Dirt - True Chaos on Wheels
DiRT has the it factor. DiRT is the kind of game that would be playing on an Xbox 360 kiosk that people would stop and take note of. DiRT really has that working in its favor even while other things aren’t quite flawless in the game.
DiRT is a continuation of the Colin McRae series. Colin McRae has always been the dominant force in rally racers, and though DiRT continues on with that tradition, it definitely has a different feel then the rest of the series.
When you fire up the game you are greeted by what is hands down the greatest menu system I’ve ever seen. Not only is it absolutely astonishing to look at, but it navigates fluidly too boot. You’re given the option of playing through the championship mode, which is the career mode, playing in cup matches, or playing online against other people.
The championship mode is basically a pyramid of various rally races that you have to fight through. There are, I believe, six different types of events, ranging from buggy races, to solo hill climbs. Having that variety there really helps make it more exciting, and it really keeps it fresh.
So... Pretty...
Once you hit the track, you are greeted by some more fantastic visuals to drool on. This really is up there with Gears of War for the wow factor. My only complaint is that when you are in the middle of a ton of other cars, the frame rate plummets into the low teens at times. It doesn’t happen often, and it is manageable, but it is an unfortunate issue.
The actual driving in this game is quite good. The handling is quite solid, although some of the cars do feel a bit off in the unpaved sections. But drifting around corners and accelerating during straight-aways really feels great in this game.
The real disappointment comes in the form of value. Though the game is fantastic, I’m 60% done and I’ve only raced for around 4 hours in the single player. The online could have been the saviour for this, but unfortunately, it’s a massive let down. It says you can race up to 99 other people at time, which is only partially true. The main problem is that you can’t actually see them, and you’re just racing while they are and comparing times at the end. If they could have nailed this one last piece of the puzzle, this could have been the racer of the year.
So in summary, an amazing racer with a great audio/visual presentation that ends up being a slightly skimpy package. A great rental, and if you still find yourself hooked, a purchase maybe a good idea.
Positives:
+ Best graphics of any racer ever
+ Great sound effects
+ Solid racing model
+ Great variety
Negatives:
- Framerate that dips
- Short single player
- Multiplayer = Major letdown
