Colin McRae Rally 04 - Xbox

One of the first things we have to tell you about this fourth instalment of Colin McRae Rally is that it is so much better than its immediate predecessor. CMR3's biggest fault - the feeling that your car's steering came from some magical place in the centre of the floorpan - has been rectified in fine style. Not only do the front wheels do all of the steering, but they do so with a realism that we haven't witnessed since, well, Colin McRae 2. So, the fundamentals are back in place. The rest of it has to be a roaring success, yes? Read on and find out…

The Colin McRae series has sold in its millions and 04 is set to boost Codemasters' coffers handsomely. 04 comes with more than 20 rally cars to race in, from makers including Ford, Citroen, Subaru and Peugot. New single and multiplayer game modes are plentiful; two and four-wheel drive models are available for selection, with dedicated championships for both breeds of car, along with the option to race in country-specific rallies, stages, customised rallies, and a unique car parts-testing mode in which you can win advanced technology for your vehicle, thus boosting your chances of success. In the quest for ultimate bragging rights, Colin 04 for Xbox even gives you the option to go online and upload your best stage times.

But the whole game is about how it handles and how it looks. Last time around, Colin disappointed, to be honest. 04 rectifies everything; the handling characteristics that were so much of a bugbear in CMR3 - mentioned in the opening paragraph - have been ironed out completely. The visuals, especially for this Xbox version, are a treat…or maybe we're getting carried away with the game's playability…ah, no we're not. For a veteran, Colin never looked so good, and if you - like us - passed on CMR3, take 04 for a spin. As soon as the first gravel spits out from your rear wheels, you'll be hooked. more