Xbox - Colin McRae Rally 04 Review

EMARGO E3, Los Angeles - May 14th 2003 - Colin McRae's performing better than ever and the 6 million-selling Colin McRae Rally video game brand continues to be the dominant force in rally gaming. Now, as McRae competes in the new season driving for Citroen, Codemasters is set to take it to the limit in Colin McRae Rally 04.

Due this winter for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, Colin McRae Rally 04 will have players driving on the very edge of control as the series' sublime car handling combines with new championships, custom rallies, new single and multiplayer gaming modes, and unique car part testing challenges to win advanced technology for your car.

Colin McRae Rally 04 is being created by the award-winning game development team responsible for keeping the series as the number one choice in rally gaming.

An advanced visual engine provides for more detailed environments and stages through the fresh international rally courses. The replay cameras are being enhanced to provide dramatic highlights from the rallies in jaw-dropping detail.

Colin McRae Rally 04 is designed as the perfect complement to the very personal rally experience of Colin McRae Rally 3, where players 'became' McRae in a 3-year championship.

Now it's the player in control - choosing the team, the car and the championships over eight countries from UK and Finland to Australia and the USA. The game delivers exhilarating Championship, Rally and Stages gaming modes, each with single player or multiplayer options that offer co-operative and competitive team challenges.

In Championship, compete in a full rally season or specialise in a 4-wheel drive championship, a 2-wheel drive championship, create your own Custom Rally or drive the ultimate Expert Championship. With its tough damage settings and ultra-competitive AI drivers, the Expert Championship demands the best performance from the most die-hard rally fan as they compete at the highest level yet seen in a rally video game.

Colin McRae Rally 04 introduces a new element to championship rally gaming - testing car parts to provide the team with new advantageous technology. The tests take place in different countries and are each specifically designed around the technology the player is testing - be it an engine, tyres or a suspension test. Complete a test challenge and the new technology becomes an available option for your rally car, increasing the chance of success against the competition as the season continues.

Over 20 vehicles are featured through the game, including 4-wheel drive Citroen Xsara, Mitsubishi Evo 7 and Subaru Impreza. 2-wheel drive cars such as the Ford Puma and Fiat Punto are included alongside classic cars and more Bonus vehicles can be played too.

As always, every car featured is being constructed in exquisite detail with the spot-on physics and handling that sets McRae games ahead of the pack. This high-end simulation approach to the cars is beautifully balanced with the game's exclusive rally stages, each designed by hand to deliver the perfect rallying gaming experience.

All the championships feature multiplayer gaming, where players can either compete against each other rallying for different manufacturers or join force and drive for the same team, playing co-operatively. In Stages and Rally mode, players can play in split screen - two players on PS2 and four players on Xbox - or four players alternately on both systems.

In the Stages mode, players can race also against each other or against the clock. Saved runs can be seen on the stage as a ghost car, which can be then competed against for the fastest time.

In Rally mode, players race in a country-specific rally event, each with its own terrain, road surfaces and weather conditions. Players can also create a Custom Rally, with favourites stages or themed stages such as straights, jumps or hills, which can be compiled, saved and played at any time.

Maximising the rally gaming experience that tests both the cars and the player's rallying skills, Colin McRae Rally 04 is set to be the rally event of the year when its published by Codemasters for PlayStation 2 and Xbox this winter.