Well, having thoroughly enjoyed the first two games, I was quite disappointed with the third instalment when it was released last year. In CMR3 I found the handling of the cars just didn't feel right, especially on the tarmac stages. I thought that the pace note system needed to be improved a bit too, I found some of the notes were given too late. Also the fact that you were only allowed to do the championship in the Ford Focus. Altogether CMR3 didn't do the series justice.
Codemasters have gone back to the drawing board (sort of) and come back with CMR4, and this time they have got it right! While the game has not been redone from the ground up it has been significantly improved. The first game looked pretty good, but the visuals have been greatly improved in the fourth instalment, with very believable colourful scenery, you really feel you're in each in country as you blast down the stages. The only complaint I have is the spectators are still cardboard sprites.
The handling has been tweaked, and Codemasters have got it spot-on, realistic handling, with a learning curve that is not too steep. The cars handle as you expect them too, from the twitchy steering of the 1600 rally cars, to the tail happy rear wheel drive Ford Escort Mk1 and the well balanced WRC tuned cars.
The pace notes, now done by Derek Ringer who joined McRae at the end of 2002, are very clear and read out in enough time so you can set yourself up for the next corner.
So what new features has CMR4 got to offer? Well for a start new parts are not handed to you on a plate, you have to pass little challenges involving testing the parts offered to you. This may sound boring, but it's actually a lot of fun. Basically you are told, take this new part, drive like a nutcase until the part breaks within this time limit, and the new improved part is yours, GREAT! There is also an extreme mode, where you have to drive with the in-car view and with advanced (very realistic, none of your GT3 here) damage, a new challenge their then. Also there is the usual array of bonus cars, including some beasts of the 80's Group B era. While the game doesn't support LIVE play, eight player multiplayer is possible, plus your best times can be uploaded on to a rankings board.
I do have a couple of niggles though, first the spectators graphics as I mentioned, and also the game only visits 8 countries, there are 16 in the real WRC
This is possibly the best rally game on Xbox, period. While Rallisport Challenge 2 may be better in the looks department, I very much doubt it will better the handling and playability of CMR4, I think we have already been given the best rally game of this generation of consoles. 9/10
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