Games I Own - Colin McRae: DiRT 2
Posted on 16th Dec 2009 at 11:33 by Mark Mackay with 11 comments
I’ve been a fan of racing games since Wipeout 2097 which was the first one I developed a real obsession over. I was a big fan of the Gran Turismo series too and, back in the day, bought a PlayStation 2 just to play GT4. I was excited about GT5…until I played the Prologue on my flatmate’s PS3. Next to games such as Race Driver: GRID, the Prologue flat out sucked. Gran Turismo seems so stiff and formal compared to the Codemasters title. These days choosing Gran Turismo over GRID seems like opting to spend a Sunday afternoon taking a driving lesson instead of a track day.
Old faithful. How she stirs my loins
Another racing game I was a big fan of was Sega Rally on the Saturn. I could drive around literally for hours and hours on the same track - sometimes backwards for some variation, ignoring the ‘turn around’ sound bite from my co-driver - just revelling in the joy of the game’s drift mechanic. I loved the way the cars could be made to slide majestically round corners. The fact that the Lancia Stratos was an object of sheer lust designed purely for the joint purposes of rallying and loin stirring made it all the better.
The handling in Sega Rally Championship on the Saturn was pure gold
Colin McRae DiRT 2 holds the same fascination for me. The implementation of the cars’ handling on the gravel tracks is the best I’ve encountered since Sega Rally. Perhaps other games have done well in this department but for me, DiRT 2 has it nailed. I could drive around stages such as Hurrah Pass for hours and hours without getting bored. At no point have I rage-quitted from losing first place on the second last corner, simply because restarting and playing the track again is such a good thing.
DiRT 2: Sliding around on mud in a car has never been more fun
Throw in a great sound track, smooth online multiplayer, an awesomely polished interface and the fact that my rig can run it at 1,920 x 1,200 without complaint and I’m having the most fun I’ve had with a racing game for years. Is anyone else playing DiRT 2? Does anyone else love this game for it's drifty goodness? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Old faithful. How she stirs my loins
Another racing game I was a big fan of was Sega Rally on the Saturn. I could drive around literally for hours and hours on the same track - sometimes backwards for some variation, ignoring the ‘turn around’ sound bite from my co-driver - just revelling in the joy of the game’s drift mechanic. I loved the way the cars could be made to slide majestically round corners. The fact that the Lancia Stratos was an object of sheer lust designed purely for the joint purposes of rallying and loin stirring made it all the better.
The handling in Sega Rally Championship on the Saturn was pure gold
Colin McRae DiRT 2 holds the same fascination for me. The implementation of the cars’ handling on the gravel tracks is the best I’ve encountered since Sega Rally. Perhaps other games have done well in this department but for me, DiRT 2 has it nailed. I could drive around stages such as Hurrah Pass for hours and hours without getting bored. At no point have I rage-quitted from losing first place on the second last corner, simply because restarting and playing the track again is such a good thing.
DiRT 2: Sliding around on mud in a car has never been more fun
Throw in a great sound track, smooth online multiplayer, an awesomely polished interface and the fact that my rig can run it at 1,920 x 1,200 without complaint and I’m having the most fun I’ve had with a racing game for years. Is anyone else playing DiRT 2? Does anyone else love this game for it's drifty goodness? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
11 Comments
Discuss in the forums Replyfancy a rally/trailblazer tonight?
Escort MKII's force manual, force incar?
The Logitech Momo is beeing sold here for about 80euro's... It's supposed to be good mechanically.
As I found out last night, the lack of flashbacks in the multiplayer mean it's best to really know the tracks well before going in ftw. Add Kanen8 to your Steam and we can race some time ;p
As for Escort MK IIs? Really? Havnt seen them yet, but I want one...
The X-games McRae R4 on the auto cross tracks is a great combination if your looking to get sideways.
Ah so youve yet to complete the mcrae challenge, what level are you? I just hit 39 last night
Very valid comments. With Ken Block being founder of skate clothes company, DC, pro BMXer Dave Mirra making the transition to rally driving and Travis Pastrana being a pro MotoX rider, they have incorporated a heavy dose of extreme sports style into the interface.
There is also not massive amounts of difference between the cars, but this for me is excusable downside when the gameplay is so fun. Stiff definitely isn’t a word I’d use for the handling.
Not yet. I've been doing all the lowly races and working my way through like that. Leaving the big ones for later. If I get a MK II Escort though I might just do the challenge. Hit level 25 yesterday.