Reviewed: January 25, 2006
Reviewed by: Brice Boembeke

Publisher
Graphsim Entertainment

Developer
Invictus Games

Released: September 15, 2005
Genre: Racing Simulation
Players: 1-8
ESRB: Everyone

8
8
5
7
7.0

System Requirements

Features include:

• Advanced artificial intelligence (A.I.) drivers can learn the tracks to offer a realistic and continually challenging race experience. They react emotionally and may become angry or afraid, creating unpredictably like real human drivers.
• Stunning 3D graphics include features like bump mapping, specular highlights, real-time environment mapping, flare and glow effects, and motion blur. Leveraging latest generation video cards, pixel-shader technology produces effects like reflections on lakes, rivers, ponds and waterfalls.
• Dynamic modeling of tires, surfaces, aerodynamics and vehicle physics creates an incredibly accurate handling system. The real-time damage system includes body panel deformation and individual part degradation— bent axles, broken glass, dangling bumpers, etc.
• Multiple game play modes including various single-player and multi-player dedicated modes— plus a non-linear career mode.
• The vehicles are fully player customizable, including race number, decals, paint job and performance tuning. Cars may be built and exchanged over the internet among players.

You don’t have to worry about fine-tuning all the little details of your car, figuring out what gear ratios to use, or how stiff you should make your suspension. You start off a career with a basic car and as you progress through the races, you earn better equipment, and better vehicles to help you compete as you go.

Before a race, you choose your loadout of tires, suspension kits, transmissions, etc that will best help you keep your car headed in the right direction, but usually that’s just going to be whatever the best option you have is.

So, once you get into the race, it’s pretty much downhill…and uphill…and even sideways on that hill. This game definitely figured out how to put the thrill of power sliding through a gravel bend in the road into your PC. The way the vehicle shakes and shimmies as you race is really felt through the screen, and especially if you have a force feedback steering wheel.

This racing game isn’t afraid to get dirty with you, since the AI racers are programmed with a memory of how you’ve treated them in the past. Run an opponent off the road in one race during your career, and don’t think he’ll let it go. Sometime down the road, you’ll probably find yourself spinning off into the guardrail after a little nudge from your “buddy”.

Overall, I found the gameplay to be extremely simple and the learning curve is quick, but enjoyable. The difficulty settings allow you to play at a level that is enjoyable for you. At the lower difficulty levels, you’ll be able to crash without doing too much harm to your car, but as you get higher in the difficulty, hitting a barrier will definitely ruin your pretty paint-job, and your day.

The tracks get more and more interesting as you go, as well. Beginning, you’re on a very simple dirt track that’s practically an oval, but as you progress you get into more windy, elevation changing courses that have some very beautiful scenery to distract you as you’re carving your way through the countryside.

The new 3D engine packs in all the latest technology including; bump mapping, specular highlights and animated textures, plus real-time environment mapping, high-dynamic-range imaging, flare and glow effects, pixel shader water reflection for lakes, rivers, ponds and waterfalls, motion blur and noise effects, and automatic contrast balancing.

Special effects include particle effects and car components, including articulated suspension systems and glowing disc brakes. Detailed and living environments bring the six distinct environments to life with stunning realism almost to the point of distraction. Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of time for sightseeing when watching the TV-style replay mode.

Highly detailed vehicle interiors with independent suspension and motion create a very intense ride. The frame of the car around you will shake and bounce as you go, giving you a definite sensation of speed and the type of roadway you’re racing on.

The crash sound effects are all right, but still not anything too special. You’ll hear gravel bouncing off of your car’s undercarriage as you race off-road. I also had a crackling feedback with my sound that I could not figure out how to get rid of. The sound was annoying and detracted from my gameplay slightly.

Basically, what it boils down to, the engine sounds needed to be much more intense to really convey the sense of speed and danger. This is really my only true complaint with the game.

I would say that if this is the kind of game you are looking for, you won’t be wasting your money, especially since there is a multiplayer option that will allow you to race with others online or even sit in the passenger seat and go along for a ride.

CRC 2005 is a solid package and you would not go wrong in getting it if you are a racing fan, or if you are looking for something quick and enjoyable that doesn’t take all your time to really get into.