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CMR 4.0 for PC & X-Box Review(s) part 1

wrxinfx 04-01-2004 11:07 PM

CMR 4.0 for PC & X-Box Review(s)
I recieved my brand new Colin McRae 4.0 for PC today direct from Codemasters. The Codemasters online store is the exclusive retailer of CMR 4.0 for PC in the states. Below is my experience with it this evening.

Packaging: Great. It comes in a double thick DVD style box containing four (4!!) CD's. Install went with out a hitch - but make some room it wants 3gb of space.

Performance: I'm running a AMD Athalon XP 2500+ and a Radeon 9200. I've got the graphics set to max everything and have had no problems, runs great. I'm also using a Logitech Momo racing wheel. As long as it's plugged in before loading, CMR detected it and I was able to access all the ananlog/wheel settings. Don't forget to reverse the throttle and brakes (there's a toggle). Buttons were easy to configure. I even was able to set the shift knob as my e-brake. Load times between screens is very fast, even for a PC game.

Game play - so far it's great. For starters you can run 2wd and 4wd cars. Group B and other special cars can be unlocked over time. You can do quick races on some pre-unlocked stages with more to come as you win more rallies. It comes with access to GameSpy for online play. I only noticed three servers in the listing.

The events take the usual format, with a nice preview and shakdown section. Each leg has two stages, with two legs and a super special stage at the end.

Driving - I've run the entire USA and Finland rallies and a few stages in Spain. I am very impressed with the physics, it brings back the fun that was in CMR2, but none of the brickish unforginness in the CMR3. The sound and pacenotes all seem right on. I don't miss the hood cam, as the in car cam is pretty good and not too uncluttered. The tarmac events really brought on the sensation of driving wickedly fast on some great twisties. The sensation of elevation change is very present, and the hairpins are tricky and will be fun to master.

The repair interface is the usual time allowance. Making changes however don't count against the repair time. The car setups are pretty simple nothing too complicated. There are no differentical settings. There is brake bias, but no force control.

You can have your co-driver speak in many languages. Note - the default is Derick Ringer, but if you choose "co-driver B" in options/sound menu you'll get my fav Nicky Grist.

Overall - I can't say much is wrong with it. My only point of reference on PC is Rally Trophy, and as expected this blows it away for graphics and physics. Compared to my favorite PS2 rally games - V-Rally, I miss the more indepth career mode in that game. But over all the physics are better in CMR4.

Anybody care to add their review - please chime in.

Casey
nKoan 04-01-2004 11:39 PM

I've had it for Xbox for quite about a month.

My thoughts? It's what CMR3 should have been. They fixed almost everything wrong with CMR3 and made the game better.

Especially with the $20 price tag, I absolutely love this game.

I've gone through 2wd normal, 2wd advanced, 4wd normal and I'm halfway through 4wd advanced. I can't wait to see what the Group B cars feel like.
WRXMaster 04-02-2004 11:36 AM

I still wish the computer competition would be harder! I have beat everything includeing expert mode ...........except group b ........... But this game rocks especially for 20dollars :)
Chromer 04-02-2004 12:44 PM

Where did you get it? Circuit City and Best Buy don't have it, and EB Games only has it for Xbox.

[Edit] I can't read. :rolleyes: Codemaster's direct... [/edit]
MRF582 04-02-2004 05:56 PM

wait, you like the physics of CMR2? have you seen the replay's? the cars look so fake while drifting around the stages. they just revolve around the center of the car as if that's where the center of mass is.. not to mention that running into advertising banners on the side of the road was like running into a brick wall.

i mean, it's a fun game and all but by no way is it realistic. way too arcadey still.
wrxinfx 04-02-2004 06:33 PM

Yes, CMR2 had it's share of blemishes, and yes the graphics are weaker (apples to oranges, it's a PS1 game). I did like it on tarmac, when you got the car set up right, applying throttle in a corner, apexed right, the car would hug the road. Hairpins were challenging, but "perfect" pendulum turns were possible, and quite satisfying. Sure crashes were't that realistic and so on. And some surfaces just seemed to never be driveable - like Australia. I don't think I ever finished high enough to advance past it!

One thing I like about CMR4 is that when you do lose the rear of the car, gentle amounts of counter steer and throttle will allow you to recover from seemingly fatal spins. CMR3, IIRC would inrease the spin, or the slide or both and you were off.

Another is that in the "off's" I've had, they weren't too hard to drive out of. In Rally Trophy, it always seems like there would be a ridiculous spin and flip, ending in the car facing the wrong way. In fact it always seemed to end up facing the wrong way forcing another off, or a hopelesslsy tedious back-n-fill turn around. So far this is not the case in CMR4.

