But somehow the previous game had never quite hit the mark. This is what I expected the original Dirt to be like. Graphics are smooth and action is handled well, even on my very large projector everything holds together to provide a believable driving experience. This simply is the best way to access as much game reality as is available, and it really works here. As usual, I adopt my favourite, and in my opinion the only way to play, driver's seat viewpoint. The previous incarnation was hard to drive with the wheel, in fact I was regularly quicker using the standard controller and believe me there is nothing worse than having a few hundred quids worth of wheel setup sat in your front room taking up far too much space and finding you can go quicker without it!ĭirt 2 really brings the game into your living room and involves you as a driver. It's immediately clear, the feel of the car is a massive move forward for this series. It's immediately clear, the feel of the car is a massive move forward for this series.Īrmed with my G25 wheel and seat combo I floor the throttle to start a rally cross style - half gravel half tarmac - two lap sprint. It all looks very promising - this may well be quite good. True to form of the latest generation of driving games, you are fired into the action with ease and bombarded with stunning graphics, excellent sounds and of course those clever and attractive menus. This is all too much for me to handle, as a long time Colin McRae fan, so for the sake of the game I will rename it 'Ken Block and his mates (one of whom was Colin McRae) Dirt 2'.
It seems this is somewhat different to the Colin McRae we all knew and loved here in the UK, flying through the forests of Wales on two wheels in the Group A and then WRC rallies. This is Colin McRae as he was known in America. Well actually I think that is the point right there. I'm sure if he were here we may well have got some proper rallying in the style Colin is best known for.
The late, great Colin McRae lends his name to another game in the popular series from Codemasters. Although it's not the thorough bred rallying game I imagine Colin would be drawn to, it does him proud by keeping his name at the top of the video game rallying scene. Colin McRae Dirt 2 improves on last year's game in all areas.