Before each race you can opt to set up your race car however you would like. Adjust the ride height, the differential or even the brakes you do not have to do this step, but for optimum performance this is a must, and will take some messing with to get right.
Once in the race the first thing you will notice is the graphics. All the visual aesthetics to this game are breathtaking from the swift rally cars to the environments. The sound of each vehicle is also expertly done. Each different class of vehicle sounds like you would expect and the drivers are also quite chatty which adds to the overall feel of the races.
Each race is pretty standard when compared to other race games. You will be racing through tight city streets and other times flying through the open plains. The one difference you will see in Dirt 2 from other races is the ability to flashback 8 – 10 seconds when you make a mistake. If you fly through a corner and get bumped into a tree and lose a wheel simply hit select rewind back a few seconds and try that corner again. This makes the overall races less frustrating since you can make a mistake or two and still have the chance to win the race with out restarting.
In Dirt 2 Codemasters really focused on the big name racers in the sport. So not only will you be racing alongside Ken Block and Travis Pastrana as well as others they also will talk to you during races, give you tips on certain races and if you impress them enough they will befriend you. They will also issue the occasional throw-down challenge which will pit you one on one with that particular driver in a winner take all. Besides competing against them you will also get the chance to compete with them on some of the buddy races which will take the total points of you and your teammates finishing position and put it up against other groups of racers.
The online in Dirt 2 has also seen a nice overhaul. Unlike the original Dirt you can compete side by side with other racers online. You can compete on any track with any vehicle which makes for some very interesting race setups that can be down right crazy. The online also has a very nice party system which will let you setup a room for just you and your friends and then compete in many races. Many hours can be spent trying out different track and vehicle layouts and usually is a blast.
This game really does not have a lot of flaws. The menu system is kind of lengthy with you having to go through five or six menus sometimes just to race, but that really was not a huge issue. Also sometimes the other drivers are to complementary this isn’t so bad just seems odd when you run Ken Block into the wall on the last corner to win and then he says wow you deserved that win. It just feels odd sometimes.
Besides these smaller issues I did have one major issue with the game no split screen. This is really a shame since it is a blast to play with friends in person and online and I could only imagine the fun of playing with someone else in the room. Sure it may have taken away from the overall graphics of the game, but sometimes a graphical sacrifice can add to a game; especially when it means more playtime with friends.
Overall Dirt 2 is an awesome game from the single player to the online it is a real blast. The graphics and sound are all top notch and the attention to detail are unmatched by a lot of other racers. Even with the lack of split screen this is a must own for anyone looking for a racer that mixes arcade and sim so seamlessly.
PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score
Extremely fun whether by yourself or online Lack of split screen is a real shame |
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Great graphics and top notch sound
