Cross Racing Championship 2005

The Good
I've always been playing two types of racing games: arcade and simulation. If I wanted fast paced, easy to grasp challenge I go with the former, if I wanted unforgiving and sensitive racing I pick the latter. If I wanted both I was ahead of the times, until I bought CRC2005.

It is built around a true simulation model and then redesigned to fit Invictus' idea of fun. Unlike arcade games the cars behave and feel natural, respond in ways you would expect them to and require precision for optimum results. Unlike simulations you don't need a wheel and pedals, or have to spend as much time racing as you do configuring your vehicle setup, and you can drive aggressively and still remain on the road. The combination of high speed action with believable physics model makes the game incredibly fun to play.

It also features the racing disciplines I enjoy the most: off road, road and track, rally and rally cross. Each of the vehicles is unique in appearance, performance, and handling and each can be used in any one of the disciplines with a simple refit of tires, suspension, transmission and more.

The replay controls and especially the cameras are brilliantly done. They constantly pan, zoom and move during replays, and each time you press the button the view switches to another random position. Watching replays is as intense as making them.

Graphically it looks spectacular. It uses effects such as high dynamic range, bump mapping, real time and self shadowing in a moderate fashion, without overusing any one of them. Along with modeling and general detail around the maps I consider it the best looking racing game out now. It even allows you to switch to DX7 or DX8 modes if you have an older machine, and it still manages to look pretty.

Other things like AI, modding, performance, vehicles, and customization are also worthy of this section of my review.

The Bad
The multiplayer portion could've been better, the built in browser is flawed and you should search rooms with All Seeing Eye. Otherwise the amount of game modes and maps is more than satisfying.

The Bottom Line
CRC2005 has remained the only racing installed on my computer for months now, if you enjoy off and on road racing with depth, polish and excitement you're probably already playing it.