More bits of realism I like in CMR4: Ditches - you can get "hooked" into a ditch and have to snap the wheel to get out of them. Very realistic. Turns - if you don't pay attention to your co-driver, you'll come up on a T and it won't be immediatly apparent untill after you commit whether you've gone the wrong way or not. This isn't always the case, but it keeps you on your toes.
AndyRoo 04-02-2004 08:03 PM

derrick ringer speaks some kind of weird english! :lol:

nicky grist is much easier to understand.

the pace notes seem a lot more "generous" in CMR4 then in CMR3 (which i liked a lot), but maybe im just not that good...

i miss the hood cam...but i'll get over it.

edit: i havent played it much yet, so the pace notes may be alright
AlpineFD 04-02-2004 08:03 PM

thanks for the review, downloading it off bittorrent now :p
mykrrrr 04-04-2004 05:17 PM

I like Derek better. :lol:

It's pretty good but I can only play it w/the in-car or front camera position. The behind the car view doesnt' seem right. The physics still seem a bit funky...

-mykr.
TimStevens 04-05-2004 08:00 AM

Sorry to disagree, but the physics engine here is not improved over the one found in CMR3 to any great degree. Same central pivot system, same hokey feel while going over jumps. CMR4 is greatly improved over 3 in other areas like multiplayer and the ability to take any car through the championship, at least on the Xbox, but short of that nothing much has changed with the physics, graphics, or audio unfortunately.

I'll have a review posted in a few days' time if ya'll are interested.
Capt Crunch 04-05-2004 08:17 AM

Audio is terrible, graphics are the same, and I HATE TARMAC. CMR3 I could own tarmac, it was my favorite surface, but now I hate it. I love gravel though, they got finland down awesome. I like extreme mode too, makes me drive better because I can't crash or I'll lose.
ArnoldM 04-05-2004 09:33 PM

so am i to understand it will only be availible through there website on PC?

why is it so hard to get rally games out here?

Its not like that market is totally saturated, i mean gran tourismo series is one of the most popular games of all and rally is a big lure in it.

i say there is some kind of anti-rally conspiracy going on in the states, or these UK companies refuse to let us have them.
Kostamojen 04-05-2004 10:30 PM

CM2.0 I owned on tarmac :D I almost only did tarmac cause I liked it so much, especially that french circuit course driving it with the old rwd ford escort.... so much fun :)
TimStevens 04-06-2004 07:21 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ArnoldM[/i]
[B]i say there is some kind of anti-rally conspiracy going on in the states, or these UK companies refuse to let us have them. [/B][/QUOTE]

The problem is US gamers refuse to buy them. Just because you're surrounded by rally fans doesn't mean the rest of the country is gaming fanatics. Rally games, in general, do pretty poorly in the US, or at least have done lately.
Kostamojen 04-06-2004 04:12 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TimStevens [/i]
[B]The problem is US gamers refuse to buy them. Just because you're surrounded by rally fans doesn't mean the rest of the country is gaming fanatics. Rally games, in general, do pretty poorly in the US, or at least have done lately. [/B][/QUOTE]
Well that that Gameboy Advance rally game has sold rather well, at least at my store.
TimStevens 04-06-2004 04:27 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Kostamojen[/i]
[B] Well that that Gameboy Advance rally game has sold rather well, at least at my store. [/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's true. There are a couple GBA rally games, I think, which is good to see. But, in the grand scheme of things, on the Xbox and PS2 and such, "real" rallying just isn't too popular.
AndyRoo 04-06-2004 05:11 PM

I think its pretty popular, theres like 30 rally games out now for PS2.

I made up the number 30, but there are plenty, a lot of them are more arcade-like, but they are there.

They must be selling decently if there is such a wide selection of rally titles out.
wrxinfx 04-06-2004 05:40 PM

For many folks who are unaware of what a rally is, I think they are dissapointed in lack of wheel to wheel racing in rally. I know long before I knew anything about rally, I was looking for good driving games and I stumbled on the Mobile1 Rally game and was instantly dissapointed. Of course once you understand the subtlties of rally, the attraction is strong!
mykrrrr 04-06-2004 08:54 PM

Mobil 1 was ****e anyway. The handling sucked...plain and simple. The stages would have been pretty cool but the game play sucked.

Richard Burns Rally is supposed to be the bollocks for handling. Hopefully it'll come over here on either PS2 or XboX.

-mykr.
Kostamojen 04-06-2004 09:52 PM

I just got it installed, going to try it out right now :)
ArnoldM 04-07-2004 03:32 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TimStevens[/i]
[B] The problem is US gamers refuse to buy them. Just because you're surrounded by rally fans doesn't mean the rest of the country is gaming fanatics. Rally games, in general, do pretty poorly in the US, or at least have done lately. [/B][/QUOTE]

you have access to sales numbers?

like i said before gran turismo series is one of the best selling games on ps2, i know theres some differences but the rally aspect is a big part of what people like about that game.

also i see alot of games every year that i cant imagine why they exist yet they keep coming out.
TimStevens 04-07-2004 07:32 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ArnoldM[/i]
[B] you have access to sales numbers?[/B][/QUOTE]

Occasionally, yes, but you don't need sales numbers to know that successful games get sequels and big publicity... unsuccessful ones don't.

