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Ken Block and other celebrity drivers are gone, as are showcase driving events like the gymkhanas. The only soundtrack to a race is the sound of your car and your co-pilot's instructions. Presentation is clean and functional, aimed at getting you to the meat of the game: driving. There are no fancy menus, like previous games (especially the ridiculous trailer menu from DiRT 2). It's currently a game laser focused on traditional rallying. But a little perseverance pays off, and there's a great feeling of flow when you get to grips with a car and a course.įans of the DiRT series may be surprised by DiRT Rally. If you're used to arcade-style driving, coming into DiRT Rally will be a shock. Being a simulator, more or less, you really have to learn to drive well. You won't get enough credits to buy a vehicle in the next category until you've really got to grips with the current one. Unlocking new vehicles is not quick, but it seems fair. The latter helps you during competitions, especially fixing damage between stages. There's rarely space for taking a radically different line through corners, meaning you have to drastically change your braking and timing with different cars.Ĭompleting races gives you credits, and credits allow you to buy new vehicles, unlock upgrades, and improve your racing team. Most of the courses are narrow tracks, requiring accurate driving. The excellent physics model means that once you've mastered a front wheel drive car like the Lancia Fulvia, jumping into a rear wheel drive machine such as the Sierra Cosworth will require that you completely relearn how to approach each track, as the difference in handling is so large. Damage also realistically affects how cars control. You can really feel the differences in surfaces as you drive, and car handling changes dramatically from vehicle to vehicle. Even with all the assists, DiRT Rally is not an easy game, and nor is it supposed to be.ĭiRT Rally has a new driving physics engine, and it shows. But that's not to say it will ever be easy. Driving aids, like traction control and ABS, come with a sliding scale, so you can get your driving set up just as you want it. You can choose from manual, sequential, semi, and full automatic transmission. The Greek landscape is parched, contrasting the mountainous Monaco courses that go from tarmac to ice and snow, and Wales, with its rain, mud, and muted colors.ĭiRT Rally has the usual array of driving settings. The difference between each location is vast. There are day and night courses, different weather conditions, and varied road surfaces that make a huge impact on handling. Currently, the game features three locations, Greece, Wales and Monaco, each with a variety of stages.
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