Colin McRae Rally (1998)

Colin McRea Rally is the first installment of one of the most famous series of racing games. Created by Codemasters game tries to find a golden mean in the formula of fun, combining some simplifications with a faithful representation of the struggle on the routes.

Mechanics

Twelve cars divided into three categories, according to the degree of difficulty of driving, are available to players. Four of them are hidden and must be unlocked to play. At stake are the most popular models racing in the 1990s, such as the subaru WRC event, mitsubishi lancer E4, renault maxi megane and toyota corolla WRC, but also the legendary vehicles of the past, including the ford RS200 and lancia delta integrale. Each of these cars can be tested on a total of fifty-two rally sections in eight countries that vary in terms of surface and weather conditions. The struggles take place in Australia, Monaco, Great Britain or Greece.

Colin McRea Rally combines arcade elements with an attempt to reproduce the rally's struggles as faithfully as possible. Errors on the route lead to damage to the car, which players can try to remove between sections in the service avenue. However, they are limited by the short time available for repairs. Technical problems can result in a lack of certain gear ratios or lights necessary to fight for front seats during the night sections. In addition, before leaving for the route it is possible to change the settings of the car, such as brakes, tires or gearboxes, to adjust them to the prevailing conditions.

In the game there are standard modes of play, such as single race, driving school or time struggle. The basic module allows you to take part in the championships, in which the results of subsequent rallies add up to the place in the general classification. The title also allows many players to compete on a hot chair or on a split screen.

Technical Issues

Colin McRea Rally is a three-dimensional racing game, in which the authors tried to accurately reproduce the struggles of the 1998 World Rally Championship season. During the struggle, the route description is read by Colin McRea's pilot, Nicky Grist. One of the novelties in the game is HeadCam View technology, which after selecting one of the cameras simulates the view through the eyes of the driver.

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Last updated on 06 September 2018