Codemasters should really just bow down and change their name to Code-racers, because honestly that's what they do best. You have the Pro/TOCA Race Driver series, Colin McRae series, and now and forever the Indy Car series. What's more, these titles come to you in the wonderful price range of under 30 bucks (with some even at the 20 dollar price point.) Lastly, Codemasters delivers on high quality titles, complete with tons of modes and replay value, and best of all... online play! Who could ask for anything more? The focus of this review is on the latest of the Codemasters racing titles, called Indy Car Series 2005. For all the uninformed, Indy Car Racing is famed in the US, UK, and Japanese market, and holds a super series in Indianapolis. Cars race at ungodly speeds of over 230mph with little protection for collisions. It's this excitement and living on the edge action that fans come in droves to see. Codemasters brings this to life in Indy Car Series 2005, complete with intense speeds, vehicle damage, and nice TV style presentation. Toss in some 12 car online racing, and the package is a dandy, and at only 20 bucks!

The graphics in Indy Car Series are more typical than eye catching. This isn't a bad thing mind you, but the track design and car models bare very similar resemblances from race to race. What Codemasters have done is make this racing engine as true to life as possible. You get all the blistering speed, physical damage, and ambience nuances that fans of this racing series will chomp at the bit for. The authenticity comes even in the tracks and drivers who are all licensed for the game. Each track is blueprinted exactly as its real life counterpart, so fans will easily recognize Pikes Peak International, Texas Motor Speedway, or of course the one and only Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All your favorite drives are present, but only in bitmap picture form. Sorry fans no polygon Al Unser Jr. for you. The sense of speed is mind numbing, so even on the oval courses, if you aren't careful, always alert, you will careen into a wall in a second's notice. The game isn't flashy by any standards, but its attention to detail and accurate venues will make Indy Fans all over the globe grin from ear to ear.

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital sound. The engine sounds are loud and boisterous. Your pit man fills you in on the other driver's positions and when you need the necessary tweaks to your car. Each race even has actual ABC Sports broadcasters supplying the intros. There is a music selection while you race, but it's butt rock that's not licensed by any named bands, so my suggestion is to just turn it down. It is disappointing to not have the option of custom soundtracks, especially if you going to have race music. The sounds in the game are good, but nothing extremely noteworthy.

Gameplay is true to life, as is the case with all of Codemasters racers. You do have a difficulty setting for folks who can't hack the fuel consumption or vehicle damage. It's this reviewer's opinion, if you are going to race the full 50 default laps, let alone the insane 500 in a full race, it's much more fun knowing that strategy is part of the element when it comes to tire wear, fuel, and damage. The A.I. is tough, yet fair, and you will notice that it does fight with itself and will make crazy mistakes and crash as well. You never go the distance and ever feel cheated. Handling is tight and precise, and you only feel loss of control when you let your car go too long without a pit stop. The game feels fast, slick, and plays like a dream.

Indy Car Series 2005 offers enough game to keep the avid racer going till 2006 hits store shelves. You choose from Quick Race, Indy Car Series (career), Indy 500 (the one and only), Master Class (training levels), and a great multiplayer for split screen, system link, or Xbox Live. While the Xbox Live options are basically create and race, it's nice to know that a scoreboard option is there for bragging rights. One minor gripe I had with the career mode is that I couldn't make a fictional racer or choose my car style, or even change paint jobs. You only get to choose a particular pro driver, and you race the car and sponsor they play for. Next year, give us some fantasy where we can try to win sponsors over, paint the car how we like, and lastly be ourselves or a newcomer who has just entered the circuit. All in all there is plenty of meat on this budget title.

I can't really recommend Indy Car Series 2005 to every race fan, as some may be turned off by the sport. For fans of this racing genre, you will kick yourself if you don't treat yourself to the best the sport has to offer. It's deep, it's fast, it's authentic, it's online, it's fair, and it's fun! Once again, great job from the team at Codemasters. Genius at Play? You can say that again.