DiRT 2

The original Dirt was a fantastic game. It had great driving physics, graphics, and a slick presentation, all of which conspired to create one of my favorite racing games of all time. Dirt 2 eclipses its predecessor on every front, and packages it in a modern, accessible package that race fans of any gaming pedigree are sure to enjoy.

Easily one of the best racers on the PlayStation 3 right now and arguably the best one released this year on the system, DiRT 2 is an unequivocal must-have.

For all its glamorous, "radical!" makeover, DiRT 2 is still the best handling rally game in the business. [Oct 2009, p.66]

DiRT 2 is without doubt the most comprehensive and utterly playable off-road racing game we’ve ever played. The overall racing experience is never anything but pleasurable, the depth and range of challenges on offer lending massive longevity and the presentation is also nothing short of exceptional.

Anyone who loved the original should pick this up as soon as possible, and if you’re new to the genre, at least download the demo and give it a shot. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it once you’ve gotten used to the controls, and find that the game’s wide variety of well-done events result in an incredibly fun experience that should please nearly anyone.

Colin McRae DiRT 2 is a great race game that’s combine a few different off the roads racing championships. The game has strong audio, beautiful graphics and a lot of gameplay. Probably the best racer of this year.

It is the quintessential rallying experience and really your only option for a racing game that not only gets the spirit of rally right, but also features it as the primary game mode. It’s fun, exciting, and the first game in five years to get me perched on the edge of the couch, coaching my car through turns by twisting my controller in the air. It’s brought out my inner five-year-old and I couldn’t be much happier.

The handling is superb, weighty and satisfying with every last handbrake turn. The crash damage and overall visual detail is of the highest calibre in games today, and there are so many events you'll be busy for hours. Codemasters got it right, this time.

Eight-player online racing provides endless gameplay and all eight of the relevant disciplines are catered for, from point-to-point endurance to time trials, rally and beyond. It is without doubt the most comprehensive and utterly playable off-road racing title we've ever played, the pitch perfect balance between immediate arcade gratification and detailed authenticity making for a matchless rally experience. Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is simply racing at its most unreservedly sublime.

Without a shadow of a doubt this is the most addicting off road game to date, it's gorgeous in every aspect, provides hours of game play in single player mode, and even more in multiplayer events, handles wonderfully, and even has adjustable A.I. for various skill level gamers.

At its core, this puppy has taken its serious sim roots, mixed in a few casual-friendly options and thrown in a plethora of content (both online and offline) to keep finicky gamers interested.

This is a fun rally racing game that leans more toward arcade action than driving simulation. Newcomers will find it easy to get into and advanced players will enjoy multiplayer. The graphics and in-game presentation are well done.

Even those who might sniff at the game’s focus on the extreme end of off-road motorsport will find it hard to scoff at its rewarding handling model, its sense of atmosphere and its sumptuous visuals, all of which help make it a highlight of the Colin McRae series.

Minor problems aside, DIRT 2 is everything racing fans will want from an off-road racer. The driving is fast, fun and be tailored to your skill level. Hardcore fans will work hard shaving split seconds off their best times, while novices can still work through the career and have fun with their fiends online.

DiRT 2 is a worthy successor to the original, getting practically everything right. While I would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis on more technical rally racing, I had a blast with every aspect of the title. From the solid visuals to the sweet tracks, DiRT 2's got a lot to love.

With stunning environments, a wide array of events, and an ingenious use of track surfaces, DiRT 2 is a superb ride for anyone wanting to rip through the wilderness at high speed.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 has beautiful graphics, great gameplay and contains more than enough races and tournaments for hardcore racing fans. But besides all that, the game is also very accessible for gamers without any racing experience. Therefore DiRT 2 is truly is a great title.

If you have any interest whatsoever in off-road racing you'd do well to take this beautiful and thrilling game for a spin.

Dirt 2 plunders the best bits from two great racing series to create what is essentially Colin McRae: GRID. The quality is so high, you'll wonder how your console is doing this at all, let alone so seamlessly. A racing classic that does Colin McRae's memory justice.

It's absolutely spectacular. [Oct 2009, p.104]

There’s one hell of a game here, and we can’t find a single thing we’d really want to change: whilst it’s not perfect, it’s as near as we’re going to get right now. Wonderful stuff.

All of this combines to form a wonderful racing experience that Colin McRae would be proud of, so pick up Dirt 2, rev some engines and enjoy one of 2009's best.

DiRT 2 is about as good of a sequel as you can ask for. It took everything that made the original so good and amplified it, while still managing to address all of the criticisms.

GT what? DiRT 2 is the real deal, capturing the thrill of rally racing in one hell of a slick package. Play it for the mud sliding physics alone.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is a pretty good mixture between a complex simulation and an action-based racer thanks to its compelling presentation.

A pristine racing game. Nevermind that it's focused on rally, it feels so damn tight and responsive, on top of looking like a dream. It's one of the best playing game engines out there, and one of the best looking too.

The more Americanised approach to the series may scald some long time fans, but DIRT 2’s core driving experience remains a consistently superb and thrilling ride from start to finish.

With the most polish and highest production values yet, DiRT 2 should be taken out for a test drive by everyone.

