Colin McRae Rally 2005 PSP Impressions

[Blublub]

I hadn't seen much about this anywhere other than a handful of mediocre reviews that slammed it for being too hard in career mode. Mine arrived yesterday and here are a few impressions after twenty stages or so. I couldn't find any other threads here, but apologies if I missed one.

First, it is not only brutally tough in career mode, it is impossible. You can run a completely clean stage with the thing floored and you will still finish at least 10 seconds off the lead. It seems there is a bug with the PSP version that makes it impossible to control properly with the settings out of the box.

The problem is that if you use the analog stick, your speed drops a few notches EVERY time you turn, even a hair. This kills any chance you might have of finishing on the podium. Naturally, you'd think that you could use the D-Pad, but this too is broken in the default settings as you cannot turn anywhere near sharply enough.

Fortunately someone on the Codemasters forums has come up with a workaround that does the trick. (No thanks to Codemasters themselves, which apparently refuse to acknowledge there is any problem.) The trick is to switch the controller layout from default to #2, which places the accelerate and brake buttons on the shoulders. This frees your right thumb to hold down the hard steering button (triangle) throughout the whole race. If you hold down this button and use the d-pad to steer, after a little practice control is about the same as the XBox or PS2 versions. While it is still tough, very tough in some stages, you at least have a decent chance to win or finish well. Other folks on those forums have come up with other solutions, like using paper clips to keep the triangle button held down.

Once you fix this, the game absolutely rocks (assuming you liked CMR5 on the other consoles). I'd put the graphics here up against any title I've seen out there. They are stunning - detail is identical to the Xbox version, only not quite as smooth. Sound is equally good - you still have the distinctive engine sounds for each of the cars and actually Grists' calls seem a little more audible than they do on the Xbox with some tweaking of the settings.

Actually, everything in the console versions seems to also be here. Same modes, same cars, same upgrades, same tweaks, same views, same replays, etc. It makes for an incredibly deep PSP title. Load times are good by comparison to other titles, and comparable to the Xbox version. There is the tiniest of slowdown on a few stages, but nothing that interferes with gameplay. It is worth noting that it does work with Fastloader 0.7, and if you crank up the clock speed there is no slowdown at all, ever.

There's a lot of multiplayer options that I unfortunately can't test out, since I don't have broadband or another copy to play against. But for me it's worth the high import cost for single player alone. I'd love to hear other's impressions, but it and WE9 completely dominate the time in my PSP these days.

As a final aside, you can order the unlocks from Codemasters UK like you can for the console versions. The single stage time trials make for a lot of quick play fun since you can randomize the cars and stages. Actually, if you can't get the hang of the "fixed" control settings, you can still compete against your own best times.

I just hope that the Codies will swallow their pride and fix the control bug before a version comes to the US, if ever.

[Toper]

Blub,

Thanks for the impressions...I'll probably pass on this one unless they "fix it" for the NA release.

Does anyone have any TOCA impressions? I actually saw this for sale at the local Fry's (looks like they're carrying psp imports there)...read good things about it on gamefaqs, but would like some opinions from any of you guys that have tried it.

Thanks,

Toper

[Blublub]

Toper and anyone else contemplating this. After a week or two I can now safely and totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys the console or PC version. The control issue is really only a gamekillier in the first few career mode stages and can be worked around with the alternate controls/hard turn solution.

I tired pretty quickly of the Xbox version, but I have to admit that I am thoroughly addicted to the PSP version. It is actually seeing more time in my machine than WE9. I am about 25% through career mode and so far it is balanced just about perfectly - it's hard but not impossible. Too bad most folks will never get past the first few levels unless they take the time to scour the 'net for a workaround.

Other than that one problem it is a totally solid package - everything is identical to console versions - really amazing graphics for the PSP.