Synopsis: DiRT 2 is the sequel to its critically acclaimed predecessor that was released in 2007, adding new technology, race types, large scale events, locations, drivers, and vehicles. Players are taken on a World Tour, consisting of over 100 events across nine different locations, combining solo and multi car races. Up and coming rally racers Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, and Dave Mirra compete with and against you throughout your career, along with voicing their strongdisapproval when you’re trading paint or sending them out of control. Online gameplay allows for two to eight players, racing individually or on teams, to gain experience towards increasing their online level or just make their way up the leaderboards. To help provide that fast paced racing style that Codemasters is known for, DiRT 2 includes a garage, chocked full of the “best-in-class” licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles.

Praise: The graphics in dirt 2 are amazing and with everything going on at the same time the game play does not give the player a slowdown in frame rate. There are a large number of events across the globe to keep anyone busy for hours on end, while the variety of vehicles, keep racing along the same tracks fresh. The ability to choose the skill level before each race is a great feature, so you can begin your career on casual as the game starts while moving to a higher difficulty to make more cash as you get more familiar with how each car and race type plays. Flashbacks are a godsend with the white knuckle gameplay as it is easy to lose control or total your vehicle, and if that happens, there is the ability to rewind to a few seconds before you are out of commission to correct the mistake and complete the event. Online play is great, whether playing ranked or practice matches, there was virtually no lag, finding a match is quick, and I found myself saying “one more level and then I can turn it off” a few too many times.

Gripes: The ability to tune your vehicle is missing from DiRT 2, and while you are able to choose cars that vary in regards to speed, acceleration, and drivability, I was hoping for the ability to fine tune the performance and handling of vehicles. Some of the personalization abilities such as dashboard and mirror ornaments are not noticeable unless you choose to race in the first person view, however, the vehicle wraps, known as liveries, help you personalize the way each vehicle in your stable looks. My biggest gripe with online play, which has nothing to do with the development of this title, is that occasionally, you will race against the person who expects to win the race by barreling into or through you without any sort of penalty, and this concern would not exist if there was any sort of penalty for crashing.

Small gripes aside, DiRT 2 is a perfect rally racer with loads of replay value, after the world tour is completed. As long as you have your Xbox online, there is just as much time to be spent, if not more, racing against the online community. From the stunning visuals to the break neck speed of the white knuckle gameplay, any racing fan should pick this up as they will not be disappointed, as Codemasters has stayed true to the sport of racing once again.

Mashbuttons.com gives DiRT 2 a 10 out of 10 to a very well executed title for any rally racing fan to enjoy until DiRT 3.(Here is to hoping for a sequel)

DiRT 2 is available now for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP, Wii, and DS.

So along with providing us with the release date of the newest Colin McRae title, we now have fresh screen shots and video. I have to admit, I was unable to get into the first entry, DiRT, but after seeing the screen shots, and gameplay video, the title looks amazing. Let's just hope the game plays as good as it looks and it will be a deal breaker.



Start marking your calendars for September 8th! Until then, there is always GRID, for your seizure inducing racer fix.

Codemasters is promoting DirT2 in full force at E3, with having a porn star as a booth babe and all. But along with that is the E3 teaser and gameplay trailer. There is much excitement behind this game for a number of reason. The graphics are stunning, large soundtrack which includes 40 popular bands, and lastly, no shortage of events to play.



With the number of largely anticipated racing games announced at E3 and the others that are expected to come out this year, DirtT2 still stands out with the heavy hitters as a title to check out. With DirT2 releasing on almost all platforms, everyone can get DirTy.

DiRT studio tour is the newest video showing what is going on behind closed doors in the development of DiRT 2. Okay, maybe it is not as exciting as it sounds, unless that is your sort of thing, but we did get so see what changes are going to be made from the original title.

In comparison to Codemasters original, DiRT, water will have a more significant effect to how the car controls and will slow down the vehicle from the drag it creates. Along with these new physics, body kits are interchangeable depending on the type of race and the handling has been changed to add more to the sense of realism. Some other details indicate that the game will have social networking functions to become part of an extreme sports community, could be interesting.



Looks like I will be playing the four letter "F" word racing game that comes out this month until DiRT 2 gets closer. Fuel not fu...oh nevermind check out the "Studio Tour" video.

DiRT 2, one of the many four letter word racing games, will be available this September for the XBox 360 and Playstations, PC, Wii, DS, and PSP.