The cars, for example, couldn't really be much better.

As a visual experience it still can't hold a candle to RSC, and having just seen RSC2 at X03, Codies still has plenty of catching up to do in this department, but basing its appeal purely on the visuals alone would be gross stupidity. The texturing still leaves something to be desired when you get up close, and the legacy of cardboard cut-out trees and bushes still persists. Having now played through all 48 stages, it's fair to say there's not a weak link among them, with a great deal of attention to detail, clever design and a rock solid frame rate allowing Codies to make the game the seat of the pants experience you expect.Īs many of you have already pointed out, it's still by no means perfect. The UK stage in particular has such a stunning variety that it's not only a pleasure to race, but merely spectating is a joy. This time around, Codies has clearly improved the graphics engine no end, and some of the stages are truly gorgeous. We all hoped and expected that CMR's 128-bit entry would result in gloriously lifelike environments, but last year's effort was well and truly humbled by RSC, and the legacy of its PS2 origins was painfully apparent with cardboard cut-out scenery, pop-up and a lack of texturing. With the news that Pro Race Driver 2 will have full Xbox Live support, this strikes us as a major disappointment. Times can be uploaded to an Xbox Live scoreboard, but those dreaming of online rallying will have to wait for RalliSport Challenge 2. Those who have seen the series progress from its original inception will welcome the fact that you don't have to 'be' Colin anymore, and can choose to play in one of 21 cars, across four distinctly different classes, in a variety of modes encompassing Championship, Stages, and Rally, each with offline multiplayer varieties - two-player split screen on PS2 and four-player on Xbox. Fortunately Codies appears to have addressed at least some of the issues that many fans had with the last version. Unusually, the Brit publisher has climbed off the canvas with a quickfire version 4.0 that it hopes will keep the flame burning, and presumably stave off these relative newcomers from stealing any more of its thunder. Although the core gameplay was still undoubtedly strong enough to please the faithful, some were disappointed about only being able to drive a Ford Focus, and the company found its flagship product desperately wanting in graphical terms, slipping behind Sony's WRC II on the PS2, and being firmly trounced by DICE's more arcade oriented entrant RalliSport Challenge on the Xbox. Once the undisputed king of the Rally driving genre, Codemasters came in for a fair bit of flak with last year's slightly disappointing Colin McRae Rally 3.

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