Dirt 2

Colin McRae: Dirt 2

Rating: T

Score: 8.5/10

                It's about time I review this game; it seems like ages since its release already. That doesn't mean to say it was too horrid a game, of course not. In fact, off-road racing has probably never been more perfected! This game is available for the PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Nintendo DS, and the PSP.

                The story goes that you're a nobody trying to become a somebody by winning all the races you can and making a name for yourself. Simple stuff, what more do you need? In getting there, you meet a lot of friends and rivals, and get lots of cars with cool upgrades. Standard stuff, really.

                Things change when you actually drive: mainly smooth animations and gorgeous graphics pop out and glue your eyes to the TV with superglue that refuses to liberate. Thanks to the perfected controls, you'll  never want them to release.

                You have some options at hand for your course type: Rally, Rally Cross, Trailblazer, Raid, and Laid Rush. There are also three special modes: Gatecrasher (smash yellow barriers), Domination (get the fastest times over portions of the track) and Last Man Standing (simple elimination: driver in last place at the end of each laps is disqualified. Last driver wins). Each has their own style, so you're sure to find at least a few you like more than the rest. They also have different vehicle requirements, so you're likely to own at least two vehicles: some small but quick cars and a large truck. Why at least two? Because having a small car for a Raid challenge just doesn't work. It's like putting a monster truck in a handicap parking spot, it just doesn't work like that.

                The big thing that sets this game apart is the "flashback" system. After a crash (or any other rather displeasing move you might've made), you can rewind to before you made that mistake and correct it. It's not terribly revolutionary for the series: it's been done before, and it suffers the same problems. Mainly, if you don't press rewind fast enough, or you pick the wrong spot to continue from, you'll end up making the exact same mistake you just got done making, and you can only use that ability so many times (depending on your level of difficulty).

                Online play works great if you want a break from the length story mode. Thanks to the great servers, you can play relatively lag-free too. Too bad you'll never be able to play with your friends offline; the lack of split-screen multiplayer ensures your friends need a copy of the game and a connection online.

                This game has some faults, but that certainly doesn't make it a bad game at all. In fact, if you like the arcade/off road racing, there's little here you won't like. Even if you don't like that type of game, this game is one of few that might change your mind about them. It's truly an experience that shouldn't be missed despite previous relations with the genre.