Reviewed: Dirt 3

There is nothing better for any hot-blooded man (and some women) to drive as fast as their wheels will carry them. It might be an instinctual feeling, but humans have been in the pursuit to go as fast as they can ever since the invention of any form of transport.

And with different forms of transport, man has had the urge to drive over, under, around and through almost anything. So taking evolution and instinct to the next level, game developer Codemasters has once again released another instalment in the hugely-popular off-road racing Dirt franchise.

Dirt 3, fast becoming the best off-road and rally game on the market, has truly taken things to new heights and speeds with the introduction of a whole set of new features and an exciting new Gymkhana mode.

Right out of the gate, players will immediately notice that the graphics have been given a significant boost. Small details have not been forgotten, while still focusing on the more important aspects of the title.

In fact, it’s the best graphics that Codemasters have produced in any game so far. During the opening sequence, ambassador Ken Block can be seen driving his rally car out of a truck, and one could be forgiven to think that it’s a typical cut-scene. But it is in fact in-game graphics and players can expect that standard throughout the game.

But it’s not just the cars that look absolutely beautiful. The scenery along the roads and tracks from the various international locations has faithfully been recreated, even down to localised spectators. Dust looks realistic, but it’s not all about the exterior view – the different vehicles all have distinctive upholstery and dashboard gadgets.

Another major factor that put Dirt 3 into a league of its own is the game’s sound. While playing on a surround sound system, players will be able to hear even the smallest of changes in the distinctive engines, and the spectators are no exception. Cheers, whistles and clapping hands can all be heard as the rally cars fly by – even the bells of goats when driving in Kenya.

In terms of game mechanics and controls, the latter has been kept the same as with previous titles. It makes it a bit easier for new players, while still keeping it fairly simple for returning gamers. But naturally there is a couple of control set-ups that will cater for the experienced drivers as well as newcomers.

As with previous versions – albeit tweaked a bit – drivers will have to rack up a certain number of points before they can continue to the next event. Some of the races can be very daunting, but perseverance is key. The only problem is that Codemasters left out the Raid T4 trucks, which was present in the first game.

But besides for the usual array of off-road vehicles and modes, Dirt 3 includes a new Gymkhana mode. In it, players are tasked to drive around an obstacle course as quickly as possible, while stacking up points from jumping, drifting, doing doughnuts and generally just kicking up dust.

It’s a lot of fun – if players know what they are doing – otherwise it will quickly become a mangled mess of dust and metal. But once players complete the short tutorial lessons, the only enemy will be the countdown-timer.

Dirt 3 is really a lot of fun, and players familiar with any form of off-road and rally racing will immediately be at home. From the fantastic graphics, to the crystal-clear vehicle and spectator sounds to the simple controls, Dirt 3 is the ultimate package when talking rally. It’s a must-buy for any fan who is even remotely interested in the sport.

Distributed through Megarom in South Africa, Dirt 3 is available on Xbox360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

By Charlie Fripp – Consumer editor