DiRT

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 107 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 107
  3. Negative: 14 out of 107
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  1. Andyman
    Jul 10, 2007
    6
    I'll sum it up this way... the dirt in DiRT just doesn't feel like dirt. For one, the braking is ridiculously powerful... ever slammed on the brakes on an unpaved surface? You slide straight ahead. Not in DiRT. No sir, in DiRT you simply STOP with teeth-jarring suddenness. On top of that, nearly every vehicle in the game steers with go-kart-quick twitchiness. Where is the I'll sum it up this way... the dirt in DiRT just doesn't feel like dirt. For one, the braking is ridiculously powerful... ever slammed on the brakes on an unpaved surface? You slide straight ahead. Not in DiRT. No sir, in DiRT you simply STOP with teeth-jarring suddenness. On top of that, nearly every vehicle in the game steers with go-kart-quick twitchiness. Where is the finesse of sliding a loose back end around tight corners? DiRT gets an 8 for the impressive visuals and the addition of new types of vehicles, but a 4 for the gameplay and unrealism... net result, this game is a 6, and a big disappointment.… Expand
  2. sinadoom
    Jul 23, 2012
    7
    Out of all the DiRT games this is definitely the most technical and least simplified version (in theory). You can tune to very fine details all aspects of the vehicle, and must spend money to repair damage, which encourages clean racing. Tracks are fun, arcade and yet technical, with plenty of pre-race data such as surface type and even a short briefing avaialble beforehand. In race,Out of all the DiRT games this is definitely the most technical and least simplified version (in theory). You can tune to very fine details all aspects of the vehicle, and must spend money to repair damage, which encourages clean racing. Tracks are fun, arcade and yet technical, with plenty of pre-race data such as surface type and even a short briefing avaialble beforehand. In race, proper rally co-driver terminology is used (such as 1-6 to indicate angle of turns). There are 5 difficulty levels which can be chosen separately for each event, with a higher reward for harder difficulty obviously. The presentation is slick, but the menus and general navigation is best in this one, and looks very polished and modern. When you jump into the game however, things aren't as great as they first seem. The technical tuning setups look pointless when the braking, handling and graphics seem so unrealistic and childishly arcade in some aspects. Lighting and environments are good, but texture detail is very much lacking, with just about everything - including shadows - requiring much more anti-aliasing to even look presentable. Nevertheless, you do get manual transmission, can change controls and interior view. Inside the car everything look very bland with very little detail at all. Framerate is choppy at times too. The disparity in graphics between sandy landrush circuits and trucks (which look hideous) compared with the woodland jungle rally courses and cars like the Renault Clio & Subaru Impreza (which look impressive even in 2012) are too large. But the game does do a fantastic job of talking you through everything so you're not left confused- not that it would ever happen due to the smart GUI. It's also good that at the end of each event a leaderboard is shown so you can see how good or badly you did compared to world record and where you rank. Progression is very simple, and achievements are even more straightforward. However, compared to DiRT 2 and DiRT 3 this is much more arcade-feeling despite it being more technical. It's still a good game, just not a great game like DiRT 2 or mind-blowing like DiRT 3. As a starting point though, the foundations are solid and are evidently improved upon in DiRT 2 and evolved in DiRT 3. Still worth playing even if you've played the other two, as it has better, more varied tracks which are not only more technical but fun, satisfying and intense too. In terms of variety overall it beats DiRT 2 and even DiRT 3 in the rallying part, since DiRT 3 tends to deviate a bit more with Gymkhana and in DiRT 2 you have gate crasher (which definitely isn't rallying). Here you get the lot- from massive rigs on rough surfaces in the desert to agile rally cars like the Peugeot 307 being driven on very tight, technical mountain roads in Spain and Japan. For its time it's by far more fun to drive on than Forza 2, but that's the only thing this game really excels at.… Expand
