Customer Reviews

Dirt 2

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Coming from a background of Dirt, the Forza series, PGR series, Rallisport Challenge, and probably other racing games I have forgotten, I'm really enjoying Dirt 2. This review is based on about 10 hours with the demo, and 3 hours with the real game.

The racing in Dirt 2 is edge of control, white knuckle racing. The tracks are challenging, with most of those I've raced so far having a couple of nice high speed stretches, sweeping corners, and some tight, technical spots. One aspect that can make it that much scarier is that some tracks have multiple routes you can take. The differences are subtle, and the distance traveled is pretty much the same, but one will set you up for the next corner better than the other. This does introduce some intersection points in the track where the routes will cross which can lead to some nice t-bones. I found that I was physically cringing every time I ran through an intersection, full throttle, hoping for the best.

The different race modes include many types of off-road racing. There are timed point-to-point races where you won't see another car for the entire race, and there are rally cross style races where you can't seem to get through the race without hitting someone else. Both types are very entertaining. There are other types, but it basically boils down to whether or not there are other cars in your vicinity at the same time.

One feature in Dirt 2 that has made it much more enjoyable than the original Dirt is the flashbacks. There are few things more frustrating than coming to the end of a tight race, taking the last corner wrong, and getting 6th instead of 1st, or worse, totaling the car and getting a DNF. Flashbacks allow you to stop time, go back to a previous point in the race (seems like about 10 seconds or so max) and try that corner again. Obviously flashbacks are only available in tour mode, not in online play.

In tour mode you are able to set the difficulty for each race. Higher difficulty means the AI racers (which are quite good but also make mistakes) will be better and faster and that you will have fewer flashback, but you will also earn more prize money for winning the event.

Online play was available in the demo, and I spent 90 minutes playing with a close friend. We ran several races with others matched with us through xbox live. The rally type races were great. It was still point-to-point, timed, but everyone drove at the same time. The other cars on the track were only there for time reference. It was the other live drivers, but they were like ghost cars. In the other types, you are able to affect the other drivers by hitting them. I thought it was very enjoyable. Of course, the races can get dirty with people crashing into you all over the place, but that's a part of online play. I have not played online with the full version of the game, but I suspect the experience will be very similar.

I can see that I will be spending a lot of time in this game. The control is better than the original Dirt. The event selection is also a lot more engaging with real rally drivers inviting you to different parts of the world to compete. They have obviously put a lot of attention to detail in the game. The tracks and settings are immaculate. The cars are beautiful, and the other racers will even SAY your name. It's a pretty cool touch to hear Travis Pastrana say, "Hey Joel, nobody could touch you out there!"

I only have two gripes: One is that you still can't go very far afield when you wreck. If I really blow a corner, I would love to see my car roll over and over and over again. You only get that joy if your car happens to stay on or near the track. Unfortunately this is pretty standard fare for rally games.

My second gripe is that there is no split screen multiplayer. Once in a while it would be great to have a friend over and simply sit down and race each other. With this game he'll have to bring an xbox, a tv, and his own copy of the game and do system link, or stay at his own house and play over live. The live support is really great, so split screen will probably only be missed occasionally.

In summary, if you are looking for a real serious rally simulation, this isn't it. If you are looking for a very fun off road racing game with stunning visuals, great sound, good control, awesome tracks, nice cars, and edge of your seat action, this is it! I highly recommend it to the driving enthusiast.

First off I will break my review up into sections. I think I have played the game enough to write a good review about it. I have rented it and after playing it when I can for about a week (10+ hours of game play), this is what I have to say about Dirt 2.

Game play -
The game play in one sentence would be, "Fantastic but by all means, not perfect." I say this because even though I loved the game and only put it down because either, my hands ached from gripping the controller to hard or just because I got to tired, It still has its issues. But I assure you. they are small issues that only a nit picky gamer such as myself would notice. This game definitely has more pros then cons in almost every aspect of it. Its taken a lot that was good about Grid (I'm using Grid as an example because its the most recent "good" game that Codemasters has released. Excluding Fuel because...well...Fuel was terrible.) and brought it to Dirt 2, but not all that was good, a few things were left out. But as a fun, exciting, heart pounding rally game. Dirt 2 delivers.

Controls-
The controls are just what you would expect if you have played the better games that Codemasters has produced. They are responsive and act just the way a real car would. Each car has its own feel to it. No one car will feel the same basically. Some you can whip around a corner or drift if you please, while others you will need to be a little more gentle and take your time. You can map your button configuration how ever you like and save different setups separately. Easy to pick up and play.

