Took the plunge today and boy was it worth it, totaly lives up to the expectations, stunning visually and pretty much polished (already) hardcore rally sim. There is nothing to compare it with in the rally genre really am quite amazed Codemasters took the bold step to move away from the arcade style the Dirt series has normally taken.
No Ken Block or other bollocks, just a full on realistic rally sim, you won't perfect it overnight and you'll be cursing numerous times, meaning it won't be for everyone and it took some setting up to get the wheel configuration sorted etc. but once you're ready to run you won't be let down, ticks all the boxes for me so far. The co-driver notes and turn icons on screen all bring back happy memories of Colin McRae Rally 2.0 and Richard Burn Rally from back in the day. Yes you have to go back ten or twelve years to find a rally game not made very arcade like to please the masses.
I've only tried the FWD 60's Mini so far but handles as you would expect. Progress is rewarded with CR which which you can buy upgrades, more cars etc etc.
Stage lengths are four minutes plus and intially you'll do well to even get to the end without writing off your car, the game is harsh, but fair, one wrong move and you could be down a cliff and your car totalled quite easily.
Usual assists are available if you wish to use them, auto gears, TCS, ABS, Stability aid, there are five different AI levels ranging from pretty easy to Master, even the middle difficulty is a stern challenge, and six views from bumper to in car to chase cam.
14 cars from the sixties right up to now, and 36 tracks (12 stages x 3 Countries so far) are included so far with many more updates promised (Codemasters have said the game will not contain any microtransaction).
List of free content updates to Early Access buyers
I'm playing with a Driving Force GT wheel and pedals and on the Ultra setting - which very rarely drops below 60fps on my 3GB R9 280 graphics card, average is 75fps with the built in benchmark run. Night races are superb and the replays a joy to watch.
The Codemasters release blurb covers everything really any questions just ask.
A decent write up of early impressions here too
No Ken Block or other bollocks, just a full on realistic rally sim, you won't perfect it overnight and you'll be cursing numerous times, meaning it won't be for everyone and it took some setting up to get the wheel configuration sorted etc. but once you're ready to run you won't be let down, ticks all the boxes for me so far. The co-driver notes and turn icons on screen all bring back happy memories of Colin McRae Rally 2.0 and Richard Burn Rally from back in the day. Yes you have to go back ten or twelve years to find a rally game not made very arcade like to please the masses.
I've only tried the FWD 60's Mini so far but handles as you would expect. Progress is rewarded with CR which which you can buy upgrades, more cars etc etc.
Stage lengths are four minutes plus and intially you'll do well to even get to the end without writing off your car, the game is harsh, but fair, one wrong move and you could be down a cliff and your car totalled quite easily.
Usual assists are available if you wish to use them, auto gears, TCS, ABS, Stability aid, there are five different AI levels ranging from pretty easy to Master, even the middle difficulty is a stern challenge, and six views from bumper to in car to chase cam.
14 cars from the sixties right up to now, and 36 tracks (12 stages x 3 Countries so far) are included so far with many more updates promised (Codemasters have said the game will not contain any microtransaction).
List of free content updates to Early Access buyers
Pikes Peak Pack
Scheduled date May 2015
Pikes Peak returns to DiRT. Rebuilt from the ground up and now featuring the modern full tarmac route alongside the mixed surface variant. We’ll also be including a full Hillclimb season mode and putting some Hillclimb Online events into the rotation. Obviously you’re going to need some wheels and you’ll find a collection of hillclimb cars added too.
Tarmac Terrors
Scheduled date June 2015
This month we’re heading to Germany to tackle some of the most technical and challenging tarmac stages in the world.
Classic Icons
Scheduled date June 2015
This collection of classic rally cars are the cream of the crop, true rallying legends from days gone by and some of the finest machines you’ll ever have the privilege of driving.
Rallycross Pack
Scheduled date July 2015
Rallycross comes to DiRT Rally with two brand new circuits, a pack of rallycross super cars, a brand new single player career and of course fresh Online Events.
PVP Pack
Scheduled date August 2015
Competitive multiplayer comes to DiRT Rally for the first time.
Rallycross Expansion
Scheduled date August 2015
Launching alongside the PVP Pack we’re also adding new cars and a new Rallycross circuit to the DiRT Rally roster.
Flying Finland
Scheduled date September 2015
We head to Finland for some of the fastest sections of road in rally with two legendary cars from two legendary drivers to go with it.
Modern Masters
Scheduled date October 2015
A whole new class of car for you to master in career containing some firm fan favourites
Winter Wonderland
Scheduled date November 2015
With a new environment to tackle and new cars to master can you keep your cool in this winter wonderland?
Scheduled date May 2015
Pikes Peak returns to DiRT. Rebuilt from the ground up and now featuring the modern full tarmac route alongside the mixed surface variant. We’ll also be including a full Hillclimb season mode and putting some Hillclimb Online events into the rotation. Obviously you’re going to need some wheels and you’ll find a collection of hillclimb cars added too.
