DiRT

Finally I got a chance to try out Colin Mc Rae's DiRT game for PS3. It was out already for a while for XBox360, but had some frame rate issues. Allegedly that got addressed for the later release on PS3.

The graphics are superb, the sound is fantastic and the user interface pretty good. Even two different inside views. But all is not well as the FFB is pretty lousy: Critics said the cars were floating on XBox360 and things haven't really much improved on PS3. Obviously a rally car on dirt always tends to float a bit and when they're driving on concrete it isn't that bad. And there is actually some FFB, or rather effects. But there isn't enough to really tell you whether the car understeers or oversteers. But then again the game is rather forgiving in its physics, so it seems to not matter as much. It reminded me a bit of PGR4, which I ceased playing for that very same reason.

So what keeps me going on DiRT? Well, it has Pikes Peak. Dunno yet how much of it, so far I have only come across the very first part where it changes from road to dirt, but still within the trees. Hopefully there'll be more as I unlock more levels.

It also features the Ferrari powered Stratos. Here some pictures:
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Not to hijack my own thread, but there is a difference between PGR3 and PGR4 re: FFB: PGR3 has none whatsoever. PGR4 has some FFB, but not enough to really tell you what the car is doing.

DiRT has also not much FFB, but it matters a bit less: Since the straights are so short between turns the racing comes more down to a reaction game than trying to feel the car. With a F1 car it is all about finding the limit of tire adhesion, getting the apex perfect and hitting that perfect braking point. Rally is more about avoiding the trees.

BTW: Unlocked a couple more Pikes Peak tracks. Perfect for practicing the real thing.

 

I don't play online. Just happy to unlock Pikes Peak and practice.

 

Yeah, the stats they run while loading a track are pretty cool. Looks like I'm best on tarmac as well. No surprise there. Three more tracks to unlock and I'm at the top of the pyramid.

The game is really stunning in its graphics. Those endless rally routes and hill climbs through villages and hills etc are so detailed, it is amazing. If they'd thrown in some Ferraris and some FFB, this game would be the absolute killer. Vice versa I think games like Forza 2 and GT5 should take a look at these routes: I mean this is a lot more realistic and closer to home than any of the tracks, particularly the fictitious ones: I like to take my car up the hill through towns and villages etc, much more than taking it to a track and that's exactly what this game offers you.

 

Here some of my stats. Not that they are anything grand, but maybe an incentive for some of you guys to post yours:

Highest jump: 4.16 m
Longest Jump: 48.29 m
Longest distance on 2 wheels: 39.22m
Longest slide: 58.97m
Longest distance without crashing: 15.28 km
Fastest speed: 219.04 km/h
Distance travelled: 527.63 km
Total driving time: 5 hrs 34 min

Pikes Peak in the Toyota Tacoma: 8:35 min

 

You can switch to metric in the options menu.

198 feet is about 60 meters. So you probably just beat my slide.

 

Same here.

Japan has an amazing rally through villages etc.

I got the game for Pikes Peak, but I also like the events where you get to drive a Stratos. Unfortunately, those Italian rallies are just plain horrible.

Surprisingly I enjoy the trucks. Didn't expect that. Particularly the hill climbs are fun.

Those Baja trucks are the absolute worst: Uncontrolled flying through the air with the bonnet covering the windshield wildly crashing onto the next hill. Eventually I figured it out, but it ain't fun and I can only imagine the pain the real jumps cause.