DiRT

EL33TONLINE ( )

Disappointingly there is no head-to-head races in multiplayer mode, just “race against the clock” mode. At least there is some kind of offline multiplayer element (unlike Motorstorm) but they really could have gone the extra mile. One last moan – there is no rain or snow to be seen anywhere. It was on the PS2 and Xbox so why can’t the next generation consoles handle it? Hopefully it was a time constraint. Those small quibbles do not take anything away from the overall balance Codemasters has achieved with this game. What the next game holds in store for us is anyone’s guess. However, if this is the last game in the series (which I doubt) then I would tell you to fasten your seatbelt…and race down to the shops to buy it, before I kick DiRT in your face.

Cheat Code Central (4.7 out of 5)

Even though DiRT has a few faults, there is no denying that the game is the most fun you will have with a racer because, despite those faults, DiRT delivers on a level that is something to marvel from rally racers. If you are an asphalt loving racing fan, then this one you might want to stay away from, mainly due to the different mechanics put into rally games versus conventional racing games. However, if you love getting dirt stuck in places the sun don't shine or if you are looking for something fresh to suck you in, then DiRT is the racing game you have been wishing for.

Game Over Online (93 out of 100)

Despite its slight gameplay and extensive loading problems, DiRT still delivers the most exciting and rewarding racing action I’ve experienced on the 360, and the finest rally racing experience I’ve ever had in a game. After falling in love with Rallisport Challenge 2 a few years ago, I didn’t think anything could top it, but this extraordinary effort from Codemasters does just that, and has given me a new favorite racing series. If you’re new to it, or rally racing games, I recommend checking out the free Xbox Live demo, which can also be used for folks that are tentative due to the learning curve, as it’ll give you a chance to learn the mechanics of the gameplay without any pressure or cost. Long-time fans of the series, or rally racing games in general, can safely snag this without concern, as this is the genre’s finest offering to date.

Xboxdynasty (XD) (9.3 out of 10)

Colin McRae: DIRT begeistert durch Offroad-Rennaction mit modernstem Handling, Physiksystem und sich realistisch deformierendem Untergrund, der euch jede Unebenheit in der Fahrbahn, das Wegrutschen der Fahrzeuge im nassen Schlamm und jeden losen Stein auf der Strecke spüren lässt. Mit einer gigantischen Auswahl von Offroad-Rennautos, spektakulären Strecken, umfassenden Online-Mehrspieler-Modi und abwechslungsreicheren Rallye-Veranstaltungen als je zuvor kehrt Rallye-Legende Colin McRae ehrevoll auf die Xbox 360 zurück. Colin McRae DIRT ist ein Spiel das man haben muss. Ein umfangreicher Fuhrpark, etliche abwechslungsreiche Herausforderungen, eine traumhafte Grafik, ein genialer Mehrspielermodus und ein atemberaubendes Spielgefühl lassen Colin McRae DIRT mit dem Xboxdynasty Gold Award glänzen. Es ist dieser schmale Grad zwischen der perfekten Kurve und dem Auto im Graben was dieses Spiel so atemberaubend spannend macht.

GamersHell.com (9.1 out of 10)

Even if the online portion didn’t fare as well as we had hoped, there’s hardly anything bad to say about the single player career and championship modes. Racing in DiRT will make your heart pound and your hands sweat, but at the same time you’ll be yearning to floor it all the way through. The varied environments, wide selection of vehicles and game types, and the overall nature of this game all contribute to make DiRT a worthy competitor in the Xbox 360 racing genre.

Le Geek (4.5 out of 5)

DiRT offers nearly everything I was looking for in a racing game. While not as high concept as the Burnout series, I highly recommend it. As an early 360 title, it offers great (and cheap) thrills.

Gamestyle (9 out of 10)

DiRT is very much an offline game, so if you're looking for online thrills, look elsewhere, it does not deliver. What it does deliver, however, is a single player treat that is nothing short of fantastic. A lengthy career mode, not to mention the various rally championships to compete in, make this the definitive rally experience. DiRT 2 has a lot to live up to.

GamesAreFun.com (GAF) (9 out of 10)

Still, DiRT is this generation's best off-road racer by far, and it could arguably be called this gen's best racer period (so far). It's graphically impressive, fun to play, and features a wide variety of gameplay modes. It offers plenty of material that caters to the hardcore racing fan as well as to the casual pick-up-and-play gamer. Codemasters has really set a benchmark by which all future racing games will be judged, and you owe it to yourself to experience the sense of speed and intensity that grips you through the screen.

