Isn't it kind of strange how a game series can sneak up on you and become something of a legacy? When I initially played Colin McRae Rally a few years ago on the PlayStation, I enjoyed the experience, but I thought it was just a one-time dip into racing games at the time, like the Test Drive V-Rally series, and thought nothing of a follow-up. Well, to my surprise, Codemasters released the next edition, a more technical follow-up called Colin McRae Rally 2.0, and it was a tremendous effort. Ever since, the company has been working incredibly hard at producing the best rally racing experience on the market. This year, it looks like they finally got the job done, as Colin McRae Rally 2005 simply blows the doors off the competition.

Unlike other rally games, Colin McRae Rally 2005 is more of a hardcore sim racer. That's not to say that the game isn't fun, because it is. It makes you work on mastering the control style, as each car offered here (out of 30 plus) handles differently. Some handle nicely but take time to work the turns, while others rely more on speed and durability rather than smooth control. Also, the different tracks offer varying levels of challenge. There are twists, turns, jumps, and narrow gaps to master, as long as you can maintain a good enough speed so you don't go flying off the road into a tree. Having the ability to tweak small things on your car for better performance and work out repairs to improve yourself in the next race are brilliant. Nothing new to the series, of course, but still better than other games in the genre.

Graphically, Colin McRae 2005 continues to amaze. The visuals in the game are, for the most part, stunning, with exquisite track detail no matter where you're racing, from a forest with trees scattered everywhere to small towns where buildings glimmer in the sunlight. Weather conditions also come into play rather well, and the way that your vehicle looks after taking some damage is wonderful. There are some slight issues at times where the appearance can be a little "flushed out", where the colors aren't as bright as they could be, but they're very slight. The general appearance here is on the mark, also backed by a simple but technically swift interface that allows you to choose your type of race rather quickly.

Sound-wise, the game still delivers. The vehicle sound effects are right on no matter where you're racing, and the sound of the terrain changes with each course. The spitfire that comes out of your engine after a gear shift, the way your tires slosh up against the surface, and some rather painful-sounding collision effects come into play wonderfully. However, I do have issues with some of the game's announcers. I can understand if Codemasters wants to go into extreme detail in this front, but these announcers, in different languages, can grow really annoying, giving instructions to follow the on-screen prompts every single time. Fortunately, they can be turned off, so you're only left with the prompts. As far as the soundtrack, there's not much to listen to. There's not much music in the game, and there isn't the option to create custom soundtracks.

The game has plenty of modes to choose from, including a deep career mode where you build up your racing legacy with each passing win. It's not as detailed as, say, NASCAR 2005, but it works. However, the best feature of this game is the ability to race against seven other people on Xbox Live. The races I took part in were BRUTAL, as I was facing a couple of other skilled racing fanatics who left me in the dust. However, I still had a blast.

Colin McRae Rally 2005 isn't for everyone. The game's technical aspects and challenge may turn off those eager to just kick up some mud and have a good time. But those in search of a game that offers a realistic rally experience will find themselves hard-pressed to pass up this awesome piece of work. Plus, the addition of full Xbox Live support is even more of a bonus. Don't let this ride pass you by.