My CMR 04 review is up, FWIW:

[url]http://www.gamingtarget.com/SectionViewer.aspx?ArticleID=2138&SectionID=1320[/url]
wrxinfx 04-07-2004 11:25 AM

ArnoldM - the Rally portion of Gran Tourismo 3 is *not* rally. It's a dirt race around a circular track - head to head and wheel to wheel. That appeals to people, but has nothing to do with reality. Pure rally are time trails over stages emphasizing endurance, driving skill and proper planning and preperation. The GT3 rally portion is fun I'll admit, but is far from modern rally.
ArnoldM 04-07-2004 01:50 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrxinfx[/i]
[B] ArnoldM - the Rally portion of Gran Tourismo 3 is *not* rally. It's a dirt race around a circular track - head to head and wheel to wheel. That appeals to people, but has nothing to do with reality. Pure rally are time trails over stages emphasizing endurance, driving skill and proper planning and preperation. The GT3 rally portion is fun I'll admit, but is far from modern rally. [/B][/QUOTE]


I know im a huge WRC fan and i go to ROTW every year, all i meant was there are some key similarities

1. the cars

2. driving cars on dirt and changing surfaces

3. power sliding and controled spins

4. jumps

the roads are way too wide i know and it is ultimately a circle but what im saying is slap a fast looking car on the cover and chances are the common gamer is gonna pick it up, at least it has potentialy much more lure than alot of other games out there.

I have never seen any kind of attempt to really market this stuff, if done right you dont have to spend all that much on marketing relatively speaking.

im mean screw a rally game, all i really want is a game with realistic physics were you can race a car through canyons in a non circuit type senario.

the first "need for speed" almost had this on the mountain road track, it was kool as you were negiotiating through civilians driving by at the same time.

that would be sweet though imagine GT5 having damage and real world free driving mode where say they took a malibu canyon road and modeled it with traffic and cops and pedestrians, actually this would probably be banned due to lame heads who try it for real and blame the game as we have seen all too much.
CageChicane 04-07-2004 02:32 PM

i have a question. in CMR4 can you only drive Fords like all the other ones? (or Citroen if they switched to that). i really wanted WRC3 to come out here, but i am thinking of settling for this.

i think GT4 will own all. they will still be circuits instead of stages, but much narrower so it will feal more like a rally stage.
TimStevens 04-07-2004 02:41 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by CageChicane[/i]
[B] i have a question. in CMR4 can you only drive Fords like all the other ones? (or Citroen if they switched to that). i really wanted WRC3 to come out here, but i am thinking of settling for this.
[/B][/QUOTE]

If you'd read my review you'd know :p Yeah, you can pick any car you want. There are also different championships for different levels of car (2WD, 4WD, Group-B, etc.).


[QUOTE][B]
i think GT4 will own all. they will still be circuits instead of stages, but much narrower so it will feal more like a rally stage. [/B][/QUOTE]

They're still perfectly smooth and nothing like a real rally stage, and there's still no damage, no rocks, no trees to hit, etc. etc.
WRSport 04-07-2004 05:22 PM

Dont make the mistake I made on the xbox version.

(Started and finished AWD advanced class first.)

I wish the game was more difficult to be honest. But I still love it.
TimStevens 04-07-2004 05:44 PM

Have you tried the Group B championship?
WRSport 04-07-2004 06:20 PM

GRP B is tough. Much less I'm sure the realistic expert mode is even more.

What I meant to say was I wish the competition in the "normal" and "advanced" of 2wd and 4wd were stronger.
Kostamojen 04-08-2004 03:53 AM

Im probably the only one who turns on all the codes right away so I can drive all the cars and all the tracks, and just go around afterwards trying to improve my times on all the tracks rather than actually doing full rallys :p

Anyway, I tried CM4.0 alot last night, took me awhile to get the controls right and the cars set up right. Its pretty good, graphics are alot better. The physics dont seem alot better than CM2.0, but I like the physics and the speed of this series vs. alot of other games out there.

The Lancia Integrale looks like its going to be one of the best if not the best car again. The high powered RWD cars are actually easier to drive this time around, but the modern rally cars arent as sharp or as easy to drive as they were (I havent tried the peugot yet, but I will)

I miss the Circuit tracks :( Those were always fun for time attacks. The super-specials are alot more fun though, which makes up for that in a little ways. That whole testing thing is very odd... Kinda wierd to run RPM tests and stuff, and very difficult without an analog button! :eek: (the brake test was really easy)

Overall, I like it, but it still needs more.
talon2.5RS 04-11-2004 12:58 AM

Just ordered mine...gotta love online shopping!

