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Dirt Rally

Dirt Rally - Early Access Impressions

Codemasters' latest continues to take shape, and may well end up being the studio's finest racer to date.

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Don't get us wrong, we enjoyed our last outing with the Dirt series, but Showdown was a brash and unrealistic spinoff that did nothing to satisfy the thirst of serious rally fans, and even before that Dirt 3 was a pumped-up take on the sport. Indeed, the series has been steadily steering away from being the authentic rally experience it was back in the genre's heyday, although with Dirt Rally the series is firmly back on track.

The golden age of rally games has long gone, but on the strength of this Early Access title, they may well be about to return. Codemasters are crafting a racer that's more simulation than anything they've ever done before. Everything, from the surface on the track through to the tires that spin above it, feels more grounded in reality than anything we've seen from the studio up till now. Given that the developers resumé includes the F1 series, Grid, and Dirt, to call this out as the first sim might surprise some.

Those games are all good in their own specific ways, including the Dirt games of yesteryear, but for rally purists who've been screaming for something with a dash more authenticity, Dirt Rally is the one. Ever since Colin McRae's name was first subtitled, the series has drifted deeper into arcade twists and turns. Not a problem per se, but there are many who longed for something less brash; more about the racing, less the fanfare that accompanies it.

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As an embodiment of that sentiment, Dirt Rally impresses right off the bat. The handling and the physics are punishing to a degree that soaks the experience in tension. That said, it doesn't feel overly harsh, and getting to grips with your vehicle and controlling it through the corners of each course is most certainly achievable. There's a balance to find between precision and caution and speed. Courses are varied and challenging, and you'll constantly be on edge as you push towards setting a personal best.

The physics are rock solid, and there's a tangible difference between the different surfaces. Throw in different weather conditions and night driving, and there's already a veritable feast of challenge to engage rally fans. Recently added hillclimbs and the career mode offer plenty for players to sink their teeth into, though obviously the final offering will be better fleshed out and more complete.

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We had issue when trying our hand at the daily challenge (there's global leaderboards that players can compete in), with the game suffering serious performance issues. There's weekly and monthly challenges too, and some of these events will provide you with the cars you need to compete, while others will require you to have a certain vehicle in your own personal collection before letting you get involved.

There's a growing selection of rally cars, ranging from all-time classics through to newer offerings. As you'd expect from a game leaning towards simulation (and from a studio of this calibre) they all handle differently, with multiple variables pushing different rides towards better suitability on different surfaces. As you race through the career mode you'll earn the credits needed to grow your crew, as well as unlock new cars to expand your garage and thus the range of races on offer.

While car physics and handling is undeniably decent, the star of the show as far as we're concerned is the courses themselves. There's five different locations in the game now. We started off with courses that veined their way through Greece (Argolis), Monaco (Monte Carlo) and Wales (Powys), and these have since been complemented by new locations in Germany (Baumholder) and the USA (Pikes Peak). The courses and their respective stages are varied and, most importantly, hugely challenging. Each has a life of its own and demands total focus. Failure to follow the instructions of your co-driver as he guides you through corners and along undulating roads will mean it won't be long before your hurtling off the track and your time has taken a huge dent.

There's an unparalleled sense of danger to the racing in Dirt Rally, and ultimately that's what sets it apart from other racers on the proverbial track. Even restarting a race is a punishable offence here, and damage can carry over between stages, which heaps further weight atop each moment and every split-second decision. At all times you need to respect the road you're on, and hold your nerve despite the tension that follows you around every corner like a ghost car floating in your rearview mirror.

There's already a very polished rally game on offer here, and with Codemasters planning on adding more content as it moves through the Early Access process, it's only going to get bigger and better. There's great variety when it comes to the twisty tracks, a quality built on by the selection of distinctive rides that players are given to drive. It offers a pure experience that both rally fans and race enthusiasts will appreciate, and even in its current unfinished state - and perhaps because it's only going to get more expensive as it nears completion - it's easy to recommend.

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Dirt RallyScore

Dirt Rally

REVIEW. Written by Petter Hegevall

"It's the most realistic rally game of all time."



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