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.

With perfect gameplay that can be played by all levels of gamers, it also often veterans of the series something sturdy, challenging and difficult but for the average gamer, it makes racing fun.

DiRT 2 is an absolute triumph, and anyone who had a hand in its production should be very proud of themselves.

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.

Don’t be deterred by the subject matter if you think you don’t like racing games. Dirt 2 is charming, fun and exciting all rolled up into one big ball.

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.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 established itself as one of the best racing games of the year. Jawdropping visuals and an over-the-top care to detail characterize a game capable to entertain both the motors passionates and those of you who are simply attracted by the spectacle of this kind of race. In a period monopolized by clean and shiny asphalt racers, this is a great mouthful of fresh air.

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.

The latest installment provides rallying that's almost as thrilling as the real thing. Special stuff. [Nov 2009, p.82]

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.

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.

Exceptional racing with brilliant atmosphere.

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.

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.

Probably the core of what makes this game such a blast is the handling. It’s not as scientific and demanding as Forza’s, nor is it as slap-happy loose as Need for Speeds of old, but it hits a nice sweet spot between real and fun.

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.

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.

Even if you are someone who tends to like their racers more “arcade-y” you owe it to yourself to give this title a chance. You might be surprised by how much you like it.

From bumper to bumper, DiRT 2 is a complete and feature rich experience that looks and sounds as well as it plays. Race fans should not miss this one.

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.

On the surface, DiRT 2 may appear to be a punkier, streamlined and therefore more diluted experience than its forebears, but this window dressing belies the complexity and depth on offer to even the most hardened rally purist.

So if you enjoy rolling in the “Dirt”…had to do it, Dirt 2 is well worth your time and gaming dollar, a great racing package was delivered by Codemasters with this one.

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.

By combining fantastic presentation with impressive racing action, Dirt 2 could very well be the sleeper victor in a very crowded genre.

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.

With plenty of other driving games either fresh on the market or soon to drop, it would appear that Colin McRae DiRT 2 has the off-road side of the fence stitched up. If you’re a fan of racing through mud and dust, you’re not going to find a title out there that’s better than this.

Overall Dirt 2 is a successful sequel with small bugs. Nevertheless everyone who likes rally and racing games should download at least the demo version. Fans of the series can access without any doubts.

Dirt 2 is an exceptionally well made, accessible racing game. While some hardcore racing fans may not like some of the arcade-style aspects of it, most gamers will be won over by the brilliant graphics and addictive gameplay.

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.

DiRT 2 is honestly one of the year’s best surprises in the sense that it surpasses expectations. The multiplayer this time around is improved by leaps and bounds since it now supports up to eight players competing to cross the finish line. Even for gamers who don’t appreciate the racing genre, there’s a lot of fun to be had in DiRT 2.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 pushes further the boundaries between simulation and arcade, giving as much importance to the car’s set-ups as to an easier approach to the driving experience, serving players a dish they can enjoy whether they are driving pros or simple beginners.

A definite step up from the original in more ways than one. Immersive racing, jaw-dropping visuals, an extensive career and a vastly improved online mode make up for the game's few minor annoyances... like riding in vehicles that just aren’t that fun.

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.

If you're not so fond of the realistic or simulation based racers such as Forza Motorsport or Race Pro, and prefer the more approachable, and more importantly arcade racers such as the likes of the Project Gotham Racing series, GRID and of course the original DiRT, then Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will certainly appeal as the finest racer of 2009, even if it is somewhat over shadowed by the dated original.

It's not without some flaws, but Dirt 2 is a worthy follow-up to its predecessor and, perhaps more importantly, a worthy tribute to Mr McRae himself.

Gamers looking for a more involving pure rally simulation will be better off playing the older titles, as the rally racing has been toned down. Those looking for an off-road racing game, though, should look no further, as this is the absolute best of the bunch.

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.

Though some parts of the game tend to be frustrating in how poorly they were handled, Dirt 2 is still a good, fun racing game in a genre that's underrepresented on every console.

Again, I say this as someone who's been playing the Colin McRae games ever since the first one came out; DiRT 2 is still a great racing game. While it doesn't deliver the kind of comprehensive single-player like in earlier CMR titles, it certainly stands on its own and adds many welcomed elements to the license (hence the higher mark).

Codemasters is as attuned to track-building and racecraft as it has ever been. [Oct 2009, p.92]

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 is an extremely fun and visually spectacular game, a delicatessen for racing fans and clearly one of the best games this year in this genre.

All in all Dirt 2 is a marked improvement on Dirt and a solid entry into the McRae series.

DiRT 2 has almost everything we want from a rally game and codemasters has really shown now what they are capable of with this game. If you enjoy your rally then you won't get disappointed when you put this disc into your machine. Gentlemen, start your engines!

With the arcade racing innovation of Split/Second and Blur just around the corner, and the simulation behemoths of Forza 3 and Gran Turismo 5 occupying the other end of the scale, DiRT 2 – with its ultimately well-judged balance between substance and style – is perfectly placed to occupy the niche that exists between both racing camps.

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.

Codemasters were wise enough to build upon the successful formula of the first game when creating Dirt 2 and simply add a deeper career mode as well as a more fleshed out online mode. Here you can throw yourself into everything from intense rally-cross circuits to racing in the open stretches of wilderness, or even dust filled Baja races. Gameplay refinements makes the actual driving feel fun and engaging and the ability to rewind time to correct mistakes is a welcome addition to say the least. Too few exiting new additions to the career mode is the only thing keeping the grade for this otherwise awesome racing game at bay.

A worthy update that could have done with another year or so in production, to ensure that the flawless handling and lush visuals could be matched in the longevity department. [Issue#51, p84]

Sequel to the best rally game comes with a bunch of technical improvements and a new format of career mode. Finally, there is a full-featured online multiplayer for all who want to set wits with other players. [Oct 2009]

Aesthetically Dirt 2 is incredible. On the inside though it is flawed – the arcade nature of the game has changed the handling and feel to the game and for that, it could well be the downfall for the title.

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.