Colin McRae Rally 3

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 43
  3. Negative: 3 out of 43
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  1. ChrisLloyd
    Feb 16, 2003
    8
    Great graphics but playability not up top CMR 2. You don't know what position you are in- very frustrating!
  2. ArranAKAB.A.M
    Jan 4, 2003
    10
    Best rally sim ever....even better than the rallying area on GT3. Its all bollocks about the cars on it handling realistically...on the tarmac races there close to perfect but on the rallying part they dont slide or skid how a real car would. Where as CMR3 is perfect.
  3. LeeH.
    Feb 16, 2003
    8
    This game is cool!
  4. WillV.
    Feb 23, 2003
    10
    Exellent detail in the cars and scenery will keep you staring at it for days. Everything said about bad handling is rubbish, it's called REALISTIC! I wonder if the people who comment on the bad handling have ever actually driven.
  5. DannyG.
    Feb 7, 2003
    9
    Apart from the fact that you have to be Colin Mcrae in championship mode, this game has it all. I can't stop playing it.
  6. HenningH.
    Feb 9, 2003
    8
    This is not a game - it´s pure realism and may be frustrating to some users - those who love real rally action will love cmr3
  7. iddqd4
    Jan 22, 2018
    9
    Физика лучше, графика красивей, автомобилей и трасс больше, стандартная эволюция гоночной серии.
  8. tsschindler
    Apr 19, 2021
    8
    Playing this game in 2021 turned out to be much less of a challenge and waaay more of a satisfying experience. Racing games don't age too well but Colin McRae Rally 3 has avoided becoming an unplayable yet nostalgic piece of software.

    You can clearly see that visually it's not keeping up anymore, but for a 2002 release - the graphics are stunning. Some tricks like copying the sky    Playing this game in 2021 turned out to be much less of a challenge and waaay more of a satisfying experience. Racing games don't age too well but Colin McRae Rally 3 has avoided becoming an unplayable yet nostalgic piece of software.

    You can clearly see that visually it's not keeping up anymore, but for a 2002 release - the graphics are stunning. Some tricks like copying the sky texture and putting it in a lake to simulate reflections are obviously there, and apparently in 2002 spectators attending rallies were 2D flat, pixelated monstrosities but the main stuff - cars and surruounding areas - is done really well.

    Speaking of cars, it's technically a simulator, so your nicely rendered Ford Focus (the only available car in the single player mode - explanation below) might get wasted during the rallies. The damage mechanism is quite believable and detailed, and works differently with different kinds of tracks (i.e. it's easier to destroy your brakes when you use them very often on a slippery surface). Before each run you are given a report on how damaged your car is, and sometimes it's better to be careful, as you can destroy the vehicle entirely and basically get disqualified from the rally. Needless to say that the performance drops when the condition of car worsens. Saving your car from bigger or smaller damage will not be easy, as the driving model is quite challenging - although today it doesn't feel super realistic but I guess 19 years ago it was an ultimate driving simulator. Still believable, though. Just keep in mind that some bushes and traffic signs are indestructible and if you bump into them (which isn't hard to accidentally do) they will give your car a hard time. Quite hilarious for a game trying to be realistic.

    The game offers 64 tracks in single player mode (split into 8 countries) but most of them repeat itself on the course of 3 championships (6 rallies each, difficulty increasing with each championship) the player takes part in. It might get a bit repetitive but as I said, even if you memorize the levels it's not really easy to beat the clock. Additionally, weather changes are a small diversion. Each completed rally unlocks a new component for the car and sometimes a new vehicle that can be used in other modes. Because yes, it's a Colin McRae game, and you can only play the career as him. A bit limiting but I guess it's the only option Mr McRae was fine with at the time.

    Outside the career mode you can try to set a new record for the tracks or play with a friend with a second controller. It's classic split screen stuff, nothing mindblowing but essential for a racing game.

    During the gameplay I hardly noticed any glitches, framerate drops were happening very rarely and only during cutscens. For a game that probably uses a lot of the PS2 potential it's quite a good result.

    CMR3 kept me engaged during single player mode and some time i played with a friend and I totally don't regret giving this old PS2 title a chance - it's not really long or sophisticated like modern racing simulators, and has some silly elements that scream it's early 2000s but it's altogehter immensely fun! If you have a chance to play it, give it a try - the worst that can happen is nostalgia kicking you right in the groin (definitely check out the extras section in the main menu with a bunch of oldschool trailers for some forgotten games meant to be released in 2003. It felt like a time travel combined with treasure hunting to me).    … Expand
  9. janwe04
    Jan 17, 2022
    10
    Actually a 10/10. I had so much fun with it. The mechanics are very good. I think it can get boring over a long time playing but that doesn’t really make it worse imo. Worth buying!

Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Best PS2 Game of 2003
75
#75 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Absolute Playstation
    70
    Codies made too many changes from CMR2 (the front end and in-service menus) and not enough (the graphics!) at the same time.
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  2. IGN
    89
    The physics, sense of speed, handling and graphics are dazzling, top-notch effects that rocket this game to the top of the heap. On the other hand, the sheer lack of game modes is disturbing.
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  3. BBC Sport
    90
    That, combined with the absorbing way the game draws you into the season, through neat animations and an impossibly stylish menu system, makes this the motor sport title to own - for purists and weekend drivers alike.
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