There are rally games and there are rally games. And then theres Colin McRae Rally 3. Its difficult to know where to start the review on the third instalment of this hugely successful franchise: the eye-wateringly sharp graphics; the intuitive gameplay; or the understated, superb commentary and sound. In the end, its probably easier to start with just buy it.

As youd expect from a top rally sim, everything about the vehicles can be customised, and tinkering under the hood between stages really produces a difference. If youre a bad driver you can also see the difference, as tearing the hood, side panels, or windows out midstage reveals an astonishing level of detail within the car. Engine parts move, suspension arms judder, and Mr. McRae himself bounces around the cars cockpit in full 3-D.

With a variety of gameplay modes ranging from single races to three-season tours of duty as McRae himself, theres plenty of bang for your buck here--and believe us, by the time youve cannoned off the scenery for the umpteenth time youll know what bangs are all about. Thankfully, code masters have resisted the temptation to fill Colin McRae Rally 3 with discordant music tracks, relegating the score to intro and menu screens and leaving the in-game sound to codriver commentary and a multitude of engine sounds--a pleasant change in an age where licensed soundtracks are king. Perhaps the strongest element of this game, though, is the gameplay. The car handling is dead on, and in wild weather (snow, rain, and fog) guiding a speeding Ford Focus around sharp bends is a real art form. --Chris Russell -- Amazon.co.uk