Colin McRae Rally 2004 Review

Stuart Tennant’s Review

Mobile conversion of the 2004 version in the Codemasters Colin McRae series. This easy to control, tricky (yet fun) to master 'overhead' racer is a winner.

Well, firstly I have to say to Anannya Sen; I have completed UK Stage 3 so you will have to take that hat of yours off!

Now to the review: I've been playing this for a few days now & I'm hooked! I only got my first mobey a week ago and the first thing I did was download this game.

Being a Scotsman who is interested in all things 'rally' I've always been an admirer of Colin McRae and have got CMR 1, 2 & 3 for the Playstation. Never got round to getting 2004 so thought I'd get it for my phone and I'm glad I did.

A lot of car games suffer on mobeys because they choose the 'behind-car-view' and in my opinion the phones aren't good enough technologically for this sort of view....yet. CMR 2004 doesn't suffer this problem as it uses the overhead view. The car looks quite cool, almost like a micro-machine and the amount of track you see in screen is great too as you can anticipate the corners easier.

Control is the one thing which usually lets a mobile phone game down. If you're an adult with bigger fingers than a five year old it's too easy to mess things up but the controls for this game are simplicity in itself. The car accelerates of its own accord so you need only concentrate on steering and powersliding left or right (with buttons 4 & 6). Button 5 controls the handbrake but to be honest I've not needed to use this.

The fun you get with this game is immense. If you like to powerslide your car you'll be in heaven here with some insane drifting to be had & once you master the cars handling its even more fun. Just remember to setup your car first as you can increase its handling and speed before you start.

I've not completed the game yet. Just managed to complete UK Stage 3. The UK is the first country you race in in the game & I have no idea yet how many countries are included but with the limited amount of memory a mobey game has I'd imagine there are four or possibly five countries and with various stages in each country it's lastability is good. Coupled with the fact that when you manage to unlock the other two cars (the Xsara & the Audi Quattro) you will have to unlock the tracks again with these cars its gonna be a game which keeps making you come back for more.

Its only let down is the lack of sound but I don't really mind this. Remember, it wasn't that long ago you only had 'snake' available for you phone and if you're an 'older' fellow like myself you'll remember the days before mobile phones!

All in all, this is a worthwhile purchase. If you like car games I guarantee you're gonna love this and yes......it IS worth the ??5 cost.

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