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| | Difficulty: 3 | | Learning Curve: 3 | Published by:  mattster | | Date: 2009-05-17 |
| | Gameplay |    | 10
| | Graphics | | 10
| | Sound | | 10
| | Value | | 10
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Codemaster's flagship racing title just gets better and better. The Colin McRae experience has reached a new level of realism in Colin McRae: Dirt, one that hasn't been seen before in the racing genre, with stunning locations, remarkable physics, believable damage modeling, and an all-together bumpier and realistic rally experience.
 If you're on the lookout for a complete racing sim then Forza 2 will probably appeal to you, but if you're pining for a stylish, arcade racer that sparkles with next-gen technology and offers rewarding, challenging, satisfying high-speed gameplay then Dirt is the game for you.
I've completed career mode, although I still need to go back and gain first position in each race, and I've raced on every single track. I've been impressed with the diverse selection of circuits on offer and just how exhilarating and intense they've managed to make this experience of rallying. From the gruelling hill climbs across the likes of the Colorado Mountains to the slippery rain-sodden tarmac on the twisting roads of Maebashi in Japan, each track provides a different challenge and requires a different approach depending on the terrain you're driving across, as well as taking into account the vehicle you're driving.
Races include crossover races against the main man himself, Colin McRae (RIP), rally raid competitions across bumpy and unpredictable desert terrain, technically challenging tracks with twisty roads and hairpin bends and circuits with long countryside straights where you’ll have the opportunity to test out the full extent of your vehicle's power.
There's tons of replay value, thanks to the variety of tracks on offer, but the extensive range of 45 officially licensed cars, which span across 12 car class categories, also adds an infinite amount of different scenarios to try out, ultimately meaning that no race every feels the same and the numerous combinations of circuits and vehicles provides an exciting and varying challenge. Amongst the vehicles on offer there are classic and modern four wheel drives, two wheel drives, Super Buggies, trucks and rally cross cars from the likes of Lotus and Audi. Each vehicle needs to driven to its strengths, as well as you needing to be in tune with the vehicle's weaknesses, and despite there being only subtle differences between the most powerful cars, each vehicle offers a different racing experience.
For example: the Corr Super Buggy feels extremely light weight and speedy, but their rear ends can easily spin out around corners if you incorrectly judge a hand-brake turn and can rollover if you go too fast over the bumps, whereas the Dakar-style trucks, which sport logos from the likes of Shell Oil and DHL, feel much sturdier and slower; they won't often spin-out, but they can topple over if you take a corner too fast.
It's not just the diverse selection of tracks and vehicles that make Dirt stand out from the crowd, but it's also the realism of the stunning locations that you race across. Glance over the side of a mountain track (not recommended if you're traveling over 75mph) and in the distance, as far as the eye can see, you'll witness a great depth to the landscape, with accurately recreated mountains and lush farmland. Descend down a steep incline, in a hill climb event, and you'll be treated to panoramic view of the countryside, ladened with trees and rich foliage.
Among many of the graphically elegant sights that you'll see in Dirt are tarmac surfaces that glisten in the rain, real-time shadowing and lighting techniques, such as rays of sunshine that pierce through gaps in the trees, onlookers that line up at the side of the track and react to the race by egging you on, gravel which shifts realistically under the weight of your vehicle, smoke which billows out of your exhaust and reacts to the implemented real-time wind system and trees which splinter and warp under the weight of any impact with your vehicle.
The debut of Codemaster's new NEON game engine has successfully breathed life into the rolling hills and the surrounding environments, as well as the vehicle models, which show concave damage and pick up every scratch and bump along the way. Something which is also worth mentioning is how the different terrain not only has a different effect on the way you need to tackle a course, but also feels notably different to drive on.
Race across light gravel and then switch over to a tarmacked road and you'll feel a distinct difference under your wheels and therefore need to change your racing technique accordingly. At high speeds the more powerful cars are difficult to handle across mud or gravel, meaning you'll have to be even more accurate at pulling off power-slides or handbrake turns around hairpin bends, but across tarmac you’ll feel a noticeable shift in speed and the smoothness of the surface becomes apparent.
There are a number of tracks that blend two types of terrain into one course and you constantly need to be on your guard for these shifts in surfaces and give each race your full attention. The balance needed to create a challenging game, yet one that can still be mastered without being practically impossible, has been achieved with great success, making Colin McRae: Dirt more accessible than previous iterations.
Last but not least, is the online mode, which allows up to 100 people to compete simultaneously on a rally or hill climb stage. Whenever I play a racing game I want to compete against other human drivers over Xbox live; the Forza franchise demonstrates perfectly how this should be done.
However, in Colin McRae: Dirt you race on the track alone competing for the best point to point times. This does give you the added pressure of knowing that there are dozens of drivers out there trying to beat your best lap, but it might not replace the feeling of actually jostling for position with your mates. Point-to-point racing is what rallying is all about, so those seeking an authentic rally experience will be able to compete with other racers without being bumped off the track every few seconds and as a result may not be put off with the lack of human company.
All in all, check out this game now. Turn off your PC and go and buy this game. It is a must own for any racing fan
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  | Most Recent Xbox 360 Reviews for Colin McRae: DIRT Off-Road (1) |  |
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