Totally Gaming Network (9 out of 10)

Colin McRae DiRT is hands down the finest game to have ever come out of Codemasters doors, and to go out on a limb and say it’s the best rally game ever made wouldn’t be too far from the truth. With a deep and rewarding career mode filled with plenty of thrills and tonnes of variation, Colin McRae DiRT is the perfect rally racer and an absolutely essential purchase for every 360 owner.

Good Game (9 out of 10)

Apart from that, theres not a whole lot that needs to be said about it. There's a purity to rally racers that give them the ability to attract new players to the genre, something that street racers can't do. There's no girls dancing around and no fully sick subwoofers. Just get to the end of the track and set a good time. I'm giving it 9/10 roadkill chickens.

XboxAddict (9 out of 10)

Well up until this day I thought I would never play another off-road rally game in my life. Well that all changed after playing the demo for DiRT after downloading if off the marketplace. What killed me the most was the overall looks of this game and well its amazing. You will love the effect this game has on your ability to drive a car or truck in any other game out there. Nothing compares to DiRT as you think it should. Especially with the mix of tracks and roads you will be driving on as you make your way to the top and its a long ways up there. The more you progress through, the more points you get unlocking tracks above your racing tier.

Official XBox Magazine (9 out of 10)

Really, Dirt’s only flaws are its quirky multiplayer (see sidebar, page 75) and its car lineup, which obviously focuses on real-life rally cars, trucks, and buggies, rather than the more mainstream Ferraris, Corvettes, and other traditional six-figure, dot-com fluff. To be fair, the only reason to call them “flaws” is that they could prevent many of you from buying the game. A better way to approach it would be to call them fearless, creative, yet possibly limiting design choices. So don’t let Dirt’s pointed non–PGR-ness stop you in the slightest — if all you care about is great gameplay, it’s easily one of the best 360 racing games yet.

allaboutgames.co.uk (9 out of 10)

Colin McRae has made a rather successful jump to this generation, and in the process has expanded its audience, without taking away too much from the hardcore. There are areas to improve, but for now we have one of the best rally games ever made to enjoy.

FZ ( )

Colin McRae: Dirt är ett toppenspel. Jag måste erkänna att det var längesen jag hade så här kul är jag spelade ett bilspel. Det som gör titeln till en guldklimp i spelsamlingen är fantastisk grafik och en körkänsla som är alldeles lagom arkadig för att passa alla typer av spelare. Tro mig, det är flera personer med väldigt olika spelvanor, intresse av bilar och intresse av tv-spel överhuvudtaget, som tjatat på att få komma över och spela. Med andra ord kan man säga att detta spel egentligen lämpar sig för alla, förutom de som verkligen kräver en högst realistisk upplevelse, men det borde du ha förstått vid det här laget. Men mitt tips är i alla fall att skåla i champagnen och långsamt njuta av jordgubben.

IGN UK (9 out of 10)

Despite a few issues with the frame-rate and the disappointing online mode, Colin McRae: DiRT is one of the most enjoyable next-gen racing experiences we’ve had. The single-player is rich and fun, with a well-rounded collection of different events, vehicles and tracks which never become tiresome nor boring thanks to the variation of driving experiences offer. The feeling of speed is great too, particularly on the tighter courses, but most importantly DiRT is a lot of fun because it's immediately accessible. Whether you're an experienced wheelman or new to driving games, DiRT will offer a white-knuckle thrill ride you won't forget.

Gameslave UK (9 out of 10)

On a whole I found DiRT a lot of fun, the varying race types all add a little something, but racing down a winding path at 100mph with trees or a cliff edge either side is absolutely exhilarating. Add in the wheel with the force feedback helping you feel your way through the slides and the cornering, and racing fans of all types are onto a real winner with this title.

TeamXbox (9 out of 10)

Even though DiRT doesn’t have the depth of a Forza Motorsport 2, it appears Codemasters’ enthusiasm for car racing approaches that of Turn 10’s, albeit referenced on a very different surface. With an expansion from its former WRC-style format and through Codemasters’ proper usage of the Xbox 360’s processing power, DiRT has secured itself as a must-have title for any gamer looking for muddy, dusty and, yes, DiRTy four-wheel racing action.