Graphics -
I dont have a fancy HD tv to play on but even without HD, Dirt looks excellent. Everything from car detail, to reflections and environment detail. Its exactly what you would expect from a top notch racing game. Having the real to life cockpit view is always a plus. I know some people simply cant handle driving in that view, but for me, its either the cockpit view or the hood view (depending on which kind of race I'm in). There are only two gripes I have about it. When you go through water, your windshield wipers come on to get rid of the water because whenever you go through a puddle, you can NOT see. While this is a nice touch, it can be annoying that it will take multiple whips from the wipers to clear your view. In a real car, one wipe and your view is clear enough to know where you are going. Thats not the case here. The other thing is that when your driver shifts, he doesnt actually shift, he just touches the shift knob. It would be great if the shift lever actually went into the position of which ever shift you are going into. I know you are not looking down at that while you are driving to even notice, but come on, when you look at it on the replay, its something you would expect. Damage is good, but not great. Yes when you run into a rock you are given significant damage but its not always consistent with different impacts. Otherwise, graphical quality is top notch.

Sound -
Ok, the sound has got to be one of my favorite things in this game. I dont have a surround sound so I always use my Razor, over the head, headphones that enclose your whole ear. The sound quality is mind blowing. The engine sound is appropriate for each car and really gives you that sense of power from high to low RPMs. As you change from dirt, to gravel, to mud, to pavement, you can tell the difference just by the sound. Sometimes I would think "hey why is my car making that weird tink tink sound?" that tink tink sound you keep hearing is the sound of rocks from the gravel below you, hitting the underbelly of your car. Not only that but as you come out of a corner on a dry gravel track, you can actually hear the rocks and dirt spitting out from your tires as you claw for traction and accelerate. Just amazing, there are no complains here.

Features-
When I say features I am talking about things that were and were not put into the game. Car selection, while the selection is good and includes all the major cars from the different Off-Road disciplines. I expected a wider variety. Customization, I understand this is not Forza or NFS, but even Grid has some customization to speak of. In Dirt, the closest you can get to customization are the windshield and dash decorations, which come few and aren't really all that good. You cannot choose a number for your car, or chose your own designs, sponsors, or colors. This was quite disappointing, even customization as simple as that wasn't offered like it was in Grid. The only customization were livery's of different teams, sponsors with pre-determined colors, and Off-Road stars' livery's you can unlock. Just doesn't let you make your own identity, in short. The name and nick-name feature from Grid was carried over and is a great idea, it immerses you even more and makes you feel like you are there because your opponents talk to you with that name you choose. Weather is something that I wish they would implement into their games. Rain, snow, hail, wind, and storms, are all part of the real world in Off-Road racing, but absent in this game.

Interface-
The interface is not that bad. Its easy to navigate the menus and change settings. The HUD functions great with many different stats to be shown during the race, and any or all of them can be turned on and off. The only thing is I think the time is a little to small and can be hard to see at a glace, you have to keep looking at is a few times before you know what it says, which can easily cause you to crash.The are alot of difficulty settings from ridiculously easy, to ridiculously hard. So you can find just the right challenge for you. The music for the most part is good, a handful of the songs the game plays are just down right horrid and are painful to listen to though. It would have helped if they let you chose which songs will play and which wont. Also I wish you could choose weather or not you listen to the music while you race, rather then just in the menus. Plus a button to skip the current song would be helpful. There is a wide variety of different real world locations, but the tracks do repeat them selves in various ways. Are the tracks repetitive of each other? Yes and no, the game is exciting enough that the repetitiveness is not that hard to be over looked. The only problem with what tracks they have is the fact that there are few, long hill climb tracks that you are familiar with from Dirt 1. Bummer...

Replay value-
This game has a lengthy single-player that has mile stones along the way that push you to keep going and build upon your skills and unlock new stuff. But...I dont think I would ever want to play through to single-player more then once. Online multiplayer is solid with a lvl up system, but it is poorly done and you can get to the max lvl fairly quickly. There are challenges to accomplish online but they have no reward which makes them rather pointless. For me, I want to buy a game not only because its fun and good, but also one thats going to give me my moneys worth that will keep me playing it for a long time. I haven't played the multiplayer alot but I think it will be similar to Grid, were it is fun for a while but then gets boring and you end up not playing it for a few weeks. There is no split screen mode, but in short...I dont care because I hate split screen. But thats just my opinion.

Conclusion-
Dirt 2 is a great game that any racing or Off-Road fan will enjoy. I would definitely recommend giving it a try. Its by no means, a perfect racing game but hey, there is no perfect racing game yet I dont think. There will always be something that is missing or poorly done. But at its core, it is a blast that will keep you interested for a good long while.

