Another year, another version of Colin McRae Rally. So what’s new in the 05 version?
Well, I can’t really comment on the graphics, as I’ve only ever played version 04 on the X-Box, and to be honest, the graphics in the PS2 version of 05 don’t look as good. But I doubt that the graphics have gone backward!
What is new is quite good, and it’s all in the game play. The main focus is a new multi-discipline career challenge, kinda like the V82 story line – where you start out at the bottom, this time club rallying and learn the skills you need over 20 different classes of rally events. Of course, the game lets you jump straight into the 4WD championship if that what you want.
The scenery is more animated this time, the crowds cheer and wave, and if you hit a tree, you get covered in falling leaves! It’s these little touches, as well as the more varied game play that save this from being just another version – it’s the career mode that makes this a more interesting version. But be warned – this is Colin McRae, the most realistic rally game around – it’s hard, damn hard!
V8 Supercars 2 (PS2)
It’s ironic that Codemasters launched their TOCA series on the original Playstation, only to release V8 Supercars 2 (the latest in the TOCA series) on it’s competitor, the X-Box.
But it has to be said, that good things come to those who wait. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Graphically, V8 2 is streets ahead of the original V8 game, and looks about the same as the X-Box version, but what sets it apart from the X-Box version is the Pro-Sim mode – an ultra realistic handling mode. If you thought just because you could consistently win Sandown from the back of the grid at the hardest setting on the X-Box, that you must be some hot V8 driver, think again. Under Pro-Sim mode it was hard enough going straight down the main straight, and forget the first corner, I was history.
But with practice, things got a little better, but the feeling of being on the edge constantly made the game much more realistic.
The other main improvement over the X-Box version is the grass. If you’ve played V8 2 on the X-Box you’ll know that if you accidentally get on the grass, your car will wildly spin out of control for no apparent reason. This seems to have been addressed in the PS2 version, and you can cut across the grass if you need to – but be warned, it’s still grass so the car will handle differently, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get that sideways feeling.
There is one thing, in my humble opinion, that lets the game down, and it’s not the fault of Codemasters. It’s the damn PS2 controller. The thing that made me buy an X-Box in the first place, besides the hard drive was the controllers (I have the smaller X-Box controllers, not the chunky original ones). The two triggers at the back are perfect for racing games, giving you graduated acceleration and breaking. Yes, I know you can use the thumb stick on the PS2 to do this, but you can’t break whilst keeping you foot on the accelerator with the thumb stick.
Now I KNOW some of you are scratching your heads at my last comment, but if you’ve ever seen Greg Murphy drive, you’ll know that he sometimes uses the breaks with out taking his foot off the accelerator – and this technique can come in handy – if only to regain control of the car. It’s also a technique used in Colin McRae 05, but I’ll review that next week.
So basically, V82 is an awesome racing game on the PS2 – it’s got everything from Aussie V8s, to DMT, Formula Ford type cars and truck racing. 31 Championships covering 15 different motor racing styles to be precise. And all the different cars handle, well, different. If you like motor sports, and like your games to be realistic and fun, then this is for you!
But it has to be said, that good things come to those who wait. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Graphically, V8 2 is streets ahead of the original V8 game, and looks about the same as the X-Box version, but what sets it apart from the X-Box version is the Pro-Sim mode – an ultra realistic handling mode. If you thought just because you could consistently win Sandown from the back of the grid at the hardest setting on the X-Box, that you must be some hot V8 driver, think again. Under Pro-Sim mode it was hard enough going straight down the main straight, and forget the first corner, I was history.
But with practice, things got a little better, but the feeling of being on the edge constantly made the game much more realistic.
The other main improvement over the X-Box version is the grass. If you’ve played V8 2 on the X-Box you’ll know that if you accidentally get on the grass, your car will wildly spin out of control for no apparent reason. This seems to have been addressed in the PS2 version, and you can cut across the grass if you need to – but be warned, it’s still grass so the car will handle differently, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get that sideways feeling.
There is one thing, in my humble opinion, that lets the game down, and it’s not the fault of Codemasters. It’s the damn PS2 controller. The thing that made me buy an X-Box in the first place, besides the hard drive was the controllers (I have the smaller X-Box controllers, not the chunky original ones). The two triggers at the back are perfect for racing games, giving you graduated acceleration and breaking. Yes, I know you can use the thumb stick on the PS2 to do this, but you can’t break whilst keeping you foot on the accelerator with the thumb stick.
Now I KNOW some of you are scratching your heads at my last comment, but if you’ve ever seen Greg Murphy drive, you’ll know that he sometimes uses the breaks with out taking his foot off the accelerator – and this technique can come in handy – if only to regain control of the car. It’s also a technique used in Colin McRae 05, but I’ll review that next week.
So basically, V82 is an awesome racing game on the PS2 – it’s got everything from Aussie V8s, to DMT, Formula Ford type cars and truck racing. 31 Championships covering 15 different motor racing styles to be precise. And all the different cars handle, well, different. If you like motor sports, and like your games to be realistic and fun, then this is for you!
