I remember it like it was yesterday. Nearly two and a half years since the Xbox 360 launched, and I finally had saved up enough money to get it. So, for my thirteenth birthday, I bought the console, along with the games Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Halo 3, Shadowrun, and most importantly, Dirt: Colin McRae Off-Road. Out of those four games, the one I consistently played the most was DiRT. It’s intensity, great visuals, and breath of content kept me going until the sequel DiRT 2 was released. DiRT 2 improved on everything I thought couldn’t be enhanced upon, while also bringing a number of new changes. Then DiRT 3 released in 2011, and I developed a long-lasting appreciation for Codemasters that still hasn’t phased away.

Fast forward eight years later since the original DiRT, and Project CARS is released for the eight generation of consoles and PC after a four year wait since it’s original announcement. During this point in time, there had been no rally games for a more modern gaming landscape, which was something DiRT had capitalized on so well. I gave Project CARS a shot, but after a couple races I was reminded why I stuck with Codemasters so much in the first place. Their games never over compensated for anything, and stuck to one simple path. The purpose of fun. Now over five years since their last rally game, Codemasters has released DiRT Rally on console. Was the break worth it? Here’s a diehard fan’s verdict.

Gameplay:

Jumps feel intense, but rewarding to pull off

While I loved DiRT 3, it was a far more accessible game by many standards. Adverts for the title included dubstep, gymkhana, and Ken Block, one of the most prominent professional drivers at the time. The game still managed to be great, but it was hard to feel that there wasn’t something missing; the game was simply doing so much at once! With DiRT Rally, Codemasters have replenished their lack of focus. Cars not only feel great, but are less forgiving when you take damage. Codemasters likely knew that hardcore moves like these will be costly to more casual players, but the level of polish in these advancements surpasses other competitors by a wide margin.

Cars handle well, and each one feels different in their own right. Some can handle turns on icy terrains much more gracefully, but are missing some important features, while some can be faulty with breaks but have good acceleration. There’s no perfect car by any means, but the way you’ll teach yourself to become better with every one, is ultimately surpassing in it’s own right. Progressions like these make DiRT Rally feel meaningful, compared to some other racing games on the market.

The more you’ll play, the more you’ll discover that gravel, snow, and tough terrain can quickly become your worst enemy

Story Mode & Design:

The game’s well developed difficulty curve is perfectly exemplified in tight and constructive tracks

DiRT Rally is packed to the brim with cars and tracks, but the one thing it seems that Codemasters forgot along the line was modes. There’s Rally, Rallycross, and Hillclimb, which each have their own career and league renditions. While it’s enough content to stomach, a more hardcore racing fan may find it middling, with the just OK online mode and absence of split-screen making matters worse. I’m happy that what is here is good, but a lack of proper variety seem to be one of the things that pulls this game away from greatness.

The game also gives you instructions during rally courses. While the same thing has existed in previous DiRT installments, it’s suddenly become something to be faithful to. Knowing and quickly planning the next turn, drift, or jump not only makes the game seem a bit more fleshed-out, but also makes it easier to practice the main mechanics. This is essential, since the game gets progressively more and more difficult, which convinces some players to do a custom race and tone down the intensity.

Tracks are also a lot more extensive, giving you room to experiment and or practice your flaws

Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:

The default HUD is significantly simplified from other DiRT games, offering a much more rudimentary but necessary approach to driving, drifting, and more

DiRT Rally may do a lot of things right, but it’s presentation is sub-par. The game never presents itself elegantly enough (something that was done to perfection in DiRT 3, GRID 2, and more) and the scarcity of licensed music feels lazy and cheap. Say what you want about EDM or dubstep, but at least they added some personality to a game in it’s most boring segments. (Like loading screens for example)

Likely the best aspect that doesn’t flourish in the gameplay but resides somewhere else, is the audio. Pulling off an impressive drift leaves a cathartic impression, and this can also be supported when things going awry. The constant scratching noises after smashing your exhaust pipe, radiator, or breaks reminds you the dire state your car can be in, forcing you to conserve and play carefully.

Lastly, I didn’t think the graphics were anything to write home about. Car models are detailed and exquisite, and so is the damage system, but environments such as Redwood trees, ice slopes, and even simple stretches of dirt look muddy and slightly dated. Crowds are still a putrid affair, with the only addition being drones. The game does run in 1080p 60fps, so it is possible that some heavy sacrifices had to be made.

One may argue about the game’s graphics, but it’s weather and physics representations are a different story

Conclusion:

DiRT Rally may have some problems, but none distract significantly from it’s excellent gameplay and addictive design elements. Just when you think you’ve mastered the game, a new environment obstacle will be thrown at you, and this is all before you’ll jump into the other modes as well. Some racing games this generation have been great, but DiRT Rally is the only one that seems to stay consistent throughout.

DiRT Rally gets an 9/10 (Superb)

*Unlike other reviews on this site, this game was reviewed without a review code/copy, and instead out of pure passion. If you are a fan of these types of reviews, please like this post or tell us. We’re always looking for feedback.

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