Though the first game in the franchise didn’t have a clear direction for itself, Dirt 2 is outdoor racing across various types of racing events tied together under a cohesive extreme sports presentation.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is a beautiful product. The game has left the old school rally feeling to put in a little more show driving. As a race purist i think it’s kind of a misery, but at the same time, i enjoyed it very much. The game looks awesome and it gives you a perfect rally feel. Thanks to the flashback, you never have to redo a match again. A must have for every race fan.

A fantastic rally game wrapped up in extreme sports presentation. [Oct 2009, p.62]

The control scheme is simple to understand and getting into the racing is easy.

Dirt 2 is a fantastic racing game which offers great handling, diversity in its various events and a great overall experience. Highly Recommended.

Combining variety, accessibility and a carefully measured pace, Codemasters has achieved a great racing game above any consideration.

Improved graphics, a nice presentation and even more variety make DiRT2 an absolute "Must-have" for anyone who is even slightly interested in offroad-racing!

Dirt 2 isn’t only for rally fans; it’s for all racing fans that have ever enjoyed pushing the pedal to medal in neck-and-neck high speed race. Not only does Dirt 2 have the speed, but it also has the danger, the graphics, and polish to be one of the most notable racers in the "next-generation" era of gaming.

DiRT 2 achieves something that looked pretty difficult to accomplish, and manages to be even better than the first game. Colin McRae would be proud of it.

An addictive, entertaining and intense racer that can happily sit alongside the genre greats. [Issue#184, p.68]

The new chapter of the Dirt saga is a great game, the most complete off road experience with a lot car and tracks and a stunning visuals. The brand new replays are useful, maybe too much playing in the lowest level of difficulty. And above the game needs more rally events.

Dirt 2 has everything you want in a rally race-esque type game and nothing you didn't want (such as crappy controls and poor presentation).

This title manages to combine the fun and excitement of the X Games with a technically solid racing engine and come up with an experience that can satisfy nearly every kind of race fan. Add to that tons of unlockables and challenges, toss in some excellent multiplayer, shake well with a lot of attitude, and you’ve got a game that no racing enthusiast should miss!

The game contains the sophistication of a sim-racer while still packing enough pick-up-and-play fun for anyone watching from the couch. I don’t imagine, however, that there are going to be a lot of people content to simply sit and watch Dirt 2 without getting their hands on ­it.

Colin McRae Dirt 2 is one of the best driving games ever. The tech is great, it has a lot of options, a huge array of competitions, and its fun, fast and amazing. Its main problem is the lack of a deep gameplay; it's easy to play and it's a game for everyone, and that's both good and bad news. Those searching for a difficult game, keep searching; but it's true that this game is really fun from the beginning.

Moving through the levels is fairly straightforward.

Dirt 2 is prettier than its predecessor, has more varied tracks and a functional multiplayer offering. What it doesn’t have is a focus on pure time-trial rally races, which is really what I expect from a rally game.

If you’re looking for fun off road racing, DIRT 2 can be a ride you want to take.

Long as you're not hung up on the whole rally thing, Dirt 2 delivers solid fun.

Adding GRID's flashback feature allows the game to hit that sweet spot of accessibility without blunting its appeal, and allied to a plethora of consistently entertaining race disciplines and locations, it's an absorbing and technically accomplished experience from start to finish.

Dirt 2 contains an impressive number of competitions and game modes but, despite the settings, Dirt will always remain an arcade game. So, the vehicle physics aren't very faithful and the game remains consistently easy and quick.

It may have little in common with the earlier McRae games but this is still a varied and exciting racer.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is a good game. A game that can appeal to a majority of players with its various challenges.

DiRT 2 is extraordinary sensory overload. It's gorgeous, it's thoroughly addictive, it mends past problems, and it's fun. Really fun. But it won't please all the realists out there, and it may not feel quite so perfect over the long haul. At $60, maybe it should have.

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 is without a doubt the stand out off-road racing game to date.

Dirt 2 looked like it was becoming a pimped out version of the first game, with emphasis on the spectacle. But Codemasters once again delivers a formidable racer. Great graphics combined with challenging gameplay and an excellent racing experience make Dirt 2 a worthy successor.

Thankfully, other than shortening events into quicker bursts, the only negative effects of Westernization are purely cosmetic...dude. [Nov 2009, p.82]

While some may bemoan what seems like a slight lack of content, no one is going to dispute the fact that what the game does have is, on the whole, exceptional. [Nov 2009, p.114]

Despite its easier gameplay could somehow delude the hardcore gamers, DiRT2 it's a product of undeniable quality, capable to offer an enthralling and entertaining experience. If you are fans of rally or, generally speaking, driving simulations, this title will be able to grant huge satisfactions despite some little compromises.

It may be somewhat lacking in old-school racing challenges, and can prove daunting for newbie racers, but the sheer volume of content far overshadows the game’s faults. Until Gran Turismo 5 arrives to challenge the crown, Dirt 2 stands as king of the racing mountain on the PS3.

DiRT 2 is a superb celebration of rallying as a sport, with a mixture of new events, which deserves to be played and enjoyed by any gamer with even a passing interest in the genre.

Dirt 2 looks great and plays every bit as well as Grid, but loyalists to the Colin McRae series may not appreciate the greatly diminished rally content and simplified tuning controls.

If anything, DiRT 2 plays it a little too safe, offering only minor improvements over GRiD.