Thunderbolt Games (9 out of 10)

It's nice to see the Colin McRae series back in the big time, as it was the first game to offer the closest experience to rally driving as possible back on the PlayStation, and on the Xbox 360 Codemasters has delivered a title that should sit proudly on most gamers shelves for many months to come. The graphics are some of, if not the, best I've seen on the system, and the variety of racing available ensures that you'll never be bored or wanting more.

Gamesmania.de (89 out of 100)

Colin McRae Dirt ist eines der besten Rennspiele, die im Laufe der letzten Jahre erschienen sind. Das Rallye Szenario wurde um einige gleichfalls interessanten Wettbewerbe ergänzt, ohne dabei den Schwerpunkt zu verschieben. Dank authentischer Cockpitperspektive und atemberaubenden Strecken schiesst euch das Adrenalin ins Blut. Technikfreaks erfreuen sich zudem an der grandiosen Präsentation, die das spektakuläre Geschehen ins richtige Licht rückt. Bleibt nur noch zu hoffen, dass Codemasters den Titel nachträglich mit einem actionreicheren Onlinemodus ausstatten. Wer Rennspiele mag, sollte Dirt auf jeden Fall nicht verpassen!

Gamer 2.0 (8.9 out of 10)

So in all, DiRT definitely stands out as a premiere racing game. The gameplay is great—though it may take a bit of getting used to for those you stick to common racing games—and the graphics help push it along as well. What’s great is there’s also plenty of depth to career mode and good amounts of fun to be had in championships and multiplayer, making Colin McRae’s DiRT definitely worth a purchase.

GameLemon (8.9 out of 10)

That said, DiRT has a lot to offer. If you're a rally fan, than this purchase should be a no-brainer, and the game's accessibility means that even new fans like me can easily jump aboard. It doesn't revolutionize the driving genre, but still impresses on multiple levels. A definite winner.

360 LIVE (8.9 out of 10)

(...) Die Straße spiegelt feucht vor sich hin, es ist etwas rutschig, das ist's auch schon. Es ist auch kein dynamisches Wettersystem in Sicht, das die Wolken vertreibt. Von sattem Tuning kann man auch nicht sprechen - es gibt nur minimalistische Einstellarbeiten am Setup vor dem Rennstart. Und als wir mal unser Auto neben die Piste genau zwischen zwei Bäume gefräst hatten, hätten wir uns eine Rücksetz-Taste gewünscht, um uns den Umweg über das Menü zu ersparen. Aber, meine Güte, damit lässt sich's leben. Unter dem Strich ist »Colin McRae Dirt« ein ausgesprochen modernes und enorm motivierendes Rennspiel, das ziemlich vieles richtig macht. Der nächste »Colin«-Teil, Start vermutlich 2009, hat dann die Chance, perfekt zu sein. Und darauf freuen wir uns.

Gamezoom (88 out of 100)

Momentan gibt es auf der Xbox 360 keine bessere Rallysimulation als Colin McRae Dirt. Das Spiel glänzt mit einer fotorealistischen Grafik inklusive Schadensmodell und einer fortgeschrittenen Steuerung, die Maßstäbe setzt. Überhaupt wenn ihr das Spiel mit einem Lenkrad spielt, kommt richtiges Rennfeeling auf. Getrübt wird CMR Dirt durch den Mehrspielerbereich und den langen Ladezeiten.

Computer Bild Spiele (1.62 out of 6)

Wenn Sie dieses Spiel nicht in Fahrt bringt, checken Sie Ihren Puls - Sie könnten bereits tot sein. Die scharfe und detaillierte Optik der abwechslungsreichen und fordernden Spielumgebungen sucht auf der Xbox 360 ihresgleichen. Selten sah ein Rallye-Rennspiel - besonders in den nach den Rennen eingespielten Wiederholungen - so authentisch und greifbar aus. Auch Fahrverhalten und Schadensmodell überzeugen restlos. Die äußerst ansprechenden und sehr übersichtlich gestalteten Menüs sind da nur noch das Tüpfelchen auf dem I. Einzig die wenigen jubelnden Zuschauer, die die Rennstrecke säumen, geben ein wenig Grund zur Klage. Ansonsten ist dieser wahnsinnige Rallye-Ritt wirklich "gut".

