Press Reviews

...I can't say I've played a more satisfying racing game all year.

The lighting effects, particularly sunlight, are the best ever seen in the series. Other touches, such as trees gently swaying in the breeze before you start off on a course, or leaves falling around you car after you bump into a tree, add a sense of life to your surroundings.

The mantra this time round appears to be 'more, more, more', with 2005 boasting literally s**tloads of tracks and cars. Throw in a championship where you get to 'be' Colin McRae, along with an extensive career mode, and there's plenty here to keep rally fans chomping at the bit.

It requires a distinct sense of focus. And once you delve into it and get the feel of the game, you'll feel yourself riding along with a particular sense of rhythm and with a distinct sense of flow that is unlike any other game I've played.

McRae ’05 does an excellent job of communicating sudden changes of road conditions to the player. Driving a car sideways from a loose gravel road to abrasive asphalt requires some seriously rapid adjusting. The precise control you have over the vehicles is McRae 05’s main highlight, and control is what racing games are all about.