  3. KurdtK.
    Jul 3, 2007
    5
    The gameplay is horribly inconsistent. Sometimes it's fun, like when you are driving the unusual cube trucks in a rally cross, but most of the time it isn't. The game looks beautiful, but the gameplay is s***. None of the cars behave realistically, or in any kind of a fun arcade style. I wanted to like this game - so much that I spent $70 cdn on it! But I am trading it back to The gameplay is horribly inconsistent. Sometimes it's fun, like when you are driving the unusual cube trucks in a rally cross, but most of the time it isn't. The game looks beautiful, but the gameplay is s***. None of the cars behave realistically, or in any kind of a fun arcade style. I wanted to like this game - so much that I spent $70 cdn on it! But I am trading it back to ebgames tomorrow; it just isn't compelling at all.… Expand
  4. Daz
    Aug 21, 2007
    7
    I enjoyed thiis game very much, great graphics beatuiful layout ,till i got to Tier 5, it suddenly demands you do 3 rallys for one podium and a meagre reward, i can t do 2 races in a row ( full rally races) then get time to do barely any repairs, its gets impossible as your on the last race is close to a scrapheap even on amateur, i'm not the only the only one. Oh and truck and buggy I enjoyed thiis game very much, great graphics beatuiful layout ,till i got to Tier 5, it suddenly demands you do 3 rallys for one podium and a meagre reward, i can t do 2 races in a row ( full rally races) then get time to do barely any repairs, its gets impossible as your on the last race is close to a scrapheap even on amateur, i'm not the only the only one. Oh and truck and buggy races are awful, worst steering ever in buggy races.… Expand
  5. FPSMaster
    Jun 22, 2007
    6
    I've been a long time fan of the CMR games since the first on PS1.There was finally a sim that wasn't strictly pavement or half-assed rallying like Gran Turismo. Over the years, it got better and better, looked better, handled better and just played flat out better with hundreds of courses and every weather and surface type imagineable. It was the equivalent of Gran I've been a long time fan of the CMR games since the first on PS1.There was finally a sim that wasn't strictly pavement or half-assed rallying like Gran Turismo. Over the years, it got better and better, looked better, handled better and just played flat out better with hundreds of courses and every weather and surface type imagineable. It was the equivalent of Gran Turismo's core racing but offroad. Now comes DIRT. It originally left me with the feeling that this game would continue that trend, but boy was I wrong. First, the graphics are nice other than the framerate issues and tearing which tell me they didn't put 100% into smoothing out the graphics, but it only looks really good in the sunlit stages. The other cloudier stages it very much resembles something from an Xbox title. Man, what some sunlight and shadows can do to make you think a game looks better this gen than last! The physics and damage modeling are good, but you don't get to see much of it because your car resets as soon as you leave the track. The cars do feel like they're on a central pivot much like Ridge Racer 4 felt and looked on PS1, but it's not as apparrent when using the in-car view. The deal breaker though is the way they designed this game from a depth standpoint. There isn't any depth unless you consider depth as having a Motocross racer handling the voice overs for a rally game!!!???. That has to be the dumbest and most blatant way of showing you are trying to get the casual audience to buy your game...what does a Motocross racer that has the nerve to tell me I'm not racing very well have to do with rallying? You only get a couple of road surfaces, mainly dirt and pavement. No snow, no weather, no falling rain like in all the past CMRs. It just feels half-assed to call this a rally game and have no more road surfaces or weather in the entire game than the demo showed you or what the half-assed rally modes in the GT games gave you in 1999. Couple that with the fact that they added in stupid wheel to wheel racing with vehicles that have nothing to do with rallying, like garbage trucks and buggies and what you have here is the 360's version of the tech-demo-ish Motorstorm from PS3. This is not CMR, so if you go into it thinking that it will be you will be as enraged as I was. Go into it thinking it will be nothing more than an arcadey, over-the-top Motorstorm clone and you might be happy for a few days. I was just starting to think Codemasters was finally finding a way to show the world how great they are with games like CMR, Operation Flashpoint and a few other once great and very promising franchises, but they have now shown me they are no different from companies like EA and out to make a quick buck by making their games more user friendly and whoring them out to the casual market that thinks if the game has cool music and good graphics that it must be a great game. It looks like Sega Rally Revo will HAVE to step up and reign because between Dirt and Forza I don't know if I can deal with another over-hyped half-assed, cut corner racing game on 360. As a flat out completely arcadey racing game with cool damage physics, this succeeds for a little bit. But as the next game in the CMR legacy and something that's at least supposed to be about rallying, it's flat out a piece of dog****. I just don't understand the infatuation this gen with completely changing all these franshises into something completely different from what made the franchises what they were to begin with. That's not innovation or reinventing as they like you to believe, it's desperation to sell more half-assed, easier to get into games to a less informed audience. And this game proves that point by seeing all the high scores it's getting.… Expand
