DiRT Rally Reviews
A stunning return to Dirt's routes. Truly worthwhile.
Not a game for those wanting to master it from the get go, the payoff is well worth the effort put into DiRT Rally.
DiRT Rally delivers on its promise of full simulation and then some, with an unrelenting, unforgiving rally experience and all the glory of eventual victory to go with it. The trinkets around rallying could do with some maintenance, but this is a game that can only get better - and it's already leaving many competitors in its smoke.
It may not have the WRC cars and courses but it's easily the best rally simulation available.
I have nothing but praise for Codemasters' return to the muddy motorsport of rally. This might be barebones when it comes to its presentation, but with the loudness stripped away, what is here, and what matters, is the amazing execution of its gameplay. Dirt Rally is a visceral monster of a rally game, bringing an additive and unforgiving driving model that makes it all so more rewarding when a stage goes right.
Codemasters have crafted an almost perfect racing game with Dirt Rally. Some players might balk at not sharing the road with other racers, but the true rally experience is represented here in spades. Failures on the track are painful. Success is glorious. This is a title that rewards paying attention and thinking as much as it does raw skill. Some graphical peculiarities might pop up here and there, but these are only slight blemishes on an otherwise outstanding title.
DiRT Rally isn’t a game of player vs competitor, but a trial by fire as the battle between driver and machine rages on throughout a punishing gameplay experience that is as much frustrating as it is rewarding as you improve your driving skills over time. But as immersive as the game is when it comes to its core gameplay, the setup of the game when it comes to the career mode and the limited scale make DiRT Rally more of a side-stop, albeit one that shows great promise for the future of the franchise.
The DiRT game that rally fans have been craving, DiRT Rally is a triumphant return to form that every self-respecting video game racing aficionado needs to own. Don't be put off by the steep learning curve, DiRT Rally is worth getting to grips with; it's super rewarding and ultimately a fantastic rally title. Pretty much one of the best of all time, in fact.
This is the game rally fans have been waiting for. DiRT Rally boasts a simple title that reflects its deceptively simple goal: to be the best rally game, or even the best racing game, released to date. While they may fall a little short of being the best racing game ever made due to its purposely limited scope, DiRT Rally is by far the best rally game we've ever seen. DiRT Rally sports world-class visuals, visceral, challenging racing, and true-to-life audio design. This is really a complete package for rally fans the world over.
DiRT Rally is an unforgiving, temperamental beast at times. But it's also the very best game in a genre that has been brought back to its purist roots with style and love.
Dirt Rally is a tough but hugely enjoyable racer that easily eclipses its competitors and is likely destined for the rally video game hall of fame.
If you're a hardcore rally racing fan then DiRT Rally is the best game that Codemasters has made. That said, it doesn't do a great job of helping new players get into the hang of things, which is very disappointing.
Codemasters has made some tough games in the past that make it difficult for newcomers to get in, and Dirt Rally is along the same lines – well, in a way. The game does require you to work to earn your keep and master your racing skills, but it does so with fluid controls and an outstanding presentation that keeps you on your toes at every turn. Eventually, it does offer an enriched experience that surpasses most of its other racers – including the classic Dirt games we love so much. This series has truly grown up, but in a very good way.
An impressive driving experience. Leaving aside the "glam" tone of Dirt 3 and Showdown, Codemasters synthesize in a game the true feeling of the discipline and the thrill of offroead racing. The console version is technically impressive, smooth as the PC counterpart.
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DiRT Rally is hands down the best rally game I have ever played – stand aside Richard Burns Rally, in fact it's the best Codemasters racing game I have ever played. Rally games have always been about accessibility and ease for the player and DiRT Rally went against the grain and came out on top. Amazing gameplay, brilliant aesthetics, the list is endless. You can tell the community has been involved and for that Codemasters has almost achieved Rally perfection.
A fantastic new addition to the Dirt franchise. Less approachable for new players but clearly the best outing from Codemasters in years.
This is how racing games should be - plenty to see, plenty to do and plenty to crash into. If you have any interest in the racing genre, if you remember the quality Codemasters games of the past or if you like titles that provide more than their fair share of value, Dirt Rally deserves to be on your watch list.
DiRT Rally is a tour de force for rally games, and a return to form for Codemasters. It is brutal, unforgiving, and most of all extremely rewarding for those that enjoy true rally games. It is not for everyone, and its simulation aspects will turn off a ton of gamers, but those willing to stick with it will find one of the most finely-crafted racing games of the generation.
If you've got the time and patience to overcome its seemingly impenetrable exterior, then Dirt Rally is a thrilling racing game that's best in its class. This is a game where satisfaction can be had with a podium finish and one where you'll feel a true sense of pride and joy for every hard-earned victory... as rare as they may be.
Dirt Rally is a true return to form for Codemasters' Dirt franchise and may be the company's best title to date.