Codemasters launch the new rally era with a slick presentation and far more arcade-leaning handling than before. The feel is solid, the soundtrack revives podium memories, and the formula sets the table for a great series.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player3+
Description
Rally game by Codemasters, June 2007. Off-road and rally drivers race on dirt, gravel and snow tracks in varied disciplines - rally, hillclimb, buggy and truck. Realistic off-road driving sensations, varied global settings and Career and online multiplayer modes. First Codemasters Dirt franchise entry.
Dirt review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The first entry makes the in-car camera its argument: the windscreen is coated in mud thrown up by the vehicle ahead, the wipers clear two clean arcs, and your gaze has to work around that accumulated filth. Around it, each discipline brings its own terrain, red canyons, soaked forests, snowy passes, all filmed in natural light without effect.
The accompaniment withdraws the moment the start is given: on a stage there is only the engine, the stones under the shell and the co-driver's voice, a documentary treatment few racing games dared at the time. The music occupies only the menus and the summaries, wordless instrumental rock, and its absence on the road underlines the solitude of a crew in the forest.
A racing game from Codemasters, Dirt revives the Colin McRae series by widening rally to multiple off-road disciplines, from rallycross to truck racing, in a then impressive production and a stylish 3D menu presentation. The demanding yet rewarding driving model, the sense of speed and the variety of events make it a reference in off-road racing. The spread out content and a high difficulty call for investment. An excellent game for fans of rally, simulated driving and off-road racing on Xbox 360.
