Codemasters Colin McRae Rally games are known to be the best of their kind, and to surpass them, at least in terms of game mechanics, is going to take some doing. But there is competition, and Ubi Softs bid to take the virtual rallying crown is Pro Rally 2001 for PC.
In terms of game structure and design, Pro Rally 2001 performs admirably. 15 officially licensed cars that range from Group N Kit Cars to World Rally Championship status, and a commendable 24 courses instantly gives players plenty of variety. Theres plenty to strive for in Pro Rally 2001, and with four game modes Time Attack, Single Race, Championship and Multi-player - this game ensures you wont be left short-changed in terms of longevity.
Provided you have a reasonable graphics card to accommodate Pro Rally 2001, youll be able to enjoy some beautiful visuals. There are fully rendered environments based on 12 countries that contain photo-realistic textures and several convincing weather effects. Light-sourcing on nighttime stages is particularly well done and immerses the player in a believable environment.
But its how the game handles that determines how great this racing game really is. Technically, Pro Rally 2001 is quite accomplished in the art of mimicking the dynamics of off-road racing, but mouse and keyboard control simply doesnt do it justice. A controller or preferably a steering wheel is essential to get the most out of Pro Rally 2001.
The game as it stands is a wonderfully-crafted rally experience, but you must have the right PC setup to appreciate the developers accomplishments.