Colin McRae Rally 3

Colin McRae Rally 3 is set to give PC gamers the professional rally driver experience as this massive console hit gets a special PC edition.

Colin McRae Rally 3, coming to PC in June 2003, captures the emotions and consequences of being a professional rally champion. It's an unbelievably personal gaming experience, as you become the globe's greatest rally driver - Colin McRae himself.

The Colin McRae Rally video game series has shipped 6 million copies to date and is recognised as one of the games market's most valuable and acclaimed motor sport franchises.

Colin McRae Rally 3 makes a massive leap in terms of playability, motor sport detail, rich visuals and the perfect rally car handling the series is renowned for. Above all, it delivers a game that captures every drop of sweat, the 150 decisions a minute, and the teamwork that goes into actually being Colin McRae in recognition of his three years with Ford Rallye Sport.

Colin McRae Rally 3 has a level of visual and technical detail that surpasses any other racer. It provides a breathtaking sense of being on, and often, off the road in a fully weighted and authentically functioning Ford Focus RS WRC.

This level of detail effectively gives players a Focus simulator to take on the rally stages, which are all designed exclusively for intense gameplay. McRae's co-driver while with Ford, Nicky Grist, personally pace-noted every stage featured in the game as he would for a real rally.

However, it's not just the Ford Focus RS WRC that gets this incredible in-game replication. Beyond the main championship mode, you can drive all of the game's featured cars, implemented to the same standard as the Focus. Featured cars include: Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7, Subaru Impreza WRX 44S, Citroen Xsara Kit Car, Ford Puma Rally, Citroen Saxo Kit Car, Fiat Punto Super 1600, MG ZR and the Ford RS200. Also featured are classic and bonus cars.

The main championship game is a gruelling series of races across eight international rallies: Japan, Spain, USA, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Australia and the UK are all included offering tarmac, gravel, dirt, and rain-soaked road surfaces.

The championship game pummels players through a three-year deal. Like the professionals, you'll compete in the full year and drive in every rally. Fall foul on a stage or damage the Focus beyond immediate repair and you'll be retired from that particular rally without the all-important championship points. The driving seat beckons at the beginning of the next rally, but points will have to be made up to stand a chance of becoming a champion.

Ever since CMR hit the games consoles, its developers stressed that their first piority was realism. Creating an environment in which the player is immersed in the world of proffesional racing. The success of the series however, has been that every installment of CMR has taken the genre one step ahead. As those of you who have tried the console version of the game already know, this is also the case with Colin McRae Rally 3.

During the development of this game, Codemasters had access to all areas of the Ford Racing HQ. The results of these priviledges, are clearly visible on screen since the game definitely exudes professionalism and immediately makes players feel that they have stepped into the shoes of an achieved professional racer. As such players soon realize that they have a job to do and that there is no room for mistakes when you are the world's number one.

The only downside to the PC version of CMR 3 is hte timing. While the events depicted in the game are accurate as far as the racing, car handling and conditions are concerned, the contract situation has changed dramatically since 2002. Colin McRae did not have his contract renewed with Ford and his co-driver, Nicky Grist, has also fled the team.

Although recent developments do give an awkward feel to the game, Colin McRae now drives for Citroen, it is such a well thought out concept that it quickly achieves a tribute feel rather than feeling outdated.

Although much has changed since the game first went into development, Colin McRae is no longer with Ford Racing, CMR 3 quickly rises above that and sweeps the player away into the world of professional rally racing. As owners of the console versions already know the game offers a great improvement on previous versions and is by far the most complete racing game available. CMR has long been the flagship title of the genre and its latest version simply confirms that title and increases the distance between No 1 and the rest of the field.

The PC take on CMR 3 will include many improvements and added features and is bound to stir some interest even in those who already own the console version, it will however reward players with authenticity and, as the screenshots confirm, visual splendour.
Another exciting aspect of Colin McRae Rally 3 is that it does not sacrifice gameplay for realism. The combination of the authentic handling of the cars, the stunning visual presence of the game, with the full season of racing, makes for an addictive and extremely playable product. While playing you do get the feeling that this is as close as you will ever come to professional racing.

You can find a wide range of Colin McRae Rally 3 videos and the official screensaver by following the download tab above.