Codies Announces Colin McRae 2005

Inevitable announcement of Colin 2005, coming this autumn complete with online play for PS2 and Xbox.

Codemasters today announced the next outing for Colin McRae, coming to PS2 and Xbox this autumn with online play.

The Xbox version of Colin McRae 2005 looks amazing...
as do most quality racers on the platform these days.

Regarded as the most accomplished rally simulation available, the Colin McRae series has a huge following that will be more than pleased to hear today's announcement. The much needed addition of online play will boost the franchise further.

Set to be revealed at E3 Colin McRae Rally 2005 takes the series forward with a massive multi-event Career Challenge and introduces online head-to-head rallying, for up to 8 players, on both PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

The all-new Career Challenge is the steering wheel-gripping heart of Colin McRae Rally 2005 and has players hurtling through over 20 different classes of rally events including Challenges, Cups, SuperCups, Shields and Championships, earning the right to compete against the very best.

The key points, as described by Codemasters in today's announcement:

• The #1 rally game evolves as Colin McRae Rally 2005 takes the series online for up to 8 players on PlayStation 2 and Xbox with more cars, more stages, and new challenges.
• Drive the most diverse selection of cars through new, non-linear Career Challenge with over 20 individual rally events and over 300+ stages.
• 30+ featured cars include the Volkswagen Golf MK5, Toyota Celica GT-FOUR, Lancia Stratos, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Alfetta GTV Turbodelta, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, Peugeot 206, 205 T16 Evo2 and the distinctive VW Beetle RSi!
• 9 international locations (new German rally joins events through UK, Sweden, USA, Finland, Australia, Spain, Greece, and Japan), in Rally game mode, each with 8 stages. Large, animated spectator crowds cheer you on through the stages.
• Incredible detail: An individual damage model for each car - right down to paintwork scrapes and a 'dazed' visual effect as you recover from a crash!

Offering real progression and the most diverse selection of rally cars to choose from, drivers will be pummelled through a staggering 300+ stages driving cars from 4-wheel drive, 2-wheel drive, 4-wheel Classics, Super 2-wheel, Rear Wheel, Distinctive and 4x4 classics. Beyond the Career Challenge, there's even more adrenaline-fuelled rally gaming with the title's 4WD Championship, Rally, Stages and Online gaming modes.

Graphically the PS2 version finishes in second.

The new bonnet-cam and an improved chase cam gives a real sensation of speed and undulation. Enhanced damage and scenery visuals include new individual damage models for every car and should you crash into a tree, it'll shudder and even drop leaves!

The Xbox version is looking noticably better than the PS2 version. But we heard from somewhere it's all about the gameplay.

Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions in a couple of weeks from Los Angeles.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com