Colin McRae Rally (video game)

Colin McRae Rally
Developer(s) Codemasters
Spellbound (GBC)
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Ralph Fulton
Series Colin McRae Rally
Platform(s) PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color
Release

PlayStation

  • EU: July 1998
  • NA: 31 January 2000

Microsoft Windows

  • EU: 29 September 1998
  • NA: 29 February 2000

Game Boy Color

Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Colin McRae Rally is a racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for PlayStation, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Color. It is the first game in the Colin McRae Rally series. It features 8 official cars (and their drivers) and rallies from the 1998 World Rally Championship season, in addition to 4 extra cars.[2]

Gameplay

A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Group A rally car, at the Rally New Zealand stage 1.

Colin McRae Rally is a rally simulation game, featuring the works-entered cars and the rallies of the 1998 World Rally Championship. There are three difficulty modes in the game, and each mode offers different cars: the Novice mode offers FWD F2-class cars, such as the SEAT Ibiza F2 Kit Car, the Intermediate mode offers 4WD World Rally Car class cars, such as the Subaru Impreza WRC, and the Expert mode offers the ability to unlock bonus cars, such as Ford Escort MKII, Lancia Delta Integrale, Audi Quattro S1, and Ford RS200. There are a total of 12 cars, produced using laser-modelling.[2]

Seven official rallies (New Zealand, Acropolis (Greece), Australia, Monte Carlo Sweden, Corsica, and the United Kingdom), and one unofficial rally (Indonesia) from the WRC were included in the game.[2] Rally Indonesia was originally part of the 1998 WRC season calendar, but the rally was cancelled due to civil unrest.[3] Although the rallies themselves are named the same as the real events, all of the stages are fictional.[4]

Although there is no internet-based multiplayer, the game does feature LAN-based multiplayer, allowing up to 8 drivers, on the same network, to compete at once, in addition to a 2-player split-screen mode.[2] Sales soared, and the sequel Colin McRae Rally 2.0 was released on 14 December 2000.

Development

Codemasters have cited the arcade game Sega Rally as a strong influence on Colin McRae Rally.[5] Other influences included the PC game Screamer Rally and Nintendo 64 game Wave Race 64.[5]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS
AllGameN/A[6]
EdgeN/A9/10[7]
EGMN/A7.75/10[8]
GameFanN/A80%[9]
GamePro[10][11]
Game RevolutionN/AB[12]
GameSpot6.6/10[13]5.6/10[14]
GameZone7/10[15]N/A
IGN6.7/10[16]9/10[17]
OPM (US)N/A[18]
OPM (UK)N/A9/10[19]
PC Gamer (US)75%[20]N/A
The Cincinnati EnquirerN/A[21]
Aggregate score
GameRankings76.93%[22]82.16%[23]

Colin McRae Rally was released to mostly positive reviews, averaging 77% for the PC version,[22] and 82% for the PlayStation version, according to GameRankings.[23] Edge gave the PS version nine out of 10, praising its authentic simulation, but commenting that graphical glitches sometimes occurred.[7] Game Revolution gave the same version a B rating, criticizing its graphics, lack of music and co-driver voicing, but praising its track variation and gameplay.[12] GameSpot were far less positive, giving the PC version 6.6 out of 10, praising the driving experience, but criticizing the car setup procedure, the length of the stages, and the damage model.[13] They were even less positive about the PlayStation port, rating it 5.6 out of 10, criticizing its lack of originality.[14] IGN were split, giving the PlayStation version 9 out of 10, praising its skill-based nature and its strong simulation,[17] but also giving the PC version 6.7 out of 10, criticizing it for being less exciting than traditional games.[16] Official UK PlayStation Magazine gave the game a score of nine out of ten, praising the graphics and variety, and saying that it "pushed the boundaries of the off-road racer to somewhere near the heights of Gran Turismo".[19] The game was a bestseller in the UK.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Colin McRae Rally - Game Boy Color". Spong. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mandel, Bob (31 May 2000). "Colin McRae Rally PC review". The Adrenaline Vault. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Rallies - Indonesia". JUWRA. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Making Of Colin McRae Rally". Retro Gamer. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. 1 2 Edge staff (5 February 2010). "The Making Of: Colin McRae Rally". Edge. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. The basic premise for the game was based around the car handling in Sega Rally," confirms Guy Wilday, producer of the first four CMR games. "Everyone who played it loved the way the cars behaved on the different surfaces, especially the fact that you could slide the car realistically on the loose gravel. The car handling remains excellent to this day and it’s still an arcade machine I enjoy playing, given the chance.
  6. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "Colin McRae Rally (PS) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 Edge staff (August 1998). "Colin Mcrae Rally Review". Edge (61). Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  8. ↑ EGM staff (2000). "Colin McRae Rally (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly.
  9. ↑ Mears, Rick (23 February 2000). "REVIEW for Colin McRae Rally (PS)". GameFan. Archived from the original on 10 June 2000. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Hicks, Michael (6 April 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 9 February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  11. ↑ The Freshman (24 February 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 29 September 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  12. 1 2 Joe (March 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review (PS)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  13. 1 2 Poole, Stephen (22 March 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  14. 1 2 Taruc, Nelson (18 February 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review (PS)". GameSpot. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  15. ↑ Reed, Aaron (16 June 2000). "Colin McRae Rally Review on PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  16. 1 2 Birnbaum, Mark (5 May 2000). "Colin McRae Rally (PC)". IGN. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  17. 1 2 Perry, Douglass C. (22 February 2000). "Colin McRae Rally (PS)". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Colin McRae Rally". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. 2000.
  19. 1 2 "Colin McRae Rally". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. Future Publishing (35): 96. August 1998.
  20. ↑ Williamson, Colin (2000). "Colin McRae Rally". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  21. ↑ Braxton-Brown, Justin (10 March 2000). "McRae rally a race into fun fast lane". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Colin McRae Rally for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Colin McRae Rally for PlayStation". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  24. ↑ "Gallup UK PlayStation sales chart". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. Future Publishing (37). October 1998.
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