  6. AmritK.
    Jun 25, 2007
    7
    @Jon W- I totally agree with you man.That commentator was like making me insane.Can someone please punch him in the face for me(If you know him). They also screwed up the whole physics for which i so liked this franchise in the first place.CMR 2005 and 2003 are a blast for rally fans,infact,i am still playing CMR 2005.I don't know why they try to re-invent the successful idea and @Jon W- I totally agree with you man.That commentator was like making me insane.Can someone please punch him in the face for me(If you know him). They also screwed up the whole physics for which i so liked this franchise in the first place.CMR 2005 and 2003 are a blast for rally fans,infact,i am still playing CMR 2005.I don't know why they try to re-invent the successful idea and screw it up.… Expand
  7. KelR.
    Jun 30, 2007
    5
    Hugely disappointing, I can't tell you how excited my brother and I were for such a realistic racing experience... However, we soon learned that the multiplayer aspect of this game is BROKEN. For the next-gen of gaming this is not acceptable as far as I'm concerned. Be warned, In multiplayer there in NO racing against friends, well, you literally cannot see them on the screen! So lame.
  8. Bushybob
    Jun 14, 2007
    5
    Dont know what game the other reviewers were playing but other than the great graphics. This game has to have some of the most unrealistic handling i've seen in a racer for a long time. That coupled with the most annoying commentator your ever witness means my copy will not be seeing the inside of my 360 again.
  9. JonW.
    Jun 17, 2007
    6
    In short, ive not been in the slightest bit impressed!! Iv always loved the Colin McRae franchise, and was expecting another brilliant edition. However, it has been one of the most unfulfilling rally games ive ever played. Easily, Colin McRae 3 is a most realistic simulator, and by far!! And on top of that, theres such a yankee style aproach to it all, the menu commentator has absolutely In short, ive not been in the slightest bit impressed!! Iv always loved the Colin McRae franchise, and was expecting another brilliant edition. However, it has been one of the most unfulfilling rally games ive ever played. Easily, Colin McRae 3 is a most realistic simulator, and by far!! And on top of that, theres such a yankee style aproach to it all, the menu commentator has absolutely ruined the game for me... but this wasn't hard considering the racing experience it attempts to supply. Sorry Colin, but i'd much rather hammer the excellant 2005 game for another couple of years than struggle with this for another few hours.… Expand
  10. Zach
    Jun 18, 2007
    6
    Well good things first, the graphics are top notch. The damage models are the best I've ever seen. I've not played Motorstorm so I can't compare Dirt to that one. Everybody who has been saying how much better this is to Forza 2, I'd like to ask you if we have the same game? The handling, the physics, it all feels real floaty. The car doesnt even feel like it is Well good things first, the graphics are top notch. The damage models are the best I've ever seen. I've not played Motorstorm so I can't compare Dirt to that one. Everybody who has been saying how much better this is to Forza 2, I'd like to ask you if we have the same game? The handling, the physics, it all feels real floaty. The car doesnt even feel like it is touching the ground. This has been the same for just about every Colin game that I've played thus far. Last thing I can't stand is the instant reset, where your car is put back on the road when you go off the edge of a track. Watching the crashes can be alot of fun, but soon as you are off the track, poof, back on road. Unrealistic and takes away the fun of the crashes. Forza 2 is still my favorite racing game, I'm glad this was just a rental. I'd say do the same to see if you like this one, you might be disappointed.… Expand
  11. HCGamer
    Jun 29, 2007
    7
    + Best looking racing game ever on any platform + Variety of disciplines, not just rally + Damage modelling - Baaad physics. Way too powerful brakes - No snow, no rain - No multiplayer, only leaderboards - Cars reset too easily Why make a game which actually manages to LOOK REAL, be totally unreal in terms of physics? Also, the multiplayer is total failure. It is not really a multiplayer, + Best looking racing game ever on any platform + Variety of disciplines, not just rally + Damage modelling - Baaad physics. Way too powerful brakes - No snow, no rain - No multiplayer, only leaderboards - Cars reset too easily Why make a game which actually manages to LOOK REAL, be totally unreal in terms of physics? Also, the multiplayer is total failure. It is not really a multiplayer, it´s a cheap trick. The game is 100% single player game, with online leaderboards, nothing more.… Expand