At first I was hesitant to purchase this game after the disappointment that Fuel was, but after a couple of races I was completely hooked for many hours! Whether you are looking for solid single player game, or swapping paint in multiple online matches, then this off road adrenaline rush is for you! First off the graphics are amazingly better than the first Dirt; I was very impressed with the overall presentation of this game. There are practically no frame rate issues, with smooth textures, and a fluid camera movement to top off this wonderfully entertaining sequel. The user friendly navigation menu sets a good tone from the get go, whereas you placed inside your very own RV that you use to travel throughout all the locations you race in the world. You select your own Dirt tour, choose online matches, view stats, and watch extras all within the RV. You can also step outside to view cars and trucks you have purchased, or wish to purchase. You also can view news and change options outside. There are plenty of liveries to unlock and customize you rides with, they also gave you the option of horns, dashboard toys, and windshield decoration such as: Dice, Shoes, hanging avatars...

The in-game play is very much improved, but something to note is that this is not a fully simulated racer. If you cup of tea is games like Forza and GT, then this title will pretty much be hit or miss. But if you enjoyed previous titles like Grid or even Fuel, then you will think this is Codemasters best work to date. The physics of the game are on point, with full damage, and rewind time setting to take you back to the track after you completely totally one of your rides. All the colors pop in this game and nothing is better than watching a replay on a track that you flew through without taking on any damage. The camera work that is delivered in replays make them very entertaining to watch, and the inside view when racing makes it even sweeter. The AI racers are aggressive and will not lay down for you to just overtake, be prepared for a lot of bumping and rubbing in these races, but that definitely adds to the fun factor.

If you are a follow of X games, then you will enjoy that many pro racers lent their voices for the game. You will make a lot of friends along your way to becoming a recognizable face in the sport. You will find your self going head to head with racers like Dave Mirra, a lot of fun hearing them tell you to watch it after you give them a good hit from behind!

All and all this is pretty much a 4-5 star game, with high replay value, and a solid online feature; I believe this game is well worth the $60.00 it is priced at. You will find yourself playing this game for many hours, not just for the actually play, but also watching the majority of instant replays that follow after you completed a race. Good job Codemasters, thank you for putting out another title that puts you back in my good graces.

This games is so beautiful to look at, and you can tell that people worked very hard to make such a polished gaming experience. The realism is actually what takes away from the game for me, though. The vehicles control so realistically, and everything feels like it's almost real world. But it just doesn't feel fun. It's more for the realistic racing sim fan. If you like gran turismo games, you would feel right at home with this one. The only thing that makes it feel a bit arcadey is the rewind feature when you crash. You get a couple icons per event that allow you rewind time after you crash. It's kind of like the sand dagger in the prince of persia games. That does give you at least one feature that I really enjoyed. I will say, though, that there is definitely an audience for this game. Alot of people will enjoy the realism, and awesome graphics. But if you're looking for an arcade type racer, with cool crashes, and an insane sense of speed, this title doesn't really deliver.

this game is well known i dont really have to say much its fun and well entertaining. if your looking for an offroading game get it

I enjoy this game, it's the best race game I've played. Very technical for a game, some hangups but over all very well put together.

I bought Dirt 3 first and loved it - My favorite things were Joyride/Gymkana, graphic feel and music. Needs the DLC Monte Carlo. After reading reviews I decided to buy the previous version. Dirt 2 has a lot going for it too but in different areas. The races feature longer duration and more tracks without buying DLC. I especially like unlocking races/tracks and the crashes are a blast. Graphics haven't changed much except menus so it doesn't feel old. You really need both versions to get everything in a dirt race. I can't pick a favorite.

This place is awesome all I get like those games make me happy it cost in cheap price and get it very quick

It doesn't have the amount of cars like in other games, but it is a lot more fun. Drifting on dirt or across asphalt feels amazing when I get it right. Coming around blind turns into a jump and trying not to flip the car because my takeoff was bad feels so rewarding. This isn't a sim racing game like Forza or GT, it is more along the lines of NFS or Midnight Club. Just a fun game to turn on and play, but they get it right. The single player mode is straight foward, race, collect money, buy new cars. There isn't much customization other than a horn, dashboard and mirror ornaments and the livery on the car. If you want a game for that get Forza, if you want something to tweak every part of the car to cut seconds off your lap get Gran Turism. But f you want a simple fun racing game get this, or Dirt 3.

This game might be too good. Graphics, cars, lighting, menu's, just a visual treat for the eyes. Now it did take me a lot of practice driving before I got really good. Might turn some folks off. But don't give up. Once you master the feel of the cars, the game is absolutely addicting. I keep saying to myself...just one more race. Then 2 hours later I gotta make myself go to bed. Or realize I haven't eatin anything in a while. So make sure you have snacks handy when you play this game. Or play in the kitchen.