Fragland.net (85.8 out of 100)

Colin McRae: DiRT is a more than good game. The decision to make it more varied, with more disciplines, and more accessible, including a more arcade control and driving behaviour, will no doubt sound like music to many gamer’s ears. The presentation is still a gigantic success, with beautiful surroundings and impressive cars that you can wreck at will. In the end there are only two reasons why you shouldn’t get this: the lacking multiplayer and the smaller amount of realism for the professional pilot

MS Xbox World (8.5 out of 10)

So if you like racing more arcade-based over simulation then DiRT is your pick for the summer, but with Forza 2 out it has got some competition. Despite the mediocre online play and amount of time spent looking at the loading screens (despite being as sexy as hell) DiRT is so far the best arcade racing game on the 360 and in my opinion is worthy of a purchase, failing that it needs to be tried, the demo really gives you a good idea of what to expect from the full game. Just be warned there is a 15-30 minute learning curve you have to get past. With driving fans having to pick between Forza 2 and this it’s really just a matter of preference even though Forza 2 has more fans, arcade style racers will feel more at home with DiRT. If only this had the length and customization of Forza 2. Failing that, it’s definitely worth a rental anyways for the easy 1000 gamer Points on offer.

XboxAchievements (85 out of 100)

Overall, this is the best looking racer on the 360 to date. Great fun to play and a career to sink your teeth in to. Unfortunately let down by the odd handling issue and lack of multiplayer so all in all a game that will probably sink to the bottom of your collection after a while as you struggle for what to do next on it. A must play for the single player, racing fan or not!

Kombo.com (8.5 out of 10)

Diehard followers of rally racing and the Colin McRae franchise may not appreciate the new direction the series has taken, but the actual racing is as exhilarating as it is accessible, even despite a drop in authenticity.

Game Freaks 365 (8.5 out of 10)

This game is just plain FUN no matter how you flip it and irregardless of the missing multiplayer features, and that's the true brilliance behind DiRT. There's no question that DiRT makes you feel the stress of sliding a very expensive car between trees and rocks at 50+ mph or the exhilaration of launching said expensive car end-over-end. In fact, if not into a serious race, it's fun to just hit the course and see if you can beat your best number of rolls, longest jump or time on two wheels. Flip the car, jump it off cliffs; do your worst or your best and have fun. You’ll continue to be amazed by the varied amount of tracks, vehicles (which you can purchase as you progress), and especially the arcade feel combined beautifully with a rally simulator.

TTGamer (8.5 out of 10)

Colin McRae: DiRT had a lot to live up to and overall it has done so. There are a few problems with the game and the career mode could have been better but there is no doubt that DiRT is second to none when it comes to current rally game offerings, not to mention this is the most visually explosive racing game on the console today. This is highly recommended racing.

Xbox World Australia (XWA) (85 out of 100)

DiRT does plenty right and features the most realistic forest and desert environments ever seen in an Xbox racing game. The damage system is also absolutely fantastic. The events are widely varied and as the career mode is so lengthy one can even overlook the lightweight feel and arcade handling of the cars as the racing is simply heaps of fun. Unless you're looking to take DiRT online, there's easily over 20 hours of racing on offer if you're keen to complete every single event in career, and the tournaments.

Miasto Gier (8.5 out of 10)

Colin McRae: DiRT to bardzo dobrze opracowana gra wyścigowa, w której najważniejsze elementy to dynamiczna, szybka i sprawiająca mnóstwo przyjemności jazda oraz wspaniała oprawa audio-wizualna. Program oferuje wiele szczegółowo przygotowanych samochodów oraz trasy, które spełnią wymagania każdego gracza. Dzieło studia Codemasters zdecydowanie zasługuje na uwagę amatorów wirtualnych wyścigów. Jeśli posiadasz w domu konsolę Xbox 360, to Colin McRae: DiRT również powinien zagościć w twych progach!

Game Captain (85 out of 100)

Codemasters hat die Zeichen der Zeit und vor allem die Kritik am Vorgänger verstanden und den doch angestaubten Rallye-Colin zu einem echten Next-Gen-Offroadspezialisten gemacht. Der umfangreichere Karrieremodus im neuen Colin ist abwechslungsreich und motiviert auf Dauer und die Tür-an-Tür-Duelle bringen neuen Schwung ins Spiel. Dennoch fühlt sich das Spiel aber fahrphysikalisch sofort wieder wie ein echter Colin an. Eine höhere Topwertung bleibt dem Spiel trotzdem verwehrt, da u.a. die KI für meinen Geschmack einen Tick zu aggressiv agiert und viel Atmosphäre zerstört. Dass die Weichzeichner-Filter zu weich sind, kann ich angesichts der restlichen schicken Grafik locker verschmerzen – einigen wird es vielleicht gar gefallen. Aber dass der Multiplayermode als ein derartiger Flop daherkommt, ist regelrecht ärgerlich. Dennoch kommen Offroadfans derzeit nicht an Colin McRae: DIRT vorbei.