A Very Long Engagement.
Now I'm not a big fan of romance, but A Very Long Engagement (click on post title to see the trailer) seems to have an interesting mix of Ramance, intrigue and war. What also caught my attention was the period. I'm a big fan of World War Two movies, especially of the quality of Band of Brothers, but Engagement is set during the first great war, World War One. And from the looks of it, very well done (at least in a visual way). Of course, with a US release date of December 26th, It'll be early in the New Year before we see it, and a while away for the DVD.
House of Flying Daggers
Since having madman.co.nz start suppling me with DVDs to review, I've become a fan of both Anime and Foriegn movies. Combine this with my love of the Matrix trilogy and all (good) things Special Effect, then you'll know why I'm excited about the movie House of Flying Daggers (click on post title for link to Quick Time Trailer).
Though the trailer doesn't really tell you much, it does eminate quality, and awesome Matrix style cinematography. The only problem being, for us Kiwi's anyway, is that who know when it will come to our cinema screens, letalong DVD. Oh well, it does look like it'll be worth the wait.
Though the trailer doesn't really tell you much, it does eminate quality, and awesome Matrix style cinematography. The only problem being, for us Kiwi's anyway, is that who know when it will come to our cinema screens, letalong DVD. Oh well, it does look like it'll be worth the wait.
The Day After Tomorrow
The latest Roland Emmerich disaster movie deals with the unlikely question: What if we are on the brink of a new ice age?
One of the main characters, Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) is a climatologist who everyone thinks is the boy calling wolf. Everyone that is, except Professor Rapson (Ian Holm) a colleague based in Scotland, who helps confirm Jacks fears are more than real, they are hugely underestimated.
But as Jack is trying to warm the Vice President, his teenage son Sam (Jake Gyllenhall) is on his way to New York, officially to compete in a High School academic competition. But really he’s there because he likes a cute girl who’s on the team.
Whilst they are in New York, a huge storm system appears, and the movie really kicks in.
Special effects have come along way, and passionate directors are realizing that effects have to be used to make us believe what we are seeing. And even though this movie deals with the unbelievable, you find your self-believing that everything is real, and we start to enjoy the experience of watching the world change in front of our eyes.
But special effect, no matter how believable they are, are nothing without a story line, and The Day After Tomorrow has the perfect modern day disaster flick story line: Jack, the father who was never there, promises Sam that he will come and rescue him.
Fortunately being a climatologist, Jack has the experience and equipment to trek across the USA through the storm of the millennium. But no amount of experience ever saves a movie like this from the clichés: there has to be sacrifice, there has to be humour, and there has to be love.
And of course, no blockbuster disaster movie would be complete without a cheesy ending.
Life changing this movie is not. But a fun romp in the imagination it is. Great special effects, a little humour and a story line you can relate too make this a movie worth seeing.
One of the main characters, Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) is a climatologist who everyone thinks is the boy calling wolf. Everyone that is, except Professor Rapson (Ian Holm) a colleague based in Scotland, who helps confirm Jacks fears are more than real, they are hugely underestimated.
But as Jack is trying to warm the Vice President, his teenage son Sam (Jake Gyllenhall) is on his way to New York, officially to compete in a High School academic competition. But really he’s there because he likes a cute girl who’s on the team.
Whilst they are in New York, a huge storm system appears, and the movie really kicks in.
Special effects have come along way, and passionate directors are realizing that effects have to be used to make us believe what we are seeing. And even though this movie deals with the unbelievable, you find your self-believing that everything is real, and we start to enjoy the experience of watching the world change in front of our eyes.
But special effect, no matter how believable they are, are nothing without a story line, and The Day After Tomorrow has the perfect modern day disaster flick story line: Jack, the father who was never there, promises Sam that he will come and rescue him.
Fortunately being a climatologist, Jack has the experience and equipment to trek across the USA through the storm of the millennium. But no amount of experience ever saves a movie like this from the clichés: there has to be sacrifice, there has to be humour, and there has to be love.
And of course, no blockbuster disaster movie would be complete without a cheesy ending.
Life changing this movie is not. But a fun romp in the imagination it is. Great special effects, a little humour and a story line you can relate too make this a movie worth seeing.
A few things.
Ok, first up, this is a New Zealand based review site, so if I seem to be reviewing older DVDs, please remember that they may have just been released to the NZ retail market.
Also, as this is a review Blog - I won't be posting everyday. But I will be posting before the reviews get published in the Baptist.
Please comment as much as you like - feedback lets me know what you think of my reviews, and can give me an idea of what I might be able to do better.
Also, as this is a review Blog - I won't be posting everyday. But I will be posting before the reviews get published in the Baptist.
Please comment as much as you like - feedback lets me know what you think of my reviews, and can give me an idea of what I might be able to do better.
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