Colin McRae Rally 3

Colin McRae Rally 3 is a racing simulator with arcade elements, released under the license of a famous rally driver. Like previous parts of the series, the game relies on the precise feel of the car on different surfaces. The races take place on special stages, and the navigator suggests turns, so it is important not only to press the gas, but also to listen to the notes. The handling is demanding: on gravel the car skids, on asphalt it keeps its trajectory more rigidly, and on wet roads it behaves unpredictably. Damage affects the behavior of the car. In addition to single races, there is a career and multi-player modes. The fleet consists of rally cars, and each requires its own approach. Special stages are divided by surface, and after a night of rain, a familiar road becomes completely different: where you could hold the gas during the day, you have to look for grip along the edge. Between sections they give time for repairs, and the result of the next segment depends on what they managed to fix. The navigator's notes are read aloud, so on long stages you get used to listening rather than looking at the map. You can retake races and compare your own times with previous attempts. The car model remains honest: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive behave differently, and each requires its own rhythm. Night stages add complexity: the headlights only capture part of the road surface, and you have to navigate turns by memory. Some of the tracks are so narrow that cutting off the side means losing a few seconds. The game has long been outdated in appearance, but this has not spoiled the mechanics. For those interested in the history of the genre, the Colin McRae Rally 3 is a notable milestone.