Colin McRae Rally

Colin McRae Rally, short CMR, is a racing game series, developed by Codemasters for various video game systems and the World Rally Championship simulated. Namesake of the game was the Scot Colin McRae (1968-2007), one of the world's most successful rally driver and World Rally Champion in 1995. The first part of the series was released in 1998.

Parts of the series

There are now nine parts of the series:

Colin McRae Rally ( 1998)

For PC, PlayStation and Game Boy Color

The first part of the series was released in spring 1998 for the Sony PlayStation and was compared to V-Rally points mainly because of the realistic implementation of rallying and get good reviews. The game offered eight then current rally cars (among the world champion Colin McRae car, a Subaru Impreza, Renault Megane, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Escort RS Cosworth ). and four unlockable classic rally (among Lancia Delta, Audi Quattro and Ford Escort Mk II). Eight international rallies (New Zealand, Greece, Monaco, Australia, Sweden, Corsica, Indonesia and the UK) have been implemented that were highly varied and were only gradually unlocked. Besides normal alone driven stages, the game also offered as a super - extra - stages a similar contest the Race of Champions against a moving train on a separate opponents. Unlike many rally games of its time, just as well as V-Rally, CMR offered no arcade mode, which would have provided a competitive race against other cars.

CMR at the time was very successful, especially because it's a good mix of realism and simplicity offered in playful ways. The targeted as a target group console audience were realistic simulations such as Grand Prix Legends or the Rally Championship series from Magnetic Fields too complex, why CMR was a game with realistic presentation, but easier manageability. The game resulted in, among other things, a virtual rally school, which on a practice course presented to the player basic and advanced maneuvers of rallying and its services reviewed and rated. Through this element of inexperienced players was also introduced to the game and not immediately subjected to a complex simulation.

Colin McRae Rally 2.0 ( 2000)

For PC, PlayStation and Game Boy Advance

CMR 2 was released in 2000 for PC and PSX again, appeared in 2002, a reaction for the GameBoy Advance. There were only minor changes such as an update of the graphics, additional vehicles and new routes. Also, now a Rallycross similar race mode against computer opponents has been introduced.

Colin McRae Rally 3 (2002)

For PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox

CMR 3 appeared towards the end of 2002 for PC and PlayStation 2 This time the game was only slightly improved, now what provoked criticism. Many players saw in CMR 3, only one CMR 2.5, since here no new graphics engine was used, but only a further update of the graphics of its predecessor.

Originally planned Codemasters to let the player only controlling Colin McRae's former car, a Ford Focus. From this plan, however, was moved away.

Colin McRae Rally 04 (2003)

For PC, PS2 and Xbox

CMR 4 was released in 2003 and ported to Microsoft's Xbox except for PC and PS2. Once again the proven gameplay was renewed, this time with a new graphics engine. Other innovations included historic rally series ( group B) and a track editor. Also, the name reflected a the game series by EA Sports related product strategy of an annual update of a license game.

Colin McRae Rally 2005 (2004)

For PC, PS2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable and N -Gage

Colin McRae Rally 2005 (CMR 5), has been implemented for many systems. Apart from PC, PS2 and Xbox also conversions for the handheld PlayStation Portable and Nokia N -Gage have been programmed. CMR 5 for the first time contains a so-called career mode, in which the player does not immediately drive current high-class rally cars, but slowly works of slower cars like the rally version of the VW Polo up. Through successes in a series, the player unlocks new vehicles and collect experience points, which allow him to participate in other classes. Later it will also rally legends such as the Lancia Stratos HF are available.

Colin McRae: DiRT (2007)

For PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and available for mobiles

The sixth part of the rally simulation to steer the series in a new direction. Like the English word Dirt ( mud ) suggests that developers now place more value on the off-road character of the racing competitions. Among other things, various Rallycross routes are integrated, and there are a number of new racing modes. Furthermore, there are several online leagues.

The game was released on 15 June 2007 ( for the Playstation 3 on September 14, 2007); the demo version is available since 24 May 2007.

2008 Game of the trade magazine Gamestar with the award for the best sports and racing game of the year award.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 (2009)

Released for PC, Mac, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360

After the death of its namesake racing game series, Colin McRae, Codemasters did not comment on the progress or completion of the series. In an interview with IGN UK with Gavin Raeburg ( Executive Producer for DiRT 2) in November 2008 has been officially confirmed that another sequel is developed. The game is supposed to be a tribute to the late racing driver, and accordingly are optimistic Raeburgs statements on expected quality and the planned key and ancillary elements. For this one looked so Raeburg, such as inspiration in the Paris-Dakar Rally, the X Games and the Race of Champions. For the first time since CMR2 there again at night.

Furthermore, a race car driver was found to provide technical advice in the development of: Ken Block. He plays a key role in marketing and advertising to the game series, not least with car videos on YouTube and clothes that show the logo of the game.

The game was released on 11 September 2009 for consoles and on December 3 for the PC. Physics and graphics in the game are on an extended version of the for Race Driver: calculated and displayed ego engine GRID developed. It is the first DirectX 11 racing game.

Ratings

• 88 %; " ... Accessible, visually impressive and extremely more fun off-road racer. " Cheats September 11, 2009

DiRT 3 (2011)

In March 2010 it was announced by Codemasters vice president Gavin Cheshire, that the successful Colin McRae: DiRT series continues with a third part. The game was released on May 24, 2011 for PS3, Xbox 360 and for Windows.

Compared with the previous DiRT 2 new weather conditions and new game modes have been added: There is therefore now racing again in snow, rain and darkness. A new gymkhana mode lets players go through an obstacle course in which through tricks like drifting, donuts or jumps as many points must be obtained. There are also some party games, like run over as wood stand or a capture the flag variant. The game now allows you to upload videos directly to YouTube.

Ken Block takes, especially at the Gymkhana events, again an advisory and wooing position.

Ratings

• 90 %: "Class Rally Rage, pretty enough to eat. " Gamestar May 20, 2011
• 88 %: " Much better than its predecessor, more rally, more variety ," PC Games May 20, 2011
• 8.5/10 points: " Impressive, what Codemasters visually on the legs - has brought to the wheels - sorry. " Gbase May 30, 2011

DIRT Showdown ( 2012)

On 12 December 2011, the ninth installment of the series was announced with a trailer. It was released on 24 May 2012 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, unlike its predecessor, the game is designed more arcade -heavy. There are the well-known circuit racing but also Demolition and stunt events. The game includes an online multiplayer mode for up to eight players.

Criticism

Based on the first five parts of the series were repeated the issues raised by journals criticisms: The graph of the series is rated as ambivalent; so the cars are always considered the finest in the genre, thanks very detailed damage models, the graphics environment is overtaken. Especially the audience, consisting instead of 3D models from only raster graphics in the genre actually no longer common.

Based on Dirt remarked the trade press, such as the PC PowerPlay, critical of the over its predecessor according to some editors virtually identical riding behavior. On the other hand, the enormous hardware requirements and the perceived excessive soft-focus effects have commented negatively.