Armchair Empire, The (8.5 out of 10)

Rally fans should have already grabbed this, but I’d even go as far as to challenge non-racing fans to take Dirt for a spin – the challenge of trying to master any given stretch of beautiful road is made compelling enough to try again and again.

Good Game (8.5 out of 10)

Yeah I reckon this game will last anyone quite a while, both in multiplayer and single. We should also mention Forza 2, for the tarmac-only loving breed of racer, its an equally solid title and coming out at about the same time. I liked seeing statistics during loading as well, I'm giving Colin McRae: DIRT 8.5/10.

Computer and Video Games (CVG) (8.4 out of 10)

So, in the end, you just have to accept the new Colin McRae for what it is. It might be arcade-like, and we hate the annoying, Tony Hawk-style American voice-over man that does nothing but bleat over-enthusiastic bollocks like "Yeah, we won because we were the fastest!" (we miss Nicky Grist), but despite the culture change, this is a great racing game. It's an arcade-style rally game with immense variety in cars and courses, it looks incredible (although still has some choppy frame rate dips) and has the most amazing crash physics. Combine the huge single-player career with the online racing and there's loads of racing pleasure to be had.

IGN (8.4 out of 10)

DiRT is one of the coolest racing games I have ever laid my hands on. Though the framerate is sometimes suspect, there's never been a racing game with this much detail. When you can count every leaf on every piece of brush across a three mile track, that's a major graphical accomplishment. If only every aspect of DiRT matched the graphics and presentation, it would be among the top racers on Xbox 360. DiRT still hasn't fixed Colin McRae's longtime use of a central pivot for turning and the racing feels floaty at times. DiRT isn't quite as good as some previous installments in the Colin McRae racing series, but it's certainly a worthy addition to the library.

4Players.de (84 out of 100)

Obwohl mich die Präsentation von DIRT vom ersten Moment an gepackt hatte, war ich nach den ersten Metern mehr enttäuscht als begeistert. Das soll die nächste Generation der Colin-Serie sein? Was zum Teufel ist denn mit der Fahrphysik passiert und was soll dieses lächerliche Bremsverhalten? Doch nachdem ich mich an den Gedanken gewöhnt hatte, dass DIRT mehr in Richtung Arcade tendiert, entfaltete sich langsam aber sicher der Spiel- und Fahrspaß. Vor allem die stattliche Anzahl an Rallye-Serien sowie der motivierende Karrieremodus wissen zu gefallen und auch die leicht zugängliche Steuerung geht gut von der Hand. Auch die vielen Einstellungsmöglichkeiten sind eine feine Sache, selbst wenn man sie bis zum mittleren Schwierigkeitsgrad kaum braucht, um Erfolge einzufahren. Schade nur, dass die technische Qualität der Kulissen oft schwankt und Sim-Freunde keine Möglichkeit haben, sich alternativ der Herausforderung einer realistischeren Fahrphysik zu stellen.

GameSpot (8.3 out of 10)

That said, the multiplayer support is really the only thing about DiRT you can call truly disappointing. On every other front, DiRT delivers a racing experience that's a lot of fun to play and visuals that are such a joy to watch that you can even bring yourself to forgive the shoddy frame rate. All around, DiRT is a class act, and it belongs in any racing fan's library.

Digital Spy ( )

If you’re looking for a thrilling rally game that can satisfy on days when you simply want to pick-up-and-play and those when you want something more engaging, this is it. Add in a fantastic feeling of speed and an excellent variety of tracks and it’s easy to see why we place Colin McRae: DiRT in the ‘must have’ league.

Worth Playing (8 out of 10)

For fans of the rally racing sub-genre, it doesn't get much better than DiRT, but for everyone else, this can be range from being a really fun time to an exercise in frustration.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (8 out of 10)

A wonderful package and a triumphant return to form for Codies, DiRT sets a mean precedent for future rally games to match and really manages to capture the excitement, the fear and the challenge of off-road racing. It's, like, totally sick, dude. Killer.

