User Review : DiRT 2

Dirt 2 - Superficial fun you'll find enjoying more than you thought you would

Shock horror another racer Codemasters! After the fairly decent success of GRID Codies have used the same engine (again), and moved back to the mud for their latest release Dirt 2.

Dirt 2 is the squeal to the original Dirt (No shizz). Focusing the racing back to the muddy tracks of the Malaysian jungle to the Dusty roads of California.

I purchased the original Dirt but got bored very quickly and traded it in. Dirt 2 has managed to hold my attention for longer this time.

The driving and gameplay are great. In car view the game gets really intense, I'd find myself almost panting after a hard fought race. I personally love the way water splashes over the windscreen, it looks really really good and realistic and although your blinded for a few seconds it does add to the immersion, and does make you feel a little hardcore.

The AI is good and the handling is just right. It can be a little frustrating sometimes, it only takes a tap from a competitor to leave you upside down in a ditch. This is easily rectified by the "rewind" function seen in GRID. Although I don't particularly like this 'cheat' option I've had to use it quite a few times.

For a "Colin McRae" there's not enough emphasis on Rallying, it almost feels tacked on. I don't like the 'X games' style either, it seems to cheapen the experience and keeps reminding me I'm playing a game aimed a teenagers (In my opinion). Too many people say "dude" and the voice acting makes me shudder.

There's enough varied tracks, vehicles and Race types to keep you interested, and when you get stuck into a hard fought race it really is allot of fun, albeit very shallow.

Multiplayer is ok, there's not much that can added be to Online multiplayer racing, the netcode works well and its quite fun beating real people.