14 DAY TRIAL // Just because you don't own a car doesn't mean that you can't play Dirt. Although it's pretty sophisticated in terms of custom setting your car, actual gameplay footage shows that you don't have to be a pro to play the game, nor will you be able to play it right if you don't learn the physics and car behavior on each surface.
Whether you're running on tarmac or on a dirt road, dry weather or wet, Dirt is the best racing arcade game at the moment, having the features of a driving simulator as well. In the video, all essential features are shown. For example:
- acceleration from the starting point is a very important aspect: dirt is not the kind of game where you just hold down the X button as the lights turn green; - the sensation of speed is at high point, even when the speedometer shows a mere 100km/h, while car behavior on rough turns and impact with other objects don't screw up your game, thus giving it that arcade-ish touch that makes a racing game fun to play; - shifting through views takes quite some time, if narrower turns will have you doing so, in order to see closer to the inner side; - sound effects: need I say more...? While shifting through gears, you can actually hear the engine purring like a baby tiger, while with other games of the genre, the engine either sounds almost the same, or not at all. - and last, but not least, looks: well, not everything can be perfect with a game - tarmac surfaces look superb, while dirt parts could be more realistic, but overall everything else looks good.
Oh and that commentary at the end of the race, yeah... kind of nerdy if you ask me.
All this being said, I'm sure that actual footage from GameVideos will have more to say than I did, so check out the DiRT 'Rallycross' gameplay video (PS3) right away.