DiRT 2: Set To Be A Visceral Experience
Gaming Union recently had the chance to attend an event in London, England, hosted by Codemasters. One of the games on show was their upcoming racing title known as Colin McRae: DiRT 2, or DiRT 2 for short.
The original DiRT was released in 2007 and it was considered a refreshing take on the driving genre due to its melding of different driving experiences and styles. It was also extremely engaging, with respect to how the cars felt and sounded.
This aspect certainly hasn't changed in DiRT 2. The cars sound even meatier than ever and it really creates a visceral experience. The sense of actually being part of what's going on can't really be rivalled; it's just something that Codemasters have really nailed. The AI is aggressive, the tracks are demanding and the atmosphere generated can't help but draw the player in.
The game's hub is an RV. It's essentially the menu system, with players being able to check out the DiRT Tour, check stats, access multiplayer options and various other options. It's an attempt at trying to make the player feel like they're a real racing drive, but it does seem a bit over the top. A traditional menu system would have probably been a lot simpler, and quicker.
The main bulk of the game will be spent in the DiRT Tour. Here players can race all around the world, and gain experience and money based on their performances. There are ton of racing disciples and modes to enjoy in stages that feel very different from one another. There is also an all-star cast to compete against, which features the likes of Dave Mirra and Ken Block. The variety of races on offer is definitely commendable, especially since a lot of them are quite varied. Traditional races are accompanied by other disciplines like Rally and Trailblazer. There are also special modes such as Gate Crasher, Domination and Last Man Standing.
There is a good selection of cars available, and they can all be customised to a certain degree. It's possible to chance the Gear Ratios, Downforce, Suspension, Ride Height, Differential and Brake Bias. This is only recommended for fans of true driving simulations though, as it's easy to do more harm than good.
The actual gameplay is as the game's name suggests, dirty. It all feels very hands-on and the cars feel very vulnerable. It makes for a great experience, especially in the disciplines that involve numerous cars all racing at the same time. There is a damage system in place too, so players will have to be careful not to wreck their cars. In the single-player mode this can be rectified though, using the Flashback system. At any time, the player has a chance to view a replay, rewind and put themselves in a position in the past. This can really help to avoid a nasty crash, or just a turn that simply went completely wrong. However, it only has limited use, and can't be used online.
Speaking of online, the game has a full online mode. It's open to serious players and more casual ones, with the option to choose with Pro Tour, or Jam Session. Pro Tour has tracks and cars chosen automatically, whereas Jam Session is much more casual and offers a lot of customisation. Upon completing races, Online Fame can be earnt, and this is effectively used for bragging rights online. However, Online Fame can only be earnt by doing races in the Pro Tour.
DiRT 2 is shaping up to be a great game and a great sequel. Aside from the menu system, everything else seems to be quite spot on and the multiplayer is just pure fun. The cars look, sound and feel great and from a driving game, it's difficult to ask for more.