  12. TaylorM-G
    Jul 11, 2007
    6
    Wow... this is a what I call a "BMW with a broken window". What a giant flaw the game developers have with this game. Hello? Welcome to 2007. When you buy a game for the next gen consoles you expect to play with your friends online. And when you expect to play with your friends online, you expect to shoot them in the head or run them off the road. DiRT offers none of this with their onine Wow... this is a what I call a "BMW with a broken window". What a giant flaw the game developers have with this game. Hello? Welcome to 2007. When you buy a game for the next gen consoles you expect to play with your friends online. And when you expect to play with your friends online, you expect to shoot them in the head or run them off the road. DiRT offers none of this with their onine capabilities. What a tragic flaw with such a beautiful game that offers sensational menu interface and glorious graphics. The one other downfall is the car's ease with which it brakes hard and accelerates. This would be a 10 if the multi-player existed.… Expand
  13. matroycem
    Apr 30, 2013
    5
    I have only played this recently and that may be a small part of the poor score. It looks dated but to be fair was not bad at all graphically. I thought that the car handling was solid enough and felt responsive. The main gripe I had was with the Career Mode. It uses the same tracks and cars and setups repeatedly and it just got really tiresome having to play through to the end. After aI have only played this recently and that may be a small part of the poor score. It looks dated but to be fair was not bad at all graphically. I thought that the car handling was solid enough and felt responsive. The main gripe I had was with the Career Mode. It uses the same tracks and cars and setups repeatedly and it just got really tiresome having to play through to the end. After a while you get some much money you can buy the best car and then just blitz races without any care. The AI of the opponents is not up to much and they just follow in a procession until the end of the race. I found the game a real slog and could not motivate myself to fully complete it. I ended up having to play it over several months. Having a quick blast then leaving it when it started to get boring. A game should be a joy to play and unfortunately this wasn't. It has a good game in there but its so hard to enjoy it.… Expand
  14. drlowdon
    Mar 12, 2013
    7
    Dirt continues to deliver the excellent single player experience associated with the Colin McRae series combining the usual superb handling with a number of new race modes and greater variety of vehicles. The multi-player, both on and off-line, is a disappointment with very few options available but fans of previous entries will find plenty to entertain them here.
  15. gamingisgreat
    Sep 24, 2016
    7
    The original Dirt is a good game.

    The game plays well,with good physics and competitive AI.The is no limited use flashback feature like the 2nd and 3rd game,which is frustrating when you have to restart a long race.The variety of racing is great.The game does give out way too much prize money though The graphics are nice,with a smooth framerate. The sound design is good,but the    The original Dirt is a good game.

    The game plays well,with good physics and competitive AI.The is no limited use flashback feature like the 2nd and 3rd game,which is frustrating when you have to restart a long race.The variety of racing is great.The game does give out way too much prize money though

    The graphics are nice,with a smooth framerate.

    The sound design is good,but the soundtrack,and the in-menu announcer will irritate you so much.

    Overall,the original Dirt is a good game held back by far too much prize money,the irritating announcer in the menus,and the poor soundtrack.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
23
#23 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
44
#44 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 59
  3. Negative: 0 out of 59
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    90
    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. [July 2007, p.74]
  2. IGN
    84
    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.
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  3. VideoGamer
    80
    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.
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