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| Addiction Level | 8.7/10  |
|---|---|
| Graphics | 8.7/10 |
| Value for Money | 9.3/10 |
| Overall rating | 9.7/10 |
| PS2 Colin Mcrae Rally 3 |  | £1.49P&P: £1.49 |
Full review by
joker71
expert review 
on 14th May 2005
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
Good Points: The sound, graphics and physics are amazing.
Bad Points: None that I can see really.
General comments: Colin McRae Rally 3 is one of those games that either you like the style or you don't so if you don't like rally races, don't get this game. On the other hand if you love them like I do, get this game and cherish it like I do. The first time I ever heard of a rally race was when I read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson in 1986 when I was 15-years-old. Naturally I was curious as to what it was all about so I started to watch the races on TV and I loved it. So let's fast forward 19-years to the game.
The first thing I need to point out is that the soundtrack kind of reminds me of a Kylie Minogue song, and that is not a bad thing at all. The rest of the sound it dead on for effects, engines and other ambient sounds that one would expect in a racer. There are also the great sounds of destruction when you wreck your car. Plus as an added bonus the damage actually shows on the cars which is a rarity in video games due to legal issues. That to me is just flat out awesome. So now I get to the co-pilot and how on key that is. He is the real life guy from the circuit here, not some actor. He tells me so much information in one four to five word sentence that sometimes I can't stay with him due to my other distractions that I will get into in a bit.
When he says short left six that means that there is a short left turn that I can take in sixth gear. As another example hairpin right two means there is of course a hairpin right turn that I need to be in second gear to take properly. There are also a myriad of symbols on the screen to aide one in their driving like road signs. They are in the middle of the top part of the screen, and never ever get in the way. I like how this is set up as a whole. It makes the game more accessible to everyone.
Now there are three views to choose from, the standard chase camera that I think is self-explanatory. Then there is in the cockpit view where one can see the windshield and whatever is getting on it like dirt, rain or snow and yes there are wipers going when needed. I have to say that the wipers are so wild and make for some hard core realism. The last view is from the hood outside the windshield where the weather can be seen but it does not distract as much as the previous view.
The graphics are really nice and there is a real good sense of speed in the game when going really fast, or a lack of when going slow. I do not know how the vibration feature works due to my disabling it for I find that part of any game annoying to feel. Back to the graphics for a second, there is a definite feeling of depth in the horizon and all this little things I fly past feel real and not just painted there ala GT3.
SO what about the car tweaks? I can change over fifty things like tires after I earn them in races, and all the tires are needed for certain races. I will always have the kind I need when needed. I can change all sorts of parts like brakes after I earn them, and other things like body weight and transmission. I like the semi-automatic one myself. It is an automatic transmission that I can shift at will if needed and it comes in handy at times to down shift fast. That alone has saved me a few times.
The game starts in career mode for a three year period with me playing as Colin, I wish I was able to play as other racers, but I guess I can't have my rally and win it too. If I lose the overall race which I have so far I still advance to the next one regardless even if I don't finish which happened once. I have so far, after twenty parts of races and seven overall full races won one circuit in Japan and I even placed third there. I have the difficulty on regular and there is a hard setting I haven't dared try yet. I think I am gonna be at regular for a long time before I can win a full race. It is not the game it is me all the way. One bad turn and I am sunk on that heat (circuit). There are three ways to set the steering, tight, regular and loose, I like regular. The psychics are perfect so it's all about skill here.
In closing I want to say that this is the funnest racing game I have ever played in my life and that I would recommend it to everyone that likes rally and to non-rally people as well just for the fun factor alone. It is also nice to not have to be in a race with anyone side by side for six of the seven heats. It's all based on time, plus the game tells me how far ahead or behind the leader I am as checkpoints in the heat. That gives me a good idea of how well I am doing. I just like the whole feel and atmosphere of this game and there is no in game music just menu music to deal with, that is a bonus in my book. I say get this game, rally and have fun.
joker71's review and ratings | 977 words
Review by
rohanrego
on 15th Jul 2004
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
I have been smashing records on the Colin McRae virtual rally scene ever since the 1st version was released on PC's. In the real world I am a professional rally navigator with many championship victories. Well the Colin McRae is the nearest anyone can get to the gruelling rally experience. The dynamics and car handling are close to reality. A must for anyone who wants to improve concentration and driving skills.
rohanrego's full review | 90 words
Review by
jack hayes
on 1st May 2004
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
Colin McRae Rally 3 has got to be the most realistic rally driving game ever made. The damage on your car is perfect down to every little scratch, dirt flys every where when you wheel spin of the line it is fantastic. All I can say is I can't wait to get number four.
jack hayes's full review | 70 words
Main characteristics: Publisher: CodemastersGenre: Racing / DrivingESRB Rating: E - (Everyone)Other Max. Number Of Players: 2Memory Support: With Memory Suppo More...
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