I loved CMR3 for PS2, and I can't wait to use my Logitech MOMO wheel with my PC...I'll let ya know what I think of it in a few days when it shows up.
AndyRoo 04-11-2004 03:39 AM

im digging the online mode a lot, anyone think we should get some nasioc.com games goin?
eurojax 04-11-2004 06:14 AM

This access code bull**** is pissing me off. I don't want to call the number and get screwed up the ass $2 a minute.


I read an article that said if I shut off my xbox and reload the game, it will give me a new random access code. I've shut it off four times now with the same access code.

Codemasters lost when I found out about this.....

Edit: I figured it out, but my statement still stands. Codemasters stooped to a new low by doing this access code ****.
DILLIGAF Racing 04-11-2004 12:55 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by WRSport[/i]
[B]
What I meant to say was I wish the competition in the "normal" and "advanced" of 2wd and 4wd were stronger. [/B][/QUOTE]
I am running into this too. I destroyed the competition in 2wd and 4wd normal, and then bumped up to 2wd advanced, and it s a little harder, but I went at one point from 1st to 6th to 2nd in a matter of 3 stages. Thought that was too easy to do. But I still love the game, and for $20 you can't beat it.
Kostamojen 04-11-2004 01:22 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by JaxxaJ [/i]
[B]This access code bull**** is pissing me off. I don't want to call the number and get screwed up the ass $2 a minute.


I read an article that said if I shut off my xbox and reload the game, it will give me a new random access code. I've shut it off four times now with the same access code.

Codemasters lost when I found out about this.....

Edit: I figured it out, but my statement still stands. Codemasters stooped to a new low by doing this access code ****. [/B][/QUOTE]
Do a yahoo/google search, there is a little code generator that will let you use all the codes for free.
eurojax 04-11-2004 05:41 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Kostamojen[/i]
[B] Do a yahoo/google search, there is a little code generator that will let you use all the codes for free. [/B][/QUOTE]

That code generator didn't work, it only let me put 4 of my access code digits in there. I need to put 5 access code digits.
Kostamojen 04-11-2004 09:19 PM

The one I used worked fine... Do you need me to email it to you?
Rebellion 04-12-2004 08:26 AM

working on 2WD advanced right now. I'm still trying to get the hang of driving the 4WD cars. I think I need to use the brakes more or something.
TimStevens 04-12-2004 08:34 AM

It helps sometimes to keep the throttle on while braking in the AWD cars, "left foot braking" ala real life. Tends to make the car a little more stable through the corners.
WRSport 04-12-2004 04:52 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AndyRoo [/i]
[B]im digging the online mode a lot, anyone think we should get some nasioc.com games goin? [/B][/QUOTE]

:huh: :huh:

I'm confused.....Does the Pc version support online play or something?
wrxinfx 04-12-2004 04:53 PM

yes - the PC version supports online play. I haven't done it tho, as the three servers that are "viewable" are PW protected. If anyone here wants to host a game that would swell...
AndyRoo 04-12-2004 06:02 PM

I've seen a bunch of servers online, just refresh until you see one. Doesnt take too long at all to find a good game.

The competition is great online. Sometimes I'll win by like 30 seconds, then in another server there will be a great battle between 3 or 4 people. And then sometimes someone like Mikko from Finland will absolutely destroy me.

Speaking of which, i very rarely run into any Americans online. Theres a lot of Brits, Scots, Poles, Finns, Dutch, but very few Americans. Most everyone speaks at least some (broken) english though, which is good.

Anyway, you'll see me online. My name on there is "JingleNuts." I could host a game too if anyone is interested.
ArnoldM 04-13-2004 02:26 AM

Anyone playing the free multiplay demo?

As ordering it direct is a bit too expense with shipping and all it will be a while before i can justify spending close to 60$ for a game.

the multi play totally makes this game out of this world, i dont even want the xbox version after competing with people its off the hook yo.

My wife is french so i have her give me words to talk smack to the french people on there then i kick there ass and there surprised im american!

I get into rally games big time so i can back it up pretty good, but yea you get those finnish or polish in there and some of them are
scary good, this one guy got 3:04 in australia!

BTW i race keyboard manual!
WRSport 04-13-2004 03:53 AM

Why the frick doesnt the Xbox version have online play! grrrrrr
CirrusWRX 04-13-2004 05:10 AM

I downloaded the demo and thought it was crap :( Felt the same as CMR3 to me, and crashed just as much :( :(

I'm IMPATIENTLY but very excitedly waiting for this:

[url]http://www.richardburnsrally.com[/url]
eurojax 04-13-2004 10:59 PM

If anyone has the code generator, mine isn't working. I have an XBOX and my access code is 74947. PM me the h4x0rz if you would.

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