Dirt 3

Just a short review iv decided to do, partly because i cant believe some of the rubbish iv read written about this game.
Some reviewers seem VERY upset that this is NOT a Colin McRae Rally game and have given it scores of 1 or 2 out of 5 because of this. I can only assume that these people can not read, as the title of the game is in large letters(and a number) on the front. If anyone has bought this wanting a 100% point to point Rally game then they clearly havn't thought about it very much and are now blaming the game.

Dirt 3 is a collection of several different off-road styles-
Rally X- where you are racing on the same track and at the same time as 7 other cars.
Rally- Point to point races where the best time wins.
Trailblazer- Point to point races in more powerful vehicles on faster, wider tracks with no co-driver.
Landrush- Racing on the same track at the same time as 7 other trucks or buggies.
Head to head- Racing on the same track as 1 other vehicle but starting at half a lap apart. Best time wins.
Gymkhana- Trick based events either freestlye or in a set order.

There are also a few other occasional events such as Drift where the score is based on..well..how much you drift and smash events where you have to drive into stuff. (Im keeping this simple for the people mentioned in my first paragraph by the way:)

The one off event that raised the biggest smile for me was the race against the bobsleigh, like in an old episode of Top Gear. Strange that its not in the same car as the Top Gear episode though it is at the same track but never mind. Still massive fun occasionaly seeing the Bobsleigh flash past in front of you.
Id better point out that Dirt3 ISNT a Rally v Bobsleigh racing game, just in case anyone misunderstands. Its a one off event.;)

The graphics in all events are astounding. I love Forza and Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit but the graphics in Dirt3 are in my opinion the best iv seen in a console racing game. The cars, tracks and backgrounds all look amazing and very organic, compared to the also excellent but 'plastic like' Forza. Dont get upset! I love Forza too!
The best part of the game for me is the handling. Some racing games just dont feel like your 'driving' a car but Dirt3 nails it better than any. I really felt i was controlling a weighted vehicle that was reacting to every slight change in level or surface and ever bump and ridge. For me this gets rid of frustrating crashes as ever time i got it wrong, it felt like it was my fault and not the games. I dont mean i dont crash, just that its not frustrating!
To conclude, if you are after a point to point rally simulator then do not buy this.
If you are after an extremely enjoyable, fantastic looking, massively varied off-road racing game with intuative handling then DO buy this.
Cheers
Rich

Ok, first impressions of the game are excellent. The sounds, the handling, the selection of cars and even the Gymkhana mode are really really nicely done. I personally thought it was brilliant to see the likes of the Opel Kadett and the Opel Manta making an appearance.
However, I do have problems with the statement that Dirt3 apparently has the most rallying content in the series, because simply put, it doesn't. As far as I can see so far the only rally locations are Norway, Kenya, Michigan and Finland. No UK, Australia, Monte Carlo, Germany etc etc. Also the stage lengths are at best about 2 minutes long so just when you're getting into it, its over. I cant see how they can say this has more content than the first Dirt where there was quite a lot of rallying.
To me it seems codemasters just cant get it right, in the first dirt there was an abundance of stages, but a lack of cars. in Dirt3 there is an adundance of cars but a lack of stages. Shame.

When I saw DIRT 3 announced I was excited, I have enjoyed the DIRT series and when I found out that cars like the Opel Manta, Ford Sierra Cosworth, Lancia Fulvia and the classic Mini Cooper I thought that codemasters would be on for a winner.

Then I put the disk in to discover that codemasters apparently think you are a 4 year old who has never heard of rally before and don't understand how the sport works. The game is full of excitable, shouty americans who think that you know nothing of rallying and feel the need to introduce and explain everything to you in epic detail, which would be fine... but you cant skip them.

Once you escape the americans you will find a menu full of floating triangles and ford fiestas sliding around, not as clever as DIRT 2's but it will do. There are a couple rally events which are good. Then things take another turn for the worse with the introduction of DC challenges and Gymkana. Both of these features have ruined DIRT 3, I personally want to drive rally cars not skid around in car parks!

When you do get to rally the graphics are unprecedented, the landscapes are amazing, the cars are stunning and there are snow and night events. But the stupid gymkana events, which you have to do, are boring and repetitive.

I feel let down by this game, it is fun at parts but with rally stars like Ken Block on the scene it is drifting further and further from actual rallying.

If you want a real rallying game that is intelligent, closer the the sport and has better locations, including the Pikes Peaks Course, the first DIRT is the best.