One of the best rally games yet.
User Rating: 9.6 | Colin McRae Rally 04 XBOX
Every once in a while a game comes along that totally exceeds my expectations; Colin McRae Rally 04 is one such game. I just love watching the World Rally Championship on television, and this is the first game I have played that really captures the feel. The main part of the game is set up with three championship categories (4WD, 2WD, and Group B), and two difficulty levels (Normal and Advanced). Initially, you are only able to compete in 2WD and 4WD, but Group B is soon opened, providing access to some of the fastest and most dangerous cars in rally history (so dangerous, in fact, that they were banned in 1986). Once they are all unlocked, there are a total of 21 vehicles available in the game, ranging from current models like the Citroen Xsara and Ford Focus, to Group B classics like the Lancia 037 and Ford RS200. It’s best to start on Normal difficulty, where the opponents post times that aren’t that tough to beat, and the car doesn’t take as much damage when you run into trees, fly over jumps, and roll into ditches; On Advanced, the opponent times are much faster, and the amount of damage your car will take is more severe (and tougher to repair in service, which you reach at the end of every second stage). For those of you who are really up for a challenge, completing the game on Advanced will unlock a special ‘Expert’ championship, with extremely realistic damage and the only view allowed being from the driver’s seat. Some of the rallies (each in a certain country, and consisting of four to six stages) also include a ‘Super Special’ stage in which you race against another car and driver on a confined track. The racing itself is extremely realistic, without being too difficult for a beginner. Each car handles differently, and each terrain type feels just as it should, from gravel and asphalt to snow and ice. It’s very important to check the conditions and type of terrain before heading out, and choose the correct tire, suspension, and gear settings for the next two stages. Choosing the wrong tire can make the difference between posting the top time and being at the bottom of the list. It’s also very important to listen to your co-driver if you expect to make it though each stage in one piece, just like in a real rally. Graphically, CMR04 is extremely impressive. While not as polished or ‘glossy’ as some other racing games, the level of detail is incredible. The cars take realistic damage, revealing things like the engine under the hood, the inside of the headlights and taillights once the lenses are smashed, and the intercooler when you lose the front bumper. It’s even possible to roll your car, causing even more severe damage, and possibly ending your rally. Other nice touches include the vibrating exhaust, the dirt that collects on the car during a race, and the windshield effects (wipers, rain, dirt, and damage) when you are racing from the cockpit view. The only gripe I have with this game (and it is a minor one) is that the included Live support only allows you to upload your times to compare with friends and other players (no multiplayer races). This in itself isn’t the issue, however, the problem lies with the fact that the only times compared are when you race in ‘Stages’ mode (which allows you to select a specific car, location, and stage on which to race). The times you post in the Championship mode don’t count, so you will have to race each stage again separately if you want to compare your times with others. Still, this is a small blemish on an otherwise near-perfect game. All in all, Colin McRae Rally 04 is by far the best rally game I have yet played, and given that it was released at a bargain price of $29.99 Canadian due to the relative lack of popularity of the sport over here, buying it is a no-brainer if you enjoy this type of racing. Unfortunately, the game is XBox exclusive in North America, even though it was also released for PS2 and PC in Europe, so you’ll need a Microsoft console in order to play it. 
