DiRT 3 Review (Xbox 360)

[MMChrisS]

The latest title in Codemasters' Colin McRae Rally series is out in the form of Dirt 3. If you have ever felt the desire to race in the L.A. Coliseum, the Rocky Mountains or the deepest part’s of Kenya, but found you didn’t have the money, time or courage to do so -- no worries. Codemasters is going to give you an opportunity to do so in a much cheaper, safer environment. And the developers will give you that opportunity all while delivering an incredibly realistic and fun experience.

Read More - DiRT 3 Review (Xbox 360)

[Lop_Huckawuckie]

Does it have in-cockpit views, where you can see the steering wheel, dashboard, etc?

[bluengold34_OS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lop_Huckawuckie

Does it have in-cockpit views, where you can see the steering wheel, dashboard, etc?

Yes it does, and they did a great job on it.

[DEFTFUNDAMENTALZ]

Had no idea this was out. Will buy very soon. After the Game 2.

[RunN1st]

I have it for the PC right now and my son plays it all the darn time. I'm probably going to pick up the 360 version for him eventually. The split-screen option is very cool since not many racers do it on PC.

Thanks for the review, Bob! Nice short and to the point.

[Dazraz]

How many cars/tracks are available straight out of the box in Race Now mode? Thinking about picking up the game but don't really want to plough through the career mode to unlock everything.

[LiberNull]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dazraz

How many cars/tracks are available straight out of the box in Race Now mode? Thinking about picking up the game but don't really want to plough through the career mode to unlock everything.

You can play most tracks out of the box... at least the rally tracks (in single play mode). And about the cars most of the cars you unlock are the same as some of the cars you have access to out of the box (just with different liveries).

[Dazraz]

Quote: Originally Posted by LiberNull

You can play most tracks out of the box... at least the rally tracks (in single play mode). And about the cars most of the cars you unlock are the same as some of the cars you have access to out of the box (just with different liveries).

Thanks, LiberNull. I will pick the game up later today.

[Hjkflannel]

Already traded this game, The rally stages are so open you hardly need to break and gymkhana events are so fiddily. The worst thing of all tho is the fact there are only 4 rally locations and the stages are so short you will get bored fast. The career mode is so uninspired and if the announcer keeps asking you to upload to YouTube after every race.

[VDusen04]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hjkflannel

Already traded this game, The rally stages are so open you hardly need to break and gymkhana events are so fiddily. The worst thing of all tho is the fact there are only 4 rally locations and the stages are so short you will get bored fast. The career mode is so uninspired and if the announcer keeps asking you to upload to YouTube after every race.

I respect those viewpoints and it's certainly not outlandish for users to come to such conclusions. However, I thought it'd at least be worthwhile to state that I have felt the opposite in regards to the rally locations. I came in with the understanding that the locations would be limited (as they were in Dirt 2) but I feel the rain, snow, morning, day, and night driving helps turn what may seem to be a limited group of locations into something that feels much more varied and new. In Michigan, for instance, it feels to me as if there are at least 10 different variations of tracks (actual track variations - meaning different paths, roads, etc) on top of the weather alterations. This is contrast to Dirt 2, where the rally courses felt much more limited to me.

Gymkhana is the biggest surprise to me. Like a lot of you guys, I was banking, praying and planning on a bunch of rally. That's what I was looking for and that's what I was interested in. So with that, even with a pessimistic eye, I was surprised with how much I really did not mind the Gymkhana mode. There's no doubt the mode felt super loose in comparison to actual rally races (my car felt like it was spinning all over the place) but somehow, through a medium amount of practice, the Gymkhana cars begin to feel comfortable and one's skills can quickly become very capable. So as I said, I wanted nothing to do with Gymkhana at the start, but it's been a pleasant surprise. The cars seem to handle better with experience.

Finally, I feel you on the YouTube voice. I've been quite tolerant of it thus far; I just don't see the point of it existing in the first place (aside from shilling YouTube, which may be reason enough).

Into the fourth season, I continue to have a lot of fun with this game. It's great to me.