Colin McRae Rally 3 (PS2)

There are rally games and there are rally games and then there's Colin McRae Rally 3 on the PlayStation 2. It's difficult to know where to start the review on the third instalment of this hugely successful franchise--the eye-wateringly sharp graphics might do, the easy-to-get-to-grips-with gameplay would be a winner, or the understated but superbly well-done commentary and sound would also do the job. In the end, it's probably easier to start with "just buy it".

As you'd expect from a top flight rally sim, everything about the vehicles on offer can be customised and tinkering under the bonnet between stages really produces a difference. If you're a really bad driver you can also see the difference, as tearing the bonnet, side panels or windows out mid stage reveals an astonishing level of detail within the car. Engine parts move, suspension arms judder and Mr McRae himself bounces around the car's cockpit in full 3-D--the level of detail is amazing.

With a variety of gameplay modes ranging from races over individual stages to a simulated three-season tour of duty as McRae himself, there's plenty of bang for your buck here--and believe us, by the time you've cannoned off the scenery for the umpteenth time you'll know what bangs are all about.

Thankfully, Codemasters have resisted the temptation to fill Colin McRae 3 with discordant music tracks, relegating the score to intro and menu screens and leaving the in-game sound to co-driver commentary and a multitude of engine sounds--a pleasant change in an age where licensed soundtracks are king. Perhaps the strongest element of CM3, though, is in the gameplay. The car handling is spot on and in wild weather (snow, rain, fog and more) guiding a speeding Ford Focus around sharp bends is a real art form.

The PlayStation 2 has a wide range of good games and a handful of true AAA titles; Colin McRae 3 falls into the latter category as a real must-have. --Chris Russell

"Perfectly playable and constantly challenging... motors effortlessly into the PS2 hall of fame. 9/10."

"Codemasters' promise that CMR3 would get you closer to rallying than anything before certainly seems to have been kept."

In Colin McRae Rally 3 players take on the role of McRae himself at the beginning of a three-year contract to win a series of championships for the Ford Rallye Sport team. The heart of the game is its Championship mode, where the pressure is on in rallies over eight global locations. Between the adrenaline-rushing rally driving, the game is seamlessly blended with stage start, stage checkpoint, end stage and service area sequences. Each rally begins with the 2002 Ford Focus RS in the service area where the team's engineers perform the set-up requirements, adjusting the suspension, engine, chassis and other key parts to practically optimum settings. However, should you want to make an inspection of their work there's an opportunity to check the configuration and make manual adjustments. As always, unpredictable weather conditions can make all the difference when every second counts, and tarmac, gravel, dirt and rain-soaked terrain add yet more edge.

Colin McRae Rally 3 isn't just about cars and tracks; it's about giving gamers the professional rally driver experience. The game makes a massive leap in terms of playability, motor sport detail and rich visuals; above all it delivers a game that captures every drop of sweat, the split-second decision and the teamwork that goes into actually being Colin McRae. Capturing the emotions and consequences of being a professional rally champion, it takes the gaming experience to the limit as the player attempts to become the planet's greatest rally driver. As Colin McRae, get behind the wheel of his internationally famous Ford Focus PS WRC with co-driver Nicky Grist and set the course alight as you race to become champion. Control is everything; test the limits of both your ability and your car as you hurtle through treacherous terrain and dangerous weather conditions to shave all-important milliseconds off the clock. In this, the most realistic rally experience ever, even the most seasoned driving game fanatic will find new excitement and new delight.