Colin McRae may be gone, but Codemasters fully intends on continuing to honor his legacy by making the best damn rally games ever.
WHAT YOU’LL LIKE:
Just Plain Fun
The first DiRT was notable for two reasons: Controls and graphics. It should come as no surprise then that those are the two exact areas where DiRT 2 excels. The game controls near flawlessly, and really drives home the feeling of drifting around a muddy cliff at 150mph with zero intention of using the brakes.
Insanely Beautiful
DiRT 2 does what too many racing games fail to: It pays special attention to making sure that each and every track is a visual treat. Sure, you’re going to be flying by most of it too fast to notice the smaller details, but overall there were so many times during this game that I almost wanted to stop my car and just enjoy the view, whereas in Forza and NFS Shift I often find myself being lulled to sleep by the unconvincing, clinical virtual world.
New Mode Types
While I personally would be perfectly fine with all Rally Cross events, DiRT 2 adds even more variety to the mix with new race disciplines like Domination, Last Man Standing, and Gate Crashers, which has you rocketing through a course while hitting little clay gates that reward you with a two extra seconds on the timer. The rally racing far exceeds all other game types in terms of intensity and enjoyability in my opinion, but most players will be glad to have options, especially in the multiplayer.
Expanded Multiplayer
The original DiRT’s multiplayer was more like a time trial tacked on to a chat room, however the new DiRT multiplayer offering is considerably deeper, offering multiple play modes and a ranking system, essentially splitting the game into two massive, separate campaigns (online and off). Once you’re done mastering the singleplayer, DiRT 2 will keep on giving thanks to the wonders of the internet. Just expect to get spun out at the start of each race by 13-year-old kids, a lot.
WHAT YOU WON’T LIKE:
Funky Fresh Style
Like EA did with SSX: On Tour and again on Need For Speed ProStreet (seeing a pattern here?), DiRT 2 has been given an “exciting” new makeover with attitude! Unfortunately, that attitude may not be what you’re looking for in a game like this. The awesome DiRT 1 menu system is now replaced by a motor home that acts as your command base. The party central feel of the new UI is not entirely intolerable, but the overly passive celebrity racers that talk you through every moment of the game almost get old real fast. We know you paid a lot of money to have them guest star Codemasters, but a SKIP button every time one of them starts to explain how to tie your shoe lace would have made this game a hundred times better…give or take.
RECOMMENDATION:
BUY! You will be hard-pressed to find a racing game as expertly crafted and enjoyable as DiRT 2. If rally car racing isn’t your thing, now is as good a time as any to get a little mud on your flaps.
