Colin McRae Rally 2.0

With the original Colin McRae Rally hailed as probably the best rally simulator of all time, Codemasters had to be sure that any sequel topped the original. It does, in nearly all aspects of the game.

There are several new features, allowing for greater depth of gameplay, and many of the original elements have been improved. The first thing you notice is the graphical improvement - being more realistic than the original.

The game makes use of a new damage and car physics engine, creating more realistic car actions during play. This engine works by calculating the effect each bump, crash or smash has on the car, and renders the car to reflect this. So, you might find yourself tearing round the track with parts of your car missing or hanging off.

This new engine also creates a little more realism in the responsiveness of the car on the track, with the various settings available to you (suspension, tyre type, gear type etc) having a greater impact on the car's resulting response to your direction.

The full game consists of 90 separate rally tracks, taking in countries as diverse as the UK, Sweden, Australia, Greece and Kenya. Add to this a choice of 13 different rally cars, all accurately recreated from manufacturers' data, and you have one unparalleled driving experience.

Colin McRae Rally 2.0 also adds a whole new level to the game, offering you the chance to play an arcade-style six-car rally. Your opponents in this race can either be computer controlled, or for a real race to the finish, play the game across a network with five of your friends.

In this demo you are given the choice of two games. One is a rally across the Swedish countryside, battling against the ice and snow; the other is an arcade race in Italy, in which you have to compete with computer controlled opponents. You have only one choice of car in the demo - Colin's Ford Focus - but you do have full control over its setup.