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Colin McRae Rally
"Right from the very first menu you can just tell that you are in for something special here."
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Developer  Codemasters Game Type  Racing
Distributor  Codemasters Review Date  Mar 00
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Playability:
 
      Hot on the heels of GT's gripping license feature, Codemasters have wisely included a Driving School mode within Colin McRae Rally. First lesson involves driving in along a straight channel and braking as close as possible to the checkered finish line (Hmm, now where have I seen that one before?). Points are awarded for position, direction, sliding, car sympathy, speed, braking and... listening to your instructor??? Accumulate sufficient points and you move onto your next lesson. These involve driving tightly around a circle of road cones before moving on to the move challenging 'figure of eight' course. Eventually you are let loose on a normal race track where the co-driver comments on your weaknesses and compliments skillful driving. Unfortunately gaining a Driving School certificate rewards you with nothing more than a pat on the back but the practice will have been essential when you finally enter a full blown rally.

Following a visit to school there are a further three modes of play. I'm not really sure why Time Trial was included when each rally is purely a race against the clock but the option does allow you to practice each available circuit over and over again. There is also a Super-Special stage where you race on a specially designed track against another vehicle but this must be opened up by completing the other modes first.

Rally mode is effectively the arcade version of the game where races are grouped together by venue. Finishing each stage as the top driver allows you to proceed onto the next phase and a new country. There are eight series to complete which cover all types of terrain and weather conditions.

Championship mode is the true rally simulation we were all waiting for. Depending on which difficulty setting you decide on makes a huge difference to your chances of success. Novices may only select the lower grade vehicles such as the Skoda Felicia, Seat Ibiza, Renault Maxi or Golf GTI. Each handles superbly but lacks a little in the power department. Move up a grade to Intermediate setting and you can gets your hands on the Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, Escort WRC and Colin's preferred choice, the Subaru Impreza.

The gameplay within Championship mode becomes more of a rally simulation because each vehicle may be set up according to the conditions of an individual race. Before a race begins you may view the course map and study the road surface and weather conditions. Decisions are required on the type of tyres, suspension, brakes, steering and gear-ratio required for the terrain while a set time is allowed to carry out vehicle repairs. You see, in this mode your vehicle accumulates dents and engine damage which affect the overall performance of your vehicle in the following race. Electrics, handling, brakes, engine and gear box must always be maintained or else your circuit times will suffer.

Each of the stages lasts about three to five minutes with regular check points recording your current session time, difference between the leader and current race position. As mentioned previously, you don't actually see another car but you are always aware that a slip up will see you plummet down the leader board. There are 48 fictitious rally stages, all of them with narrow tracks and featuring close roadside obstacles and hazards, take players to 8 world locations. Each country features its own individual climate and surface conditions that effect the style of driving players must employ. Times from each rally are combined and championship points are awarded at the end of every stage.

Should you become desperately lonely after several solo rally races, there is also the option for a two player split screen race against a second human opponent. This should be fun, if only for the fact that the tracks are very winding and extremely narrow for overtaking.
 
Game Options:
 
      This is a 1 disk game for 1 or 2 Players. It is compatible with the standard (digital) joypad and the analog stick controls of the dual shock joypad. Games can be saved via memory card (1 block per save).
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Staff Opinions
Martin  "I thought that more could have been made out of the Rally School feature which effectively is little more than a practice mode. It has more similarities to Micro Machines Driving School than GT's License mode and should be taken as purely a fun event.

Strangely enough, when racing you soon forget that there are no other cars on the road because one lapse of concentration and you will undoubtedly veer from the course and loose valuable time.

However, I eventually began to feel quite lonely and would gladly have swapped my record lap time for a slight glimpse of a vehicle in front. Even if it was the imaginary car whose stage time I had just passed.

Sadly, no such luck!"
Graphics  17/20
Playability  45/50
Sound  8/10
Lastability  16/20
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Staff Opinions
Tom R: "Wow! Colin McRae Rally is a completely engrossing and enjoyable rally racing title. Right from the very first menu you can just tell that you are in for something special here.

The game itself features a lot of nice play options like the Championship Mode in which armchair racers get to experience an in depth journey through a championship season rally event...complete with co-driver to help you through things. There are also some sweet cars to select from and depending on the mode (novice, intermediate or expert) you can choose between 2WD or 4WD rally monsters.

There is also a great head to head mode or single rally events that can be played with one or two players. If you like you can also go to "Rally School". This mode actually has Colin giving you instructions on how to race your car in rally events and how to complete to become a winner.

The graphics, while a bit on the grainy side are actually quite nice and colorful. There is no pop-up that I can recall and the scenery zips by at a nice clip. There is also a solid inside the car (headcam) view mode where you get to see your hands on the cars steering wheel as you look out through the window...cool! There are also variable weather patterns such as fog, snow, and rain to contend with and even night driving to boot.

From all of the set up options available on your cars, to the realism in the control and handling this title just screams "QUALITY". I know that I have said this before, but I am thrilled that Codemasters games are finding their way over to the states. There is a certain "completeness" that always accompanies their games and you just get the feeling that the developers went that extra mile to deliver something special. This game is a perfect example."
Graphics  17/20
Playability  46/50
Sound  9/10
Lastability  18/20
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