Colin McRae Rally 3.0 Review

By Kristan Reed Published 20 June, 2003

The PC version arrives at last, but is it worth the wait?

Version tested: PC

It's fair to say that the original Xbox and PS2 release of CMR3 was greeted with a fair amount of disappointment from many of its more demanding fans. It's not that it was bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but previous versions set such a high standard that many people expected Codemasters to once again set the benchmark. The cold fact was it didn't.

Everyone wanted it to be a 9 or 10 out of 10 game that left us gasping with admiration, but instead all we were given Colin McRae on autopilot; a solid, but scruffily presented game that didn't do nearly enough to justify the hype surrounding it.

The legacy of a PS2 designed game

'Colin McRae Rally 3.0' Screenshot 1

The problems seemed to emanate from Codies' decision to base development around the PS2 - a platform it has had problems getting the most out of. Although commercially it was wise to target the mass audience of the PS2, the technical issues it suffered were all too apparent when stood next to the likes of GT3, Shox and Burnout 2 - games which amply demonstrated how gorgeous driving games can look on the platform.

This technological failure to keep up with the Joneses was even more noticeable on the Xbox version, which was blessed with Digital Illusions' glorious Xbox exclusive RalliSport Challenge - a game which many Rally fans found to be the superior game in all aspects. Suddenly Codies found itself outflanked, outsmarted, and almost outsold by Sony's official WRC efforts on the PS2. 190,000 UK sales on PS2 and 55,000 on Xbox weren't a bad effort for Colin 3, but in the context of previous better selling efforts and the growth of the market in general, the figures reflect a decline that Codies will be keen to address with the swift release of version 4.0 this November.

With the eight-month release gap, and all the less than stellar feedback surrounding the console versions, why should PC owners be excited about this long overdue release? In many respects the PC's flexibility makes it the version of choice, although in many others you'll question the need to bother.

All about control

'Colin McRae Rally 3.0' Screenshot 2

On the positive side you can use whatever control device you choose, be that the keyboard, steering wheel or even a joypad if you so choose, and in a game that's all about control, this will be a key factor for any serious Rally enthusiast. Secondly, you'll be able to whack up the resolution and get some mileage out of that expensive graphics card of yours. Thirdly? Hmm, it's hard to think of any other reason whatsoever.

On the downside, Codies has done nothing to take advantage of the multiplayer aspect of the game, and all you get is a split screen support for up to four players. No LAN support, no Internet multiplayer, and nothing to encourage the PC community to get involved. In fact, it appears there are no new additions to this version whatsoever, making it hard to think of the incentives to purchase.

If anything, the ability to run in high resolution merely serves to illustrate - with crystal clarity - how lacklustre the visuals were in the first place. Its console roots are glaringly apparent, and for all the world it looks like the Xbox version ported with the minimum of effort. As before, the cars look the part, but the overall effect is ruined by appallingly blocky scenery, flat textures and compounded by mid-90s era cardboard cut out crowds. We know graphics don't make a game, but PC gamers invest more in their games than possibly anyone, and generally demand better than this.

System hog alert

'Colin McRae Rally 3.0' Screenshot 3

We're not sure why, but the game even manages to demand up to 3.5 GB of your hard disk space for the privilege, which seems an unbelievable amount when you actually see the game running, and that it ran almost identically on the Xbox - a system with a mere fraction of the resources. It strikes us that the level of optimisation directed at this game was poor to say the least. It blatantly hogs your system resources for no good reason at all.

Another small point worth mentioning is the fact that Colin McRae doesn’t even drive for Ford anymore, and co-driver Nicky Grist also moved on to pastures new a good while back. As the definitive Colin McRae 'experience' it's hardly authentic anymore is it?

Taken in isolation, however, it's still a good game if you're prepared to put in the hours. It's as hard as nails to begin with, but as you adapt to the handling (which we know some of you don't get on with) the game gradually becomes a more rewarding experience. It's a tactical battle, attempting to push your car to the limit while avoiding crippling your car, and requires a level of concentration and commitment that is strangely compelling, given the lack of competitors on the 'track'.

Loveless

But the bottom line is that it's an unsatisfying port, and no PC gamer should encourage publishers to lazily port their console back catalogue so lovelessly. Our advice is stick with the console versions if you have the choice, or better still wait for the 'turbo charged' CMR 04, which we hope addresses a lot of the negative aspects of CMR3. Or you could just pick up CMR2 for a fiver to tide you over - at least that won't kill your PC...

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 9 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ssuellid #1 9 years ago

    At least it makes a change - a lazy Xbox to PC port rather than the usual lazy PS2 port.

  • Xensor #2 9 years ago

    Wibble!

