PlayStation 3
XBox 360
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Product Features

Genre
Racing
Publisher
Codemasters
Release Date
May 24, 2011
Available Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 3, XBox 360

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Dirt 3

Codemasters Studios'' are back with a totally reinvigorated McRae experience for the first time on PlayStation 3. Colin McRae: DiRT will go beyond the series'' point-to-point rallying to deliver the most diverse selection of extreme off-road competitions ever. Sensational gravel, mud and dirt racing events from the world over will include perilous Hill Climb and collision-packed Rally Cross events. International rallying competitions will also feature, with official cars on tracks based on real roads and locations around the globe. Colin McRae: DiRT will also expand on beat-the-clock racing and include events with multiple cars on track to satisfy anyone who wants to push their on-the-edge driving and rallying ability just that bit further. With official cars and official events across a...

  • Thomas Young August 31, 2011 360
    ****

    The stunning graphics and easy to use controls makes this one of the best games in the driving category. This uses the same controls as older Colin Mcrae games on the playstation two. The unlockable features are good eg driver suit for Xbox avatar. Also a great carrear mode with a variety of races and challenges. All in all a great game

  • Matthew Harris August 24, 2011 360
    ****

    Codemasters' third iteration of the Dirt series could be one of the most fun and beautiful-looking racing games I have had the fortune to play! Having never played any of the other Dirt games, nor any Colin McRae games, I did not really know what to expect from this title.
    Upon loading the game for the first time, you are treated to a brief introduction to the Dirt 3 menu and various settings such as name and country of birth. From then on, you are free to continue the career mode as much as you like. This main mode of the game is separated into 4 'seasons' of racing, each with about 20 single events. Unlike other games of this genre, Dirt 3 does not use a system of money to buy new cars, instead opting for cumulative experience points with each major level offering new rewards such as cars and new events to try. This system, while very different from the norm, does offer a sense of continuing improvement for the player as they watch their 'driver level' slowly climbs up the ranks!
    During each race you are also able to complete a second objective, given to you by your car sponsor. These can range from reaching a certain speed to not getting damaged during the race. While they are certainly not the main part of any given event, it is very encouraging to see a little bit of effort put into making the races feel fresh each time you play them. Completing the objective will also net you extra experience points! Before racing, you have the chance to completely customise how many driver assists you would like to have on, such as assisted breaking and suggested line, as well as car settings like suspension and gears. Having all these options allows the player to tailor the driving experience while playing Dirt 3.
    Not only are there rally races in Dirt 3, but Codemasters have included several other challenges related to driving skill and finesse. These include drifting challenges and a mode called 'gymkhana'. Gymkhana is essentially where you score points by completing complex manoeuvres like a donut, car spin or jump. The cars in this mode have been re-tuned to allow for truly excessive amounts of tire spin and sliding about on the road. Getting used to this playstyle can take some time but, once mastered, gymkhana becomes a fresh and exciting experience that can be a welcome break from all the conventional races and rallies.
    One feature that I particularly enjoyed was being able to rewind any accident or mistake I made during any race or gymkhana event. Rewinding the last few seconds allows you to enjoy the race or event without worrying about mucking up and having to restart. However, you are limited to a maximum of 5 uses during any one event, and using them will reduce the overall experience you earn. This means that using a rewind wisely is quite an important lesson to learn in Dirt 3!
    In terms of graphics, Dirt 3 has some of the best to offer in any racing game out for Xbox 360. Using Codemasters' own EGO engine has allowed them to show off truly breathtaking visuals with a high level of detail. Cars and tracks alike have vivid colours and sharp focus that makes the overall experience very smooth and defined. Having played this on an HD TV for several hours, I was blown away by how clean and bright everything looks. Replaying a race video will give you the chance to marvel at all of the textures of snow, sand and dirt on the track as well as the amazingly life-like damage on your vehicle and the lighting effects when racing in the dark!
    As well as including a very fun and fulfilling career mode in Dirt 3, there are a few more modes that make the game feel that bit more robust. Included as a side section to the career is a free-roaming area known as the 'DC Compound'. This little extra area is literally just a big park filled with obstacles and a collection of challenges that gives you a bit of time to just relax and enjoy the stunning visuals of the game without having to worry about running out of time or completing any objectives you don't want to do. This area can also act as a kind of tutorial for the gymkhana section of the game, as the various obstacles and fun challenges are mirrored in the main career. Also included are split screen and single event modes that can be great fun with a few friends. Picking and choosing events from the massive list is nice compared to being forced to do them in order like in the career mode.
    While Dirt 3 is a fantastic and slightly arcade-like racing game, there are a few problems with it that stop it from being as good as it could be. Firstly, the menu design, while being quite striking and inventive, can be a pain to navigate around because there are no labels on most of the objects on the screen. The menu is also very slow to get through as each transition takes much longer than it really should. Getting from the main menu to a race takes too much time in my opinion.
    Secondly and finally, the announcers and commentators in the game are incredibly annoying every single time I hear them. Since there is no option to turn them off, you have to listen to their annoying voices and comments each time you start and finish a race or season. Not only that, but they also shamelessly and constantly tell you to upload your replay to YouTube (a nice feature if a bit useless) which can get very repetitive after you have been playing for a while. In the end, these are just minor problems that do not hinder the gaming experience too much.
    The online portion of the game is very enjoyable, with a few events and challenges reserved for this section only. Playing and racing with others online is quite fun, but does not detract away from the awesome experience of the single player career. With a good amount of downloadable cars and events available and more on the way, playing online will soon be just as important and playing the career.
    Dirt 3 is a great, but not perfect, rallying game with quite a lot of extra features thrown in to entice you as a gamer and driving enthusiast. The stunning graphics and engaging rallying experience will keep you entertained for a good 30-40 hours at least. With lots of challenges to complete and a rewind feature to make sure you don't get too frustrated, Dirt 3 can easily be the best driving game in your collection! Overall, I feel that Dirt 3 deserves 4 stars.