DiRT Rally
Professional motorsport is not always about racing on specially designed race cars in specially designed stadiums. Of course, in such "laboratory-sterile" conditions, it is possible to achieve incredible speeds of 350 km / h and more. However, to get the maximum excitement and adrenaline, such races verified to the last millimeter are not suitable.
Whether it's a rally! Despite the fact that it is also a professional motorsport, arrivals take place on normal roads, often even on public tracks. Of course, not on large-scale autobahns like the federal highway M4 "Don", but on small country paths strewn with gravel, mud, studded with trees and dotted with turns in the most unexpected places.
And these are the roads that you have to drive in DiRT Rally.
And instead of a heart - a fiery motor
Although the DiRT series specialized in off-road racing, in previous games these races were somehow too "hipster". Yes, there is rough terrain and tons of dirt under the wheels; yes, the range of vehicles includes specially prepared buggies and SUVs; yes, the tracks are additionally equipped exclusively for cross-country races - but it all felt more like a show for the audience who came here to drink beer and watch the lumps of soil flying around, and, as you can see, their glasses are already empty.
DiRT Rally looks strict and solid against this background. The tracks have become narrow, now they are covered with numerous special stages, which must be passed quickly, despite the rough terrain. Spectacularity is clearly sacrificed for realism - the dirt interferes with a normal ride and does not look as polished as before.
The tracks themselves are inspired by real roads around the world. While riding in Finland, you will have to constantly make blind turns and fly off long trampolines, spending several seconds in the air. Having stopped in Germany, you can temporarily take a break - here pedantic Germans cleared the dirt and prudently rolled the roads into European-style smooth and neat asphalt. A visit to Greece will throw you on the mountain slopes, with frightening cliffs and regular "serpentine". Monaco will "please" with icy conditions, when every movement of the steering wheel is capable of throwing the car out of the way - and it's all gone; and in British Wales, the track runs through woods, dirt mingles with gravel, and tree branches sink so low they seem to scratch paint on a car.
DiRT Rally Hardcore Drives
The tracks in DiRT Rally were designed by some psychopath. Each site is a test of the speed of reaction, because distraction, even for a split second, will lead to the transformation of such a lovingly assembled car into a twisted pile of metal. And, what is especially offensive, there is no rewinding of time! Crashed - start over.
As a result, it is almost impossible to pass the tracks on the first try. You have to drive kilometer after kilometer, trying to remember the location of each turn, springboard, spire, tree, almost stone and puddles of mud under the wheels of the car. And then - again accidentally distracted and again, again, again, drive the damn track.
The only thing you can rely on 100% is on the navigator's voice in the headset. He talks about the track, gives quick commands and recommendations, reminds of the need to prepare for a turn, and so on. And when, at some point in the game, the voice disappears - and this happens on the famous Race in the Clouds track, also known as Pikes Peak Highway - it becomes really uncomfortable. Nobody warns about turning or changing the road surface. But it is incredibly beautiful here!
Cars and the intricacies of driving in DiRT Rally
DiRT Rally is not suitable for keyboard or controller play. The race is "sharpened" exclusively for the steering wheel, because here you need to feel the car. Fortunately, the physics in DiRT Rally is very realistic and well thought out, so the racing car behaves correctly on the road.
At medium speeds, the player will not experience any obstacles while driving. But it is worth a little "add gas" - and the car begins to show character. And DiRT Rally is a race, so it’s not our option at all to trudge last, like grandma on the road. We squeeze out the gas and ... and feel how the car starts to drive to the side.
The "characters" of cars are such that, getting used to one, you can't drive much on the other. For example, Lancia Stratos starts to drive to the side when you press the gas pedal sharply, you need to smoothly and accurately. The Lancer Evolution X, on the other hand, forgives such driving.
In general, there are a lot of cars here. For one mode "Rally" only a few dozen, and each of them is licensed and therefore realistic to the last virtual screw. You can drown in mud not only familiar Ford and Peugeot, but also, for example, Aston Martin.
