Colin McRae Rally 4 (Xbox)

The only niggle I have with the game (as with all the previous versions) is the sometimes horrific timing (or complete lack) of co-driver instructions. Admittedly it is much less common in this version that previous, but in a couple of places you just wish he'd mentioned the hairpin bend slightly sooner than 30 meters away when you've just had a whole straight he could have told you on. (And don't get me started on the gate in the middle of one of the UK stages!!)

Despite this VERY minor niggle though, excellent and highly recommended.

Codemasters certainly appear to be kings of the castle when it comes to racing simulations and they've continously provided a quality product to their ever-faithful following. But this may be the last time I'll invest...they should take note.

'Colin McRae 04' doesn't differ greatly from all the other versions of the game...but then...being a licensed product is likely to heavily restrict the development team in what they can and can't include for the evolution of the consumer. Therefore, though comfortably familiar, the whole experience is sadly lacking.

The Next-Gen graphics power of the Xbox lends a welcome boost to the visuals and gameplay. The Championship Rally stages, that most of us know so well by this point, are still lovingly reproduced right down to tree bark texture, road camber, dust spray and crowd reaction. The ambient sound effects of both car and environment are still painstaking in their realisation...sickeningly so when you plough headlong into a wall at 130mph and the front of the car buckles back towards your toes!

It's all wonderfully crafted and everything we've come to expect.

But that's kind of the problem. It's all TOO similar. Colin McRae was at it's peak on number '02'. The initial game had been tweaked and refined to achieve a product almost everyone was awed by. Colin McRae 04 is merely a tasty, though bitter sweet, sachet topping to an otherwise already perfect game.

The time trial element splits the driving camp where the punters are concerned. Some would rather have opponents 'on' the track with them. Codemasters also provide a solution for that hunger with their equally famous TOCA Touring Car game. It's undeniably twitchy handling makes for a more difficult, and perhaps fulfilling, driving experience. Something that Colin McRae 04's slick, defined handling doesn't demand from the player.

It's still a great game though. And, if it ain't broke then don't fix it? Maybe this is true. But seeing as though Mr. McRae has been dropped by Citroen this year...there's no longer a need to produce a licensed product. The name, the experience and the pedigree could now be built on with fresh perspective and innovation. The formula would now appear to be broken...so perhaps Codemasters should take the opportunity to fix it.