Dirt Rally
Dirt Rally | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Codemasters |
Publisher(s) | Codemasters |
Series | Dirt |
Engine | Ego 3.0 |
Platforms | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
Release date(s) | Windows[1]
WW 5 April 2016 |
Genre(s) | Racing simulation |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Dirt Rally is a racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for Microsoft Windows. An early access version of the game was released on 27 April 2015, via digital distribution service Steam. The full version was released on 7 December 2015.[1] The launch trailer[1] for the game announced PlayStation 4, Xbox One and physical PC DVD versions to be launched on 5 April 2016.
Gameplay
Dirt Rally is a racing video game focused on rallying. Players compete in timed stage events on tarmac and off-road terrain in varying weather conditions. On release, the game features 17 cars, 36 stages from three real world locations— Monte Carlo, Powys and Argolis—and asynchronous multiplayer.[2] Subsequent updates added three more locations in the form of Baumholder, Jämsä and Värmland, as well as rallycross and player versus player multiplayer modes.[3] Codemasters announced a partnership with the FIA World Rallycross Championship in July 2015,[4] leading to the inclusion of the Lydden Hill Race Circuit (England), the Lånkebanen (Norway), and the Höljesbanan (Sweden) in the game.
Dirt Rally features a large number of vehicles in a wide variety of classes, and 16 manufacturers. It contains cars from the 1960s, 70's, 80's, Group B, Group A, Group R, 2000s and 2010s modern rally, Rallycross and Pikes Peak, with cars having up to 10 liveries.
The PS4 Blu-ray version of the game includes a feature length documentary about driver Colin McRae.
Development
Dirt Rally is developed by British video game developer Codemasters using the in house Ego engine.[3] Development began with a small team of individuals following the release of their 2012 video game Dirt: Showdown.[2] Codemasters have emphasised a desire to create a simulation with Dirt Rally.[2][5] They started by prototyping a handling model and creating tracks based on map data. The game employs a different physics model from previous titles, rebuilt from the ground up.[2]
An early version of Dirt Rally was showcased to journalists in late 2013,[2] but the game wasn't officially announced until 27 April 2015. It was released later that day for Microsoft Windows in early access on digital distribution service Steam. Game director Paul Coleman stated that it was important to publicly release an unfinished build of the game so that the development team could get feedback from players.[5] He expressed an interest in releasing Dirt Rally on consoles in the future but said that it was not possible currently with it being an early access game.[2] Codemasters intends to introduce new cars, locations, and modes in monthly content updates, and make gameplay tweaks throughout the early access process. The full version of the game was released on 7 December 2015. The game was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 5 April 2016.[6] The PS4 version runs at 1080P at 60 fps, with the XBox One version having dynamic resolution (reducing to 900P when there is more action on screen).
Reception
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Initial reception towards Dirt Rally has been positive.[2] Aggregate review website Metacritic assigned a score of 86 out of 100.[7] GameStar gave the game 90% said "Dirt Rally is the best rally simulation at the moment and one of the best racing games of all time. Beginners will find it to be quite difficult."[22] GamesTM celebrated the change of direction, saying "this is the best thing the ‘Dirt’ name has ever been associated with and rallying enthusiasts are sure to be relieved that the obsession with the kind of American slang that was only partially hip in the 90s has been overcome and removed." GameSpot praised the physics model, graphics, and the range of cars, but said that the "Hill Climb and Rallycross modes feel half-baked".
GamesRadar highlighted the game's unforgiving nature, saying "Tires burst, radiators overheat, and you can frequently find yourself hobbling over the finish line with a slack time simply because you’ve lost control of your car once in an otherwise clean and competitive race."[16] Videogamer praised the games "incredible speed",[20] with GamePro agreeing.[13] PSM said it was "The most exhilarating driving game Codemasters has created in years, and undoubtedly the best rally game on PS4",[18] with OXM adding "Without question the best rally sim ever made."[21]
Evo praised the audio, saying "At times, Dirt Rally excels. The sound design in particular is excellent, as is the wide variety of cars on offer. The audio in Dirt Rally really does deserve special mention. Not only is it some of the best we’ve heard in a racing game, it serves real purpose, with the co-driver almost perfectly matching his pace notes up with a stage". Of the graphics, they added "While it definitely can’t come close to the production values of the likes of a Gran Turismo title, there is a lot of visual flourishes that impress with Dirt Rally."[23]
The game reached number 1 in the UK PS4 physical sales chart,[24] and number 19 in the European download chart.[25] It reached number 2 in the UK multiformat physical sales chart in its week of release, only behind Quantum Break.[26]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/150380-dirt-rally/index.html
- ↑ Edge magazine review, Future plc, 2016
- ↑ http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2015-12-09-dirt-rally-recensione
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gamesmaster review, Future plc, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://www.gamepro.de/playstation/spiele/ps4/dirt-rally/test/dirt_rally,52282,3269871.html
- ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dirt-rally-review/1900-6416333/
- ↑ http://www.gamestm.co.uk/reviews/dirt-rally-review/
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://www.gamesradar.com/dirt-rally-review/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Dirt Rally review, issue 122, Future Publishing, April 2016
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/dirt_rally_review.html
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Dirt Rally review, Future Publishing, April 2016
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/15985/dirt-rally-review-the-best-rally-game-ever
- ↑ http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fsoftware%2Fuk%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=110042&arch=t&lyr=2016&year=2016&week=14
- ↑ http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2016/05/11/april-2016-playstation-store-charts-dark-souls-3-ratchet-clank-1-ps4/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Use dmy dates from December 2015
- Pages using vgrelease with named parameters
- Articles using Video game reviews template in single platform mode
- Official website not in Wikidata
- 2015 video games
- Codemasters games
- EGO (game engine) games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Off-road racing video games
- PlayStation 4 games
- Rally racing video games
- Video games developed in the United Kingdom
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- Video games set in Finland
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