Colin McRae Rally 2005 is the closest you can get to actual rally racing.
Colin McRae Rally 2005 has managed to keep those aspects of the previous version that just didn't seem to require any improvement. The same excellent driving model is present, which simulates rally driving to near-perfection. This tends to make the game a little difficult, especially to those not familiar with rally racing. Events take place on over 300 stages in locations such as Australia, Greece, Japan, Finland, Germany, Spain, the U.S., Sweden, and the U.K. Each locale presents its own challenges, from the difficult gravel in Greece, to the dirt and pavement of England, and the snow and ice of Sweden. The various driving surfaces 'feel' like the real thing, and all impact the cars' performance. How you set up the car prior to a stage, with the correct tires, gearing, and suspension settings, can make the differences between placing first and slamming into a tree. The same attention to graphical detail is evident this time around, including environmental touches such as trees and grass swaying in the breeze, and dirt and gravel being thrown up by the cars. Vehicles take visible damage during the events, which can effect their operation, and may require repair when you reach a service area. Body panels will become dented, can come loose, and even fly off if you aren’t careful! Not to mention the damage the suspension can take from a particularly punishing stage.
The entire game feels slightly more polished than the last instalment. There are three game modes: Challenges, with time trials and multiplayer gameplay); Championship, where you take on the role of Colin McRae and work your way through a 4WD season; and Career, where you will likely spend most of your time, and where most of the changes are over the 04 version. This time around, you start off racing shorter events in slower, 2WD cars. Achieving good results in these events will unlock more cars, and also give you drivers points which allow you to compete in longer and more challenging series. This provides greater variety over the previous game, as most events move between two or more locations. While this may not be entirely realistic from a WRC standpoint, it means that you aren’t racing on the same surfaces for as many stages in a row.
More cars are available this time around, with over 30 cars versus 21 in the last game. These include models such as the 2WD Citroen Saxo and VW Polo, 4WD Subaru Impreza and Toyota Celica GT-Four, and classics like the Ford MK1 Escort and Lancia 037 Rally. Each car behaves differently, even within the same class, adding to the realism of the game. Winning events will unlock different parts tests, which allow you to evaluate and make the parts available for a particular car. These parts might be a new gearbox, improved shocks, or a better exhaust system.
Online gameplay has been included via Xbox Live. This allows you to race with seven other drivers on the rally stages to compete for the best time. While all eight vehicles race simultaneously, your opponents aren’t fully rendered; They appear as transparent coloured silhouettes, and you will pass right through them during a race. This makes online racing more manageable, as eight cars on some of the narrow rally stages would be insane, but it would be much more exciting as well. Still, given that the previous game in the series didn’t allow online play, it’s inclusion here is a major improvement.
I love rally games (if you haven’t noticed), and enjoy following the WRC events on television. As I write this review, Sebastien Loeb has just clinched the 2004 World Rally Championship title with a 2nd place finish in Corsica, France. His driving has been near flawless all season, with five firsts and six second places out of 14 rallies. With only two events to go, nobody can catch him. Colin McRae (the man himself) is considering a return to the WRC in 2005. He took the 2004 season off, and competed in other events, including the Paris-Dakar Rally and 24 Hours at Le Mans. The Nissan pickup he used in Dakar is even included in this game.
Colin McRae Rally 2005 has managed to improve on the previous masterpiece title in the series, however slightly. It’s more realistic and difficult than RalliSport Challenge 2, thanks to its more simulation-based gameplay. If you’re up to the challenge, and enjoy rally games, you simply must buy this title! It’s also available for the PC (and PS2, if you live in Europe). Colin McRae Rally 2005 is the closest you can get to actual rally racing.