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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Racing Developer: Codemasters Publisher: Codemasters |
There have been a large number of driving games that have been visually impressive, however, very few of those games have been
able to live up to the visuals that can be seen in “Dirt.” This game proves to be a technical achievement in car design, track design and
damage modeling. To begin, the cars are beautifully designed, highly detailed models that are as fun to look at as they are to destroy.
The damage modeling is one of the most impressive aspects of the game, where players can lose bumpers, door and even tires
throughout a single race. The tracks are equally beautiful and destructible. From the rain covered tar tracks of Japan to the dusty
backroads of Italy to the muddy countryside roads of the UK, “Dirt” creates the environments in an incredible way. The game also uses
lighting in an amazing way, not just to emphasize how shiny the cars are, but to give each track an individual atmosphere.
The graphics in the game range from in the game, all the way to the menu screen. The menu system is so exceptional that it is hard to
describe, except to say that the floating boxes containing selectable options is amazing. When one is chosen, that option zooms in and
out as they are selected. Even the loading screens contain real-time statistics on the game, such as favorite tracks and vehicles,
average speed, longest jump and win record. Menus are usually an element that is forgotten in the game and they usually turn out to be
a terrible element of the game. In the case of “Dirt,” this is one of the greatest menus to be added into a game.
After a while players may become hypnotized by the graphics of the game and will need to remember that this is a racing game that
requires one to pay attention to what they are doing. At times it may become more interesting to look at the surroundings rather than the
race. Lucky for gamers, there are a lot of options for players with this game. “Dirt” includes six different racing types including, rally,
rally cross, hill climb, CORR, crossover and rally raid. For those who don’t know what these types of races are, there is no need to
panic. The game eases players into the game’s many styles of racing with both simple early races and a explanatory narration by
extreme athlete, Travis Pastrana.
Though the game offers realistic damage in the game, the rest of the game can be considered an arcade style. Nearly all of the
vehicles in the game have a floaty feel to them, one that seems to compensate for every tiny turn that is made with the analog stick. It’s
not a huge issue, but it does make the game feel less realistic. Also, the game’s physics are a little awkward, especially when it
comes to a crash of any type. However, this does result in amazing crash sequences, some that may require an eye roll or a frustrated
scream, but it is a lot of fun to watch parts from the car skid down the road after a nasty crash.
Putting aside the floaty feel and awkward physics, “Dirt” is still a great driving game. Once players get a feel for the controls and turn up
the difficulty, the racing can be intense, challenging, addictive and fully immersive. It is especially immersive if players use one of the
game’s two cockpit camera views. There is a zoomed in view and a view that is a bit further back, but both views give players a great
sense of being in the driver’s seat, even going so far as to let them look around the inside of the car with the right analog stick. Not
many games use the cockpit camera very well, but “Dirt” takes it one step further, much like their menu system.
Like any game, this one wouldn’t be much fun if it didn’t offer up a variety of ways to experience it. Luckily, the game does the job of
providing many ways to experience its beauty. Apart from being able to take place in single races and events, along with a series of
championships consisting of multiple races each, “Dirt” also has a lengthy career mode that has players working their way up a
pyramid of events. Winning earns points which unlock new tiers of the career mode and cash, which can be spent on new vehicles na
liveries for the vehicles. With more than 60 career events, nearly 50 vehicles to unlock and more than 180 liveries to buy for those
vehicles, players will be kept busy.
With a large number of great features in the game, there is one element that is lacking dramatically, multiplayer support. There is
multiplayer, but it doesn’t work very well. Only two of the race types are able to be played in multiplayer mode, rally and hill climb. When
entering multiplayer, players are dumped into a lobby with dozens of other players. When a group is put together, players vote on which
track is going to be raced. Once in the race, it is only a time trail against the other players. At the end of the race, players are able to see
how they are doing in the real time standings, but that is all.
