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Colin McRae: DiRT - Review
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PC RRP: £34.99
X360 RRP: £49.99
Out 15 June
Buy PC for £17.98 >>
Buy X360 for £39.99 >>
You wait ages for a good racing game and then two come along at once. A week ago we discovered the new king of racers - Forza 2 - but screeching up behind it we have DiRT, a rally racer with an amazing reputation. This is the sixth game in the series from Codemasters in seven years, so rest assured these guys know what they’re doing. It’s been a while since the last instalment and fans of the rally genre will be on tenterhooks to know whether DiRT lives up to their expectations. We can safely say it does that and more.
With six different race types there’s plenty of variety available for newcomers and old hands alike. There are the more traditional Rally, Crossover and Rallycross and three additional race types of Rally Raid, Hill Climb and off-road CORR racing. Fans of the more traditional time trial modes will be satisfied while there’s plenty for those with a more competitive edge looking to race against opponents. There’s an incredible variety of track types, with dusty Outback deserts followed by muddy countryside roads, and they look beautiful and all play very differently. Vehicle-wise, you’re spoilt for choice with dune buggies, trucks and even big rigs available on some races as well as the more traditional rally cars. The physics and speed aren’t quite up to Forza 2’s but there’s some incredible damage modelling on the cars.
There’s an online mode where you can play against up to 100 other gamers, although you won't actually see them in the race. Rather, your times are all uploaded to the lobby at the end of races to decide the rankings. A bit disappointing, that – we imagined 100 cars battling it out Wacky Races style.
Despite the unsatisfying online game and some dodgy physics, the variety of gameplay and vehicles will keep both rally fans and newbies happy for months to come.
8/10
Review by Kirsten Kearney