TotalVideoGames (TVG) (8 out of 10)

DiRT is certainly not the annual update of McRae games of old; a whole new Career structure, expanded vehicles, and the lack of stronghold rallying locations like Sweden and Finland, have all worked together to push the franchise in a new (and yet, not a wholly welcomed) direction. In many ways, DiRT could just have easily been called TOCA DiRT and deviated very little from what we have here...except for the obligatory TOCA storyline of rookie driver turns good, and the rally cars, of course. Whilst its newly found mainstream approach may just expand its audience (especially across the Atlantic), DiRT seriously runs the risk of alienating traditional McRae series fans - especially when the game's 'host' calls you "Dude!" and tells you that you suck.

Pro-G (8 out of 10)

Colin McRae: Dirt is a solid and often spectacular first next-gen effort from Codemasters. The core racing is thrilling yet accessible and the amount of content on offer will keep players enthralled for some time. Some inexplicable frame rate problems and a lacklustre online multiplayer mode prevent this from being a classic, but Dirt is still one of the premier racing titles of 2007.

Gamer.nl (8 out of 10)

Met DiRT weet Codemasters nieuw elan te geven aan de Colin McRae serie. Door voor meerdere raceklassen te gaan en races met meerdere tegenstanders is de game enorm divers geworden. Audio en graphics komen samen in de perfect uitgevoerde cockpit view en geven de game een ware off-road race-ervaring. De ondermaatse online mode en de soms wat onovertuigende physics vallen hierdoor wel tegen.

Entertainment Depot, The (8 out of 10)

The act of driving is unique, and it is difficult to express in other mediums. Films will put cameras on the fronts of cars, photographs will show motion blur and streaking lights, and books will use verbs and adjectives. DiRT manages to use the medium of video games to create the sensation of driving not only by showing but also by designing some of the best courses for rally that I've ever driven in a game. For the sensation of speed I usually play arcade style racing games - such as Ridge Racer - which recreate the sensation of speed through hyper motion and ridiculous physics, but DiRT does just as good of a job while still maintaining a sense of realism. One of the best visual presentations in a racing game ties it all together making DiRT a package that any fan of driving should feel safe purchasing.

Deaf Gamers (8 out of 10)

There are many aspects of Colin McRae DiRT that many gamers will enjoy. The variety in the racing disciplines is certainly refreshing and will definitely widen the games appeal to attract those who may not have been interested in previous Colin McRae rally titles. The graphics are very impressive and include real-world roads and the vehicles all look superb. The frame rate issues, the poor multiplayer and the slightly floaty handling are all negatives that take away from the experience. That said you do get used to the handling after spending an hour or so with the game and the frame issues are only present in wheel-to-wheel races. On the whole, DiRT for both the 360 and the PC is a very enjoyable racing title but there's clearly room for improvement, especially on the multiplayer side of the game.

Gry o2 (8 out of 10)

Podsumowując - gra jest bardzo dobra, a mogłaby być perfekcyjna. Po kilku godzinach widać jednak, że „czegoś” zabrakło, a to, co jest, można było jeszcze doszlifować. Jeśli Forza 2 nie podeszła komuś to jest duża szansa, że z DIRT będzie się świetnie bawił. Seria poszła w innym kierunku - czy to dobrze? Nie wiem, ale ja z przyjemnością widziałbym dwie serie: starego dobrego Colina skupionego na WRC i arcadowego DIRTA dla wszystkich innych. Codemasters mieliby czas na dopracowanie gry. Na razie jednak mamy to, co mamy, i Colin McRae DIRT to jeden z lepszych wyścigów arcade w klimatach błota i napędu na cztery koła.

PlayDevil ( )

"Colin McRae Dirt" for Xbox 360 and PC is nearly a Forza beater, only falling at the last hurdle. It has gorgeous graphics, a fun arcade-simulation balance, lots of different types of races, good sound and good AI. Then you get the annoying Americanisation, the poor online play and some framerate issues. If these were sorted, then it would be an amazing game. As it stands, it's just a very, very good rally game! If you have the time or inclination, this is well worth playing and good value for your money.

Play.tm (80 out of 100)

When it comes down to it DiRT is almost a victim of its own excess. While it should be congratulated on its near flawless presentation and the huge variety of racing it offers, it's that wealth of content that serves to highlight the games weaknesses. While DiRT certainly does offer the best traditional rally experience around at the moment, by including the chance to race directly against other vehicles in the CORR events it almost accidentally reminds you that racing that way is actually more fun. If you're a serious rally fan then this is easily the best game of its type, however, anyone just in the market for a decent racing game may want to stop and decide if this is really going to be their cup of tea before they part with their money.