    1st! Yay! \o/

    mutter, grumble... sausages... moan, grumble

    Edit - ahem. 3rd! Yay... or... something... (o/
    Edited by 1 at 20/06/03 @ 15:15

  • Mr_Sleep #3 9 years ago

    What a shame, thanks EG for your review, it's not like I can afford it at the moment but I was sorely tempted to pick it up, the last two were great and I hate Rallisport Challenge so I've been waiting for some kind of Rally game and there are just none out there.

    I guess it's back to the superlative Gothic 2 and saving money then. Not such a bad trade I suppose.

  • Neverness #4 9 years ago

    Still a shite game then...ah well.

    Sad thing is, if it actually did come out on the 'cube, I'd still buy it.

    You listening Codies?

  • Killerbee #5 9 years ago

    I think half the problem is that Colin himself isn't really the best of the rally drivers any more. A more general rally sim (like Sony's efforts) which doesn't focus (pun-tastic!) on one car and driver just has a bit more appeal.

    And we all know the Impreza is the coolest car to drive.

  • pjmaybe #6 9 years ago

    "At least it makes a change - a lazy Xbox to PC port rather than the usual lazy PS2 port. "

    That's just it, by the time it hit the PC it was already third hand. PS2 to xbox to PC. Talk about diluted...!

    Codies just ain't the developer they once were. I am really hoping against all hope that they don't fuck operation flashpoint up beyond all recogition.

    Peej

  • FWB #7 9 years ago

    Where is.... arhh, you know the rest.

  • Machiavel #8 9 years ago

    3.5Gb? Are PC games directly sponsored by hard drive manufacturers or something?

  • Neverness #9 9 years ago

    I did install the demo of this (pre patch) and played it more than any other demo for a while. I originaly did my standard 'I wont be able to run this' thing and left the res low and details off, but in the end I could run it full detail at 1024. This was on a Athlon 600!

    Lazy port indeed.

  • krudster #10 9 years ago

    yeah, but when you say "full detail", that's assuming there is much detail ...

  • Neverness #11 9 years ago

    'yeah, but when you say "full detail", that's assuming there is much detail ... '

    Excactly. Surely a modern Console game should be way too demanding for a system which can't even match the Xbox for processor speed?


  • krudster #12 9 years ago

    It should be, but it hardly stretches the Xbox, does it? Have you seen Rallisport Challenge next to it?
    Edited by 1 at 20/06/03 @ 17:16

  • Neverness #13 9 years ago

    'Have you seen Rallisport Challenge next to it?'

    Yeah, much better game, slightly too much bumpmapping IMHO, but there you go. Makes me laugh every time too, I mean it is just so fast and (in two player) has no co-pilot, hurtling off cliffs has never been so much fun!

    I just hope that (after reading the eurogamer PS2 review) VRally 3 turns out to be the best of the lot and has its problems fixed on GC of course).

  • pjmaybe #14 9 years ago

    "I just hope that (after reading the eurogamer PS2 review) VRally 3 turns out to be the best of the lot and has its problems fixed on GC of course). "

    Well if the Xbox version is any indication, it'll actually be the very WORST of the lot. Even Sega Rally on GBA was better...!

    Peej

  • Neverness #15 9 years ago

    'Well if the Xbox version is any indication, it'll actually be the very WORST of the lot. Even Sega Rally on GBA was better...! '


    Ah well, back to Burnout then.

  • beep #16 9 years ago

    Back in the Dreamcast days, I was hoping that Codemasters would port Colin McRae 2.0 to Sega's white box. Oh well...

    I did buy CM3 for Xbox (paid half the RRP, there's no way I'd pay full price for this game!), and the environments are miserly modelled in the polygon department. Some tracks are better than others, but honestly, some tracks look like PSOne calibre geometry with middle of the road texture quality.

    Bleh.

  • reflux #17 9 years ago

    And I'm hoping to get a small sneak peek at Rallisport 2 next weekend :)

  • Moonbender #18 9 years ago

    Well, I like it all right. After the mindless (yet FUN) racing that was Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (which, incidently, also got bad reviews all over the place) CMR3 makes for some very nice high concentration racing. I think the graphics are fine, too.

    *shrug*

    Guess I'm just a fan of second rate racing games or something.

  • ssuellid #19 9 years ago

    You need some consoles Moonie - first rate racing games galore ;)

  • brokenkey #20 9 years ago

    How retro, having decent multiplayer support in version 2 but none in version 3. That's a big negative, as another poster said.

    Incidently, an Intel monkey told me on saturday that their microsoft forcefeedback steering wheel didn't work with v3, which is why they were demoing v2 in the Oracle in Reading that day.

  • PuffyPipe #21 9 years ago

    WHY O WHY,
    Why only the ford focus?!?! For one I hate the car for two it is no better than rally games that came out months before it and in some cases better than old colins balls.