the game and can affect the entire outcome of the event.

After completing all the stages of an event, gamers will be given a chance to obtain special upgrades for their vehicles. Codemasters has designed mini-games disguised as manufacturer testing. For example, if you want better tires, you’ll be sent out to a winding dirt course and told to slide the car as much as possible. Tolerance gauges on the left side of the screen will show how much wear the tires are taking in each corner. Put enough wear on the tires before the time runs out and you’ll receive the upgraded tires permanently. While a lot of fun to attempt, some of the mini-games are relatively difficult and you’ll only get two attempts at each one. Some gamers may find them a bit frustrating, but the performance gains you’re vehicle recieves are an excellent reward.

Graphics:

When I get a hold of a car racing game the first thing I do is try to wreck the things. Rally 04 lets gamers beat the tar out of their rides. Doors fly open, spoilers rip off, panels deform and tires blowout. Unfortunately, if you’re seeing all that stuff you’re not going to be winning any races. Thankfully, the car models in the game are great to look at even when you’re doing well. Antennas bob in turns, fenders get filthy, and shadows play over the car in real time. If you’d rather race in 1st person, the in car graphics look amazing as well. Careening around a course in the rain while the wipers run back and forth to keep the view clear is intense. The tracks themselves are fairly good looking without a hint of draw distance or pop up terrain issues. The menu screens are elegant in their minimalism, and draw together an excellent graphical presentation.

Audio:

Rally racing has to be the only driving event where a back seat driving yelling directions at you is not only necessary, but is actually quite helpful. Since you’ll be hearing a lot of talk from your navigator, the voice work needs to be good. Derek Ringer, Colin McRae’s very own navigator, does a superb job of lending his talents to the game. Along with the great voice performance, the sound effects like engine growls and collisions are all done as well as one would expect from a long running racing series. Music plays in the background during menu screens, but off the top of my head I can’t really remember what any of it sounds like. You’ll be too busy tweaking your car and repairing damage to notice it anyway. Overall, the solid audio presentation, especially Ringer’s constant chatter, greatly adds to the total immersion you’ll have with Rally 04.

Controls:

Codemasters gives racers the relatively standard racing control scheme coupled with a great physics engine. It all adds up to perfect control. Whether you’re power sliding through a corner or braking madly to make it through a hairpin you’ll never feel out of control of your vehicle.

Left Thumbstick – Steering
Left Trigger – Brake
Right Trigger – Accelerate
A – Accelerate
B – Handbrake
X - Brake
Y – Camera Change
Start - Pause

Replay:

The longevity of racing games always depends on the gamer. If you’re an avid fan of rally racing than I’m sure you’ll get your twenty bucks worth out of Colin McRae Rally 04. On the other hand, a handful of unlockable vehicles and a deep championship mode should keep even the casual racer interested for a good bit. The game does touts Xbox Live support on the cover, but the only thing players can do is upload their best times to compare. Even without support for online racing you’ll more than get your money’s worth out of this one while we wait for the next big rally game.

Summary:

For the price of two movie tickets, popcorn and a drink you can pick up Colin McRae Rally 04. Would you rather spend an hour and forty five minutes watching what will probably be another predictable flick or would you prefer to be playing a solid racing game that will last you a good while? Sorry honey, I’ll stick with the game. It’s rare that a “budget” game hits the market with as much polish and spot on gameplay as McCrae Rally 04. I highly recommend it to anyone on a tight gaming budget or those looking to get a quick rally fix while we wait for Rallisport Challenge 2.