FOK!games (80 out of 100)

Colin McRae DiRT is de eerste next-gen game uit de serie, en deze is zeer goed gelukt. De game is wel aardig pittig te noemen, maar als je de game een tijdje speelt en je aan de verschillende voertuigen gewend bent zul je hier geen last meer van hebben. De leercurve zorgt er ook voor dat je deze game wilt blijven spelen, omdat je gewoon het beste wilt worden. Als je uiteindelijk je Subaru Impreza zonder moeite door alle S-bochten heen ziet te wurmen zal je echt een zelfvoldaan gevoel hebben. De multiplayer met honderd spelers is fantastisch en werkt erg leuk. Wél erg jammer is dat er geen offline multiplayer mogelijkheden zijn wat de score van de game toch een stukje naar beneden haalt. Op de graphics is niet veel aan te merken, alles steekt goed in elkaar en ziet er gaaf uit. Ook de interactie met de weg is erg mooi uitgewerkt, waardoor je de game echt ín je huiskamer haalt. Het totaalbeeld van deze game is erg goed, en doet eer aan de Colin McRae-serie.

GamingHeaven / DriverHeaven (80 out of 100)

I can understand all the choices made in DiRT but in its conquest to reach the American gamers, I feel that a bit of the magic from the franchise is lost with this latest game. Where’re Nicky Grist and Colin McRae? What happened to rally tracks like Sweden or Greece? Don’t get me wrong, DiRT is a great game and I don’t regret picking it over Forza 2, but I would be lying if I wasn’t a bit disappointed.

GameSpy ( )

DiRT is one of the best racing experiences we've played recently, and easily holds its own in a crowded field. You'll race through much of the game's content in a week of play, and without true multiplayer there's not much incentive to keep playing once you've mastered the handful of tracks. Still, the experience of going through the satisfying career mode and racking up the well-implemented Achievements should be on every Xbox 360 racing fan's list of things to do this year.

DarkZero (7.5 out of 10)

Well, the answer to that would have to be a no, but that is not to say DiRT is a bad game, in fact it is far from it. The main problem that it has is that it has made a niche for itself in an already niche market. Not only does the game fall short of offering the same fun that was on show in Rallisport 2, nor entice gamers with the same hardcore thrills as Richard Burns, it also falls short of being a Colin McRae game. At times you really have to wonder why Codies chose to take DiRT’s direction as it is worlds apart from the older games in the series. There was nothing wrong with the formula so why did they “fix” it? At best DiRT comes off as being an eclectic mix of all that has come before it, but regrettably ends up a rally game that seems to have lost its sense of direction. It sure does look pretty though!

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20)

On retiendra en priorité de DIRT qu'il est exceptionnellement beau. Destiné à combler les attentes d'un public peu exigeant en terme de réalisme de conduite, il décevra ceux qui l'attendaient comme le premier jeu de rallye de la machine. Plus près d'un TOCA que d'un WRC, il emprunte donc une voie différente de celle que l'on associait à la série Colin McRae. Mais au final, on adhère très rapidement au concept et les heures de jeu s'enchaînent (entre des temps de chargements très longs) à grande vitesse.

JustPressPlay (7 out of 10)

If you like an easy rally fix, then DiRT is the game for you. It has everything in it. It's a mix of driving an assortment of vehicles across rough terrain. The arcade handling will get you winning races pretty fast. But if you're a rally purist like me, you'll easily find out that a lot of what Colin McRae stood for in terms of real rally driving, is now gone in DiRT.

Games TM (7 out of 10)

It's certainly still early days for the Neon Engine, and if Colin McRae; DiRT is any indication it should be more than capable of upholding its end of the bargain as Codemasters strives to push both McRae and Race Driver forward. But although both series have done well to broaden their appeal, they'll require more than to keep their noses in front in the long run. Gamers can see through inconsequential improvements in wind physics and engine noise-capturing techniques that in real terms bring little new to the table. DiRT's expansion into the wider world of off-road racing is a good start but it must avoid that gravel trap that Toca perpetually steers into - becoming jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

Games TM ( )

[Online review] It's a shame that cars and tracks are decided by a voting system (a more expected method would have been nice in this respect) and if Codemasters had thrown in some run-of-the-mill options then the online offering would have been second to none. Still, what does exist is both different and fun, and that deserves some credit.