by Wyatt "JOEDOG" Elliott
It's not often that a game and it's sequel comes out in the same year. However, when Sony released Colin McRae Rally earlier this year, it was already over a year old. Codemasters was releasing the sequel when we got the original. So now it's the end of the year (The beginning of 2001 by the time you read this.) And Codemasters has released the sequel in the US themselves. Colin McRae Rally 2.0 is a real treasure. Is it better than the original? Oh yes! CMR 2.0 is going down in history as not only the best rally racing game, but one of the best racing games ever on the PSX.
CMR 2.0 doesn't feature rally drivers to choose from. You create a driver. So if you wanna be Colin McRae? You can be it. If you wanna race as Mr. T? You can be him too. Chances are, there are not too many rally racing fans who can name a favorite driver in the states anyhow.
CMR 2.0 still has the best graphics of any rally game. The detail is just incredible. Dirt flies, grass shreds, snow floats, and the car will show damage. This time out, the cars will fall apart from under you. Windows shatter, bumpers drag, body will dent, and the hood will flap or fall off. This game shows more detailed damage than Destruction Derby.
Colin McRae Rally 2.0 has added an arcade mode, trying to appeal to the masses I'm sure. The arcade mode feels like it was just slapped together for the US release.
The graphics are sloppy and the tracks are weak versions of the rally tracks. They even added "cool" music to appeal to the stupid.
This option really brings this game down. It's an embarrassment to the franchise. If the whole game looked and played like the arcade mode, I wouldn't even play it.
Colin McRae Rally is a simulation, and has always held a certain respectability. Adding this arcade mode to appeal to simpletons who cried "where are all the other cars?" is an insult. It's like Shakespear writing an episode of Full House.
If you're a fan of the original, or racing games in general, I plead to you. Give this game a chance. Colin McRae Rally was awesome and addictive, but 2.0 is all that and a bag of chips. That was terrible, I know. Just play the game. Thank you.
PUBLISHER: CODEMASTERS
GRAPHICS: 9.5 MUSIC & SOUND: 8 CONTROL: 9
SECRETS: 8 ORIGINALITY: 8 FUN & REPLAY: 10
OVERALL: 9