Dirt 2

Overall score 94%
Fun factor 9
Visuals 9
Story/Concept 9
Sound 8
Longevity 9
Originality 8

User score76%

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0100%

Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: 2009-09-11
Genre: Rally Racing
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Dirt 2 is a truly amazing racing game

Codemasters is one company that has faced relentless slander from the gaming community for their slew of horrific titles. Damnation, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust and Rise of the Argonauts are but a few titles that ring the warning bells.

However, having produced some awe-inspiring racing titles in the past, such as Grid, Toca Race Driver and the always memorable Colin McRae series, expectations for Dirt 2 were high, and the developer did not disappoint.

The game kicks off with a fantastic opening cinematic. Players then navigate the menus, where they are given a number of starting options. Although some of the loading screens and video tutorials seem rather tedious at times, they add to the game’s underground sub-culture feel.

The abundance of rock bands and daredevil racers add to the authentic feel of Dirt 2. The menu designs are littered with graffiti and a soundtrack comprising various modern rock acts plays in the background, giving the game an overall feel similar to that of the Tony Hawk franchise, only more memorable and in your face. From a first-person perspective you control your way around the chaos of a festivalesque race track. Your base of operations is a rusty trailer, where you make key decisions, such as races to enter. Mutiplayer options, tutorial videos and co-driver personalization are all available from inside the trailer, while walking outside allows access to more options, such as car choice and customization.

The main feature of the game is definitely the career mode. You start out as a rookie racer on a mission to prove yourself and it is your task to push yourself through the ranks until eventually you are allowed the opportunity to show your salt at the World Tournament. On this expedition of adrenaline and hairpin corners you get to traverse the globe, competing in some of the most pristine locations imaginable. Morocco, Croatia, Japan, London…they’re all there. And the diversity in levels is truly impressive. Drift in between the narrow streets of Morocco as the sand clouds from your competitor in front of you engulf the screen or take to the asphalt plains of London, battling it out in a night time RallyCross race. The various race options truly do blow one’s mind.

What makes Dirt 2 even more amazing is that it’s not a rally simulator. It is a perfect combination between a simulation and an arcade racer. The controls are simplistic and smooth, staying true to conventional racing setup, with R2 being your accelerator and L2 the brake etc. While being easy enough to simply pick up and play, Dirt 2 offers enough depth to keep gamers engrossed for hours at a time.

Fun Factor

Dirt 2 is a highly enjoyable racing game. The introduction of the ‘Flashback system’ allows players to pause and instantly go to a replay screen, from where they can pick an exact spot to restart from. This keeps the game moving, and forgives less than perfect driving in favor of maintaining momentum.

Visuals

From beginning to end, Dirt 2 is simply breath taking. Every inch of the screen is covered in visual mastery and one can’t help but stare at their TV just taking it all in. The game is simply that beautiful. From the spray of water puddles to the clouds of smoke pouring from your tires as you round a corner on the asphalt track, it’s all very impressive.

Story

Dirt 2 has a great campaign mode, allowing players to constantly progress, unlocking new cars and tracks along the way. Thanks to a levelling system, you continuously feel like you are rewarded for your accomplishments and actually have a finish line at the end of the rainbow. Win a race and you are awarded among other things: cash, experience, new paint designs for your car…and even trinkets like a Hula girl for your dashboard.

Sound

The only reason the sound category didn’t get a 9 out of 10 as well, was the fact that the game does not have any in-race music options. The game boasts one of the best scores I have heard in any racing game to date; however, it is restricted to menus and post-race replays, with no actual in-game music being available. Kudos is however rewarded for the awesome engine sounds and accurate co-driver vocal directions.

Originality

Even though this is the 4th title in the Colin McRae series, it is the perfect tribute to a once great man. They have stripped it bare, and from the ground up, built the shining gem of the rally game franchise.

Longevity

With an extensively long career mode, boasting up to over a 100 races, the game posses countless hours of gameplay. On top of the comprehensive single player mode is a very in-depth multiplayer mode.

Bottom line

Dirt 2 is a truly amazing racing game. Not since the days of Outrun, has there been a racing title that has captured this reviewer’s heart to such an extent. If you are a fan of rally driving games, then you would honestly be the village idiot, if you missed out on one of the best gaming experiences to date.

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