Although CMR 04 improved massively on the disappointingly ragged-looking third version, both lagged well behind DICE's wonderful Rallisport Challenge.
As benchmark setting as the wonderful PSone originals were - both in terms of visual and technical excellence - it�s hard to extend the same compliment to this generation's Colin McRae efforts. The other big issue for the Britsoft studio is keeping up with the Joneses. Such is the problem that Codemasters faces with one of its key brands. And not only is it tough, but it's incredibly perilous as you pile your resources into meeting a deadline, at the risk of ending up with a game so similar to the one you started out with that the fans start to lose patience.
After all, people spent 40 quid just 12 months ago - the developer has to find a way to encourage them to get their wallets out again. It must be incredibly tough to churn out a new version of a game in a year and make it sufficiently alluring.