Tarmac Terrors
Scheduled date June 2015
This month we’re heading to Germany to tackle some of the most technical and challenging tarmac stages in the world.
Classic Icons
Scheduled date June 2015
This collection of classic rally cars are the cream of the crop, true rallying legends from days gone by and some of the finest machines you’ll ever have the privilege of driving.
Rallycross Pack
Scheduled date July 2015
Rallycross comes to DiRT Rally with two brand new circuits, a pack of rallycross super cars, a brand new single player career and of course fresh Online Events.
PVP Pack
Scheduled date August 2015
Competitive multiplayer comes to DiRT Rally for the first time.
Rallycross Expansion
Scheduled date August 2015
Launching alongside the PVP Pack we’re also adding new cars and a new Rallycross circuit to the DiRT Rally roster.
Flying Finland
Scheduled date September 2015
We head to Finland for some of the fastest sections of road in rally with two legendary cars from two legendary drivers to go with it.
Modern Masters
Scheduled date October 2015
A whole new class of car for you to master in career containing some firm fan favourites
Winter Wonderland
Scheduled date November 2015
With a new environment to tackle and new cars to master can you keep your cool in this winter wonderland?
The Codemasters release blurb covers everything really any questions just ask.
Welcome to DiRT Rally - a new world of DiRT. A pure expression of rally, the pinnacle of off-road motor racing and it begins now, in Early Access, with regular free updates including new locations, new game modes and new vehicles.
DiRT Rally captures the essence of what makes rally unique – that sense of trying to remain in control of your emotions, as you hurtle along dangerous, undulating roads at breakneck speed, aiming to squeeze everything out of your car whilst knowing that one crash could irreparably harm your stage time. It’s the ultimate test of a driver’s skill, and it’s the ultimate in high risk, high reward gameplay.
Every stage will test you differently, as you feel out grip across varying surfaces and adapt your style to a range of different weather types. As the car suffers attrition you’ll need to account for mechanical damage whilst your dedicated rally team tries to keep you competitive with time-limited repairs between stages. As stages string together, each rally becomes a marathon-like test of concentration and skill, as you trust in your co-driver and your own ability to react and adapt, in order to stay competitive and chase that ever-elusive perfect run.
• DiRT RALLY AND THE COMMUNITY: The community is DiRT Rally’s co-driver and their feedback will help shape the evolution of the experience. For players joining DiRT Rally in Early Access and the road ahead, the team want their feedback. They’ll be helping to test theories and providing vital data that will help to refine DiRT Rally.
• EXPERIENCE 3 MASSIVE NEW REAL-WORLD RALLY LOCATIONS: From the start of Early Access, DiRT Rally offers three massive environments and 36 challenging stages, with more to follow. Drive them during the day - in dry, overcast, sunny, misty, wet, rainy and snowy conditions - and then take them on at night for a very different, intense experience that will challenge the elite.
• Powys, Wales - Muddy, wet gravel stages and forest runs often in the rain during the day and at night.
• Monte Carlo, Monaco – Tight, twisting, dangerous roads covered with snow and ice that wind through the Alps. Snow and mist affect visibility during the day and at night.
• Argolis, Greece – Sweeping dusty gravel stages that take their toll on even the strongest rally cars in the intense heat of the Mediterranean in the bright daylight or at night.
• 14 CARS OVER 6 NEW AND CLASSIC CLASSES TO DRIVE NOW: Rally is about having the right car and DiRT Rally will have all of the right cars. At the start of Early Access, DiRT Rally delivers 14 cars and will be adding more cars over more classes in the future.
• NEW DRIVING MODEL: The physical simulation for DIRT Rally has been completely rebuilt to adequately capture how it feels to race across changing surfaces, and loose surfaces collect under the wheels during lateral sliding, creating a completely new feel to sliding around corners.
• RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, RALLY ASYNC & CUSTOM RALLY EVENTS: Take on a single stage and learn the calls in Custom Rally events, compete against increasingly skilled opposition in Rally Seasons or prove yourself against the entire community of players in Rally Async challenges.
• TEAM MANAGEMENT: Hire up to four engineering staff to work on your vehicle between stages. Drill down and hire them based on their contract length, wage demands, and on the insight they can offer over upgrades to the vehicles you own. Keep renewing an engineer’s contract and you’ll be able to give them perks that will help upgrade specific vehicles faster.
• UPGRADES: As you drive a vehicle in events your engineers will become more familiar with it and will research upgrades that will unlock the full potential of the car. DiRT Rally’s comprehensive upgrade system makes meaningful improvements to the car’s handling and performance to stay competitive
• TUNING: Delivering the most comprehensive tuning system ever in a DiRT game, DiRT Rally enables players to tune their cars based on weather conditions, car condition and more to ensure they can refine their setup and get the car feeling right for their driving style.
