DiRT 2 Preview
This review is based on the demo released by Codemasters last week on Xbox 360 and PS3. The PS3 version is the version tested.
After DiRT brought a resurgence to the Colin McRae series, especially in America, Codemasters weren’t exactly going to get you high odds on a bet based on them releasing another version. And this new version comes into some tough competition, too. With Forza and GT5 being released this year alongside a Need for Speed title that actually looks good and a platinum-pricing strategy for Motorstorm 2, this game is going to have to fight for sales.
And so, with that, Codemaster’s released some code for everyone to have a go of.
Initial impressions are smooth, as the menu system was reworked from the beautiful one found in the original DiRT game. It bases itself in a small caravan to follow the idea that you’re travelling the world, rallying various cars against non-WRC rally drivers from America who seem to think they’re the Tony Hawk of driving. At first the menu system is pretty, and very easy to use. However, the ease of use gets old after much time spent with the game, as it becomes laborious to sit through every single “moving outside, inside, around the caravan” animation over and over again. With no simple text option or “skip the crap and get me racing” mode, it’s quite a hindrance, and a massive downgrade to the gorgeous and perfectly laid out DiRT menu system.
Once racing, though, the menu system becomes the least of your worries. One of the things that didn’t work well in the original DiRT was balancing the controls. Too arcadey and it becomes a Need for Speed clone. Too simulation-y and it removes a huge casual audience, plus the fact that GT and Forza can’t be competed with in that regard. DiRT was saved by it’s charm and the fact that it offered proper rallying over the competition. This time though, it’s all the bad from the control system in DiRT, ramped up to 11.
From this angle, it looks pretty!
Off roading a little can cause havoc. In any rally game (Motorstorm developers’ previous WRC franchise or even Codemasters’ Colin McRae titles of yesteryear) you’re going to have to dip the front wheels of your car into dangerous territory, banking onto grass/mud and slippery stuff in order to shave seconds off your time. Do this in DiRT2 though and you’ll be severely punished. The car will hurl itself 4 miles away, no matter how slow you’re going, and always manage to have the car in an awkward position, making it difficult to get back to the track. Almost always counting you out of a race (unless you’re in the insanely easy “rookie” mode). The system is completely unrealistic and punishes you for tiny driving errors in ways that simply should not be. This takes away the fun of it. Making a small driving error should sacrifice 3-5 seconds on your lap, not 15 seconds. Driving around feels more like aqua-planing then controlled, precision driving, even when you’re not at full speed.
You can get used to it, but it will annoy you to no end, and will not be rewarding. It’s a far cry from the old Colin McRae titles.
Adding to this frustration, other “famous” fake rally drivers (none of whom are real men who drive in the WRC) from America talk to each other over the comms. They seem insanely friendly, but competitive. Obviously a PR controlled situation with their ridiculous dialog (“you can’t catch me”, “oh man, where ARE you?”). Spitting this crap out will go down a treat to most casual racing fans stateside. Over here I can’t see it working. I hate the guy from Burnout’s Crash FM, why the hell would anyone enjoy this tripe?
The scenery is nice, but only when it zips by. Slowing down or stopping shows that the games entire aesthetic is based on bloom and other such effects to “soften” the image up. It also suffers from that Forza 2 glare-on-the-car problem, where everything metalic is so saturated in sunburst contrast that it washes out the potentially nice modeling done by the developers.
Is this game good? Not really. It doesn’t improve on DiRT at all, and seems to be catering to 15 year old spotty American children rather then hardened veterans of the McRae generation. The demo is freely available to try for everyone, and the full game comes on the joyous date of September 11th, but it’s probably worth holding out for Forza or GT.
LOL sounds awful!
I too miss the old Colin McRae series, the PS2 were IMO the best rally series around. I better checkout the demo on PSN first though. Probably still worth a pick up when it's down to half price.
Wish someone would take out a new version of Total Drivin' a classic PSX game that I still play on the PSP today.