With that said, “Dirt” is definitely worth checking out and adding to any race collection. The graphics alone are amazing, but the variety
is outstanding as well, from the cars to the race types. The one piece lacking in the multiplayer, but this time around it can be forgiven.
able to live up to the visuals that can be seen in “Dirt.” This game proves to be a technical achievement in car design, track design and
damage modeling. To begin, the cars are beautifully designed, highly detailed models that are as fun to look at as they are to destroy.
The damage modeling is one of the most impressive aspects of the game, where players can lose bumpers, door and even tires
throughout a single race. The tracks are equally beautiful and destructible. From the rain covered tar tracks of Japan to the dusty
backroads of Italy to the muddy countryside roads of the UK, “Dirt” creates the environments in an incredible way. The game also uses
lighting in an amazing way, not just to emphasize how shiny the cars are, but to give each track an individual atmosphere.
The graphics in the game range from in the game, all the way to the menu screen. The menu system is so exceptional that it is hard to
describe, except to say that the floating boxes containing selectable options is amazing. When one is chosen, that option zooms in and
out as they are selected. Even the loading screens contain real-time statistics on the game, such as favorite tracks and vehicles,
average speed, longest jump and win record. Menus are usually an element that is forgotten in the game and they usually turn out to be
a terrible element of the game. In the case of “Dirt,” this is one of the greatest menus to be added into a game.
After a while players may become hypnotized by the graphics of the game and will need to remember that this is a racing game that
requires one to pay attention to what they are doing. At times it may become more interesting to look at the surroundings rather than the
race. Lucky for gamers, there are a lot of options for players with this game. “Dirt” includes six different racing types including, rally,
rally cross, hill climb, CORR, crossover and rally raid. For those who don’t know what these types of races are, there is no need to
panic. The game eases players into the game’s many styles of racing with both simple early races and a explanatory narration by
extreme athlete, Travis Pastrana.
Though the game offers realistic damage in the game, the rest of the game can be considered an arcade style. Nearly all of the
vehicles in the game have a floaty feel to them, one that seems to compensate for every tiny turn that is made with the analog stick. It’s
not a huge issue, but it does make the game feel less realistic. Also, the game’s physics are a little awkward, especially when it
comes to a crash of any type. However, this does result in amazing crash sequences, some that may require an eye roll or a frustrated
scream, but it is a lot of fun to watch parts from the car skid down the road after a nasty crash.
Putting aside the floaty feel and awkward physics, “Dirt” is still a great driving game. Once players get a feel for the controls and turn up
the difficulty, the racing can be intense, challenging, addictive and fully immersive. It is especially immersive if players use one of the
game’s two cockpit camera views. There is a zoomed in view and a view that is a bit further back, but both views give players a great
sense of being in the driver’s seat, even going so far as to let them look around the inside of the car with the right analog stick. Not
many games use the cockpit camera very well, but “Dirt” takes it one step further, much like their menu system.
Like any game, this one wouldn’t be much fun if it didn’t offer up a variety of ways to experience it. Luckily, the game does the job of
providing many ways to experience its beauty. Apart from being able to take place in single races and events, along with a series of
championships consisting of multiple races each, “Dirt” also has a lengthy career mode that has players working their way up a
pyramid of events. Winning earns points which unlock new tiers of the career mode and cash, which can be spent on new vehicles na
liveries for the vehicles. With more than 60 career events, nearly 50 vehicles to unlock and more than 180 liveries to buy for those
vehicles, players will be kept busy.
With a large number of great features in the game, there is one element that is lacking dramatically, multiplayer support. There is
multiplayer, but it doesn’t work very well. Only two of the race types are able to be played in multiplayer mode, rally and hill climb. When
entering multiplayer, players are dumped into a lobby with dozens of other players. When a group is put together, players vote on which
track is going to be raced. Once in the race, it is only a time trail against the other players. At the end of the race, players are able to see
how they are doing in the real time standings, but that is all.
With that said, “Dirt” is definitely worth checking out and adding to any race collection. The graphics alone are amazing, but the variety
is outstanding as well, from the cars to the race types. The one piece lacking in the multiplayer, but this time around it can be forgiven.
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