• DAMAGE & REPAIRS: Off-road racing is tough and unforgiving; competing causes vehicles to suffer wear and tear as replicated by DiRT Rally’s comprehensive mechanical damage system. Thankfully, damage can be repaired by hiring eEngineers to work in the team’s Service Area between stages. Much as in the Colin McRae Rally games, there’s a finite amount of time to repair cars between rally stages.
• PHYSICS-BASED ASSISTS: Being fast is about skill, not raw speed. Whilst DiRT Rally allows players to experience cars in their purest form it also offers a selection of real world assists, similar to those seen in race and road vehicles. Traction Control works to minimise wheel spin, ABS increases your braking ability by preventing the wheels from locking up and Stability Control keeps your car from over rotating in the corners.
DiRT Rally captures the essence of what makes rally unique – that sense of trying to remain in control of your emotions, as you hurtle along dangerous, undulating roads at breakneck speed, aiming to squeeze everything out of your car whilst knowing that one crash could irreparably harm your stage time. It’s the ultimate test of a driver’s skill, and it’s the ultimate in high risk, high reward gameplay.
Every stage will test you differently, as you feel out grip across varying surfaces and adapt your style to a range of different weather types. As the car suffers attrition you’ll need to account for mechanical damage whilst your dedicated rally team tries to keep you competitive with time-limited repairs between stages. As stages string together, each rally becomes a marathon-like test of concentration and skill, as you trust in your co-driver and your own ability to react and adapt, in order to stay competitive and chase that ever-elusive perfect run.
• DiRT RALLY AND THE COMMUNITY: The community is DiRT Rally’s co-driver and their feedback will help shape the evolution of the experience. For players joining DiRT Rally in Early Access and the road ahead, the team want their feedback. They’ll be helping to test theories and providing vital data that will help to refine DiRT Rally.
• EXPERIENCE 3 MASSIVE NEW REAL-WORLD RALLY LOCATIONS: From the start of Early Access, DiRT Rally offers three massive environments and 36 challenging stages, with more to follow. Drive them during the day - in dry, overcast, sunny, misty, wet, rainy and snowy conditions - and then take them on at night for a very different, intense experience that will challenge the elite.
• Powys, Wales - Muddy, wet gravel stages and forest runs often in the rain during the day and at night.
• Monte Carlo, Monaco – Tight, twisting, dangerous roads covered with snow and ice that wind through the Alps. Snow and mist affect visibility during the day and at night.
• Argolis, Greece – Sweeping dusty gravel stages that take their toll on even the strongest rally cars in the intense heat of the Mediterranean in the bright daylight or at night.
• 14 CARS OVER 6 NEW AND CLASSIC CLASSES TO DRIVE NOW: Rally is about having the right car and DiRT Rally will have all of the right cars. At the start of Early Access, DiRT Rally delivers 14 cars and will be adding more cars over more classes in the future.
• NEW DRIVING MODEL: The physical simulation for DIRT Rally has been completely rebuilt to adequately capture how it feels to race across changing surfaces, and loose surfaces collect under the wheels during lateral sliding, creating a completely new feel to sliding around corners.
• RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, RALLY ASYNC & CUSTOM RALLY EVENTS: Take on a single stage and learn the calls in Custom Rally events, compete against increasingly skilled opposition in Rally Seasons or prove yourself against the entire community of players in Rally Async challenges.
• TEAM MANAGEMENT: Hire up to four engineering staff to work on your vehicle between stages. Drill down and hire them based on their contract length, wage demands, and on the insight they can offer over upgrades to the vehicles you own. Keep renewing an engineer’s contract and you’ll be able to give them perks that will help upgrade specific vehicles faster.
• UPGRADES: As you drive a vehicle in events your engineers will become more familiar with it and will research upgrades that will unlock the full potential of the car. DiRT Rally’s comprehensive upgrade system makes meaningful improvements to the car’s handling and performance to stay competitive
• TUNING: Delivering the most comprehensive tuning system ever in a DiRT game, DiRT Rally enables players to tune their cars based on weather conditions, car condition and more to ensure they can refine their setup and get the car feeling right for their driving style.
• DAMAGE & REPAIRS: Off-road racing is tough and unforgiving; competing causes vehicles to suffer wear and tear as replicated by DiRT Rally’s comprehensive mechanical damage system. Thankfully, damage can be repaired by hiring eEngineers to work in the team’s Service Area between stages. Much as in the Colin McRae Rally games, there’s a finite amount of time to repair cars between rally stages.
• PHYSICS-BASED ASSISTS: Being fast is about skill, not raw speed. Whilst DiRT Rally allows players to experience cars in their purest form it also offers a selection of real world assists, similar to those seen in race and road vehicles. Traction Control works to minimise wheel spin, ABS increases your braking ability by preventing the wheels from locking up and Stability Control keeps your car from over rotating in the corners.
Just seen my GFX card is still available for ?27 lol
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