Title Formats
1 LA NOIRE PS3,XBOX360
2 DIRT 3 PS3,XBOX360
3 LEGO POTC NDS,PS3,PSP,Wii,XBOX360
4 BRINK PC,PS3,XBOX360
5 FIFA 11 NDS,PC,PS3,PSP,Wii,XBOX360
6 ZUMBA FITNESS PS3,Wii,XBOX360
7 COD 7 BLACK OPS. PC,PS3,XBOX360
8 PORTAL 2 PC,PS3,XBOX360
9 MORTAL KOMBAT 9 PS3,XBOX360
10 KINECT SPORTS XBOX360
Dirt 3
Solid driving games are tough to come by when they’re not called Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport. Both of these series seem to have the genre in a stranglehold, but with two driving sims dominating the scene, there is always room for an arcade-style racer, and that’s where Dirt 3 comes in.
Dirt 3 is the new rally car racer from Codemasters, and (obviously) it’s their third attempt with the series. In the interest of full disclosure, I have never played Dirt 1 or 2 so I won’t be able to comment on improvements or fallbacks from the previous installments, but it will be a different take on the game since I’ll be reviewing this as a standalone title.
Dirt 3 is all about style, and this is evident from the get-go. The start up screen and menu system are both gorgeous, and while this doesn’t add any intrinsic value to the gameplay, it does show added production value - not to mention, it’s just a nice touch. The menus consist of pyramids that unfold into triangles that represent different events. Each season is a new pyramid. Text doesn’t do it justice, but it is pretty crafty.
This game is more than just pretty menus. When you get behind the wheel and race your first rally event, you’ll experience some fun, fast-paced, rally action. Style is on display once again with gorgeous environments and courses from Kenya to the U.S. You’ll race on gravel, dirt, tarmac, and even on snow-covered cliffs, and each surface feels different. Some races will switch terrain mid-course, which makes the realism of drifting into a turn while going from gravel to tarmac quite apparent.
There are many different race types in Dirt 3. You have your classic rally, where cars have staggered starts. These races were my personal favorites, because they put you on a narrow course and it’s you against the clock. You have a crew member constantly communicating in your headset who tells you what lies ahead on the track, whether it’s a medium or hairpin curve, a jump, or to stay on the inside because drifting off course would send you off a cliff.
Accidents will happen though, and Dirt 3 gives you a replay system similar to Forza, but here you only get five of them and you get more credit if you don’t use them. This is a great system that keeps the player from just abusing the replay system that seems to be a standard in today’s racers.
Gearheads may be disappointed by the lack of customization or the ability to even buy cars. Different from almost every other racer out there, Dirt 3 has no money system, but rather you unlock new cars as you go. The single player tour mode is set up like you are an up-and-coming driver who has just been signed to a nice four-season contract. As you improve, sponsors send you new cars. This way to discover new cars is fun, and the custom rally paint jobs are excellent looking, but I would have liked to be able to create my own custom paint jobs.
My personal favorite feature of Dirt 3 is its YouTube integration. If you have a YouTube account, you can cut a small clip from your replays and upload it straight to YouTube. It’s so simple and fantastic that I’m shocked that more games don’t have this ability.
Multiplayer is also here. It’s a pretty standard affair as you can play each different event in an online competition whether it’s a drift, rally, or multiple car race. It will keep you coming back once you finish the tour mode if you still need to satisfy your racing fix.
Dirt 3 is one of the best arcade-style racers out there. Don’t expect a perfect racing simulation. It’s not that type of game, but that’s not its intention. There is a slight learning curve to this game, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be tearing up the turns and taking home first place trophies.
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