Codemasters has released a lot of great racing experiences over the years. Now a new experience is available on Steam which focuses on more of a Rally car simulation than the usual arcade feel titles we’re used to from them. Using an all new physics model, gamers can take part in early access development of this title right now!
DiRT Rally is interesting in that it seems to keep in a realistic realm. Damage is always on and you can repair your car at certain breaks along the way. Rally races are split up into four separate races, giving you a break between long winding stretches. In my experience so far, races can last upwards of twenty minutes or more.
Graphically, the game is beautiful! The scenery is great to look at and like with previous titles from Codemasters, there is a good mix of things to look at. A lot of the areas you pass feel realistic. The current three areas are based on real world locations including Powys, Wales which features a muddy drive through the woods, Monte Carlo, Monaco with it’s snowy roadways, and finally Argolis, Greece which is a dry gravel sort of rally course with sprawling hills surrounding the countryside. This currently includes 36 stages across these three areas with more to come.
This is early access don’t forget, so unfortunately there are glitches. The only one I’ve run into seems minor, but kind of ruins the simulation experience for the time being. My co-driver doesn’t give any feedback at all during the races. So we’ll drive head long out of the woods, see a cliff in the distance, and it’s only when we’re toppling down the hillside that he utters his displeasure. It’s a known issue so hopefully it will be resolved quickly. I’d originally just thought the game was incredibly unforgiving, not knowing I was supposed to be getting much more assistance than I was. Unfortunately even visual prompts don’t show up. So again, it’s early access, but keep that in mind if you do decide to dive in.
So again, this is a simulation game. You can’t rewind or anything like that besides pressing a button to get back on the road with a penalty if you go off track. Below you can see how the game is meant to play. It’s a great example of how DiRT Rally is played by the YouTube channel MotoGamesTV.
