I have been a big fan of the Colin McRae Rally games for many years now, starting with the originals on the PC.
This is the first Colin McRae game I have played on any console, and none better than the most powerful of them all the Playstation 3.
The first thing that hits you when you start playing this game is the jaw dropping graphics, okay I know thats all we ever seem to hear about PS3 games, but there is good reason.
It seems like the makers of this game have gone all out to impress, with astounding graphics, awesome sound effects and amazing gameplay.
And thats what it all comes down to, and what will keep you coming back, the gameplay. I wont bore you with the various different career options, or the different tracks and so on, just know there is loads for you to do, and you wont be getting bored any time soon.
The physics of this game feel spot on, and with a good force feedback steering wheel, it is the next best thing to driving one of these cars yourself.
If you are like me, one of the best things in such games is the crashes, and boy does this game deliver. Crank your car into top gear, put your foot down and drive straight into a wall or fence! So much fun, and watching your car flying through the air as parts of the bodywork fly off is extremely satisfying.
A great game that is without doubt the new must-have driving game on the PS3
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sounds: 8/10
Overall: 9/10
Colin McRae: DiRT™
Colin McRae: DIRT takes traditional rally and turns it into an exhilarating thrill ride through a massive range of off-road racing experiences on gravel, mud and dirt, right across the globe. In any mode, on any surface, the car handling is sublime, the physics system thrillingly accurate and the damage effects are devastating.
Driving Colin McRae: DIRT’s damage system is Codemasters’ proprietary engine, Neon. Delivering the most detailed vehicle and environment damage effects, the soft body damage system replicates perfect deformation on any vehicle from any impact - from a paint scrape to a roof crumpling to the roll cage. Entire wheel and spring tyre sections can rip off spoilers and bumpers can snap into separate pieces.
Each individual car is modelled to a fine degree of accuracy, with car specific weak points and strengths, ensuring that they will break, bend, warp and disintegrate realistically and in fantastic detail.
The engine also provides for a totally destructible environment thanks to dynamic physics on track objects. Crash into a wall at speed and it will smash into its individual bricks and stones, branches will snap off trees and go flying onto your opponent’s windscreen and signposts and other roadside objects can be knocked flying from the force of an impact.
For racers who to want feel the force of an impact, Colin McRae: DIRT supports a range of force feedback steering wheels. Every bump in the road, every loose rock and every inch of shifting gravel is represented by subtle vibrations and resistance forces as your vehicle’s tyres interact with the track surface. All effects are dictated by the game’s physics and, when a vehicle collides with rough ground or another car, the resulting forces make for a grip wrenching experience.
Colin McRae: DIRT will also be compatible with many wheels originally purchased for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system gaming. Wheels are fully configurable from action assignments to steering linearity, dead zones and saturation. Players will also hear the impact thanks to an advanced audio system. On the PLAYSTATION 3 system, one 3.2 GHz SPU vector co-processor is dedicated to audio and delivers 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound.
Colin McRae: DiRT is set to skid into stores on Friday, 14th September for the PLAYSTATION®3 system. With the demo now available from PlayStation Store.
