Dakar Souls.

Rally games usually come in one of two flavors. First up are the over-the-top games where rolling your car is more fun than actually racing. Big jumps and plenty of trading paint to entertain the masses. Then we have the extremely realistic racers where every turn is chock full of anxiety and taking one corner poorly means the race is over. DiRT Rally 2.0 is definitely a member of the latter club. Anyone in the market for a realistic racer will be pleased to know that this title is one of the best the genre has ever seen.

This iteration of the franchise is designed with hardcore simulation fans in mind. Right from the outset I noticed the game has no rewind feature, damage actually affects performance, and there are a number of tweaks available to improve the nuances of driving. This game is not for the faint of heart. Every race and every second counts. Take a corner wrong and I ended up disqualified from the race due to damages. When I managed to find the proper lines and taking those turns at just the right angle it was akin to defeating a boss in something like a Souls game.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99

For 2.0 the developers have allowed for a sort of “easy” mode though. There is an AI slider that gives players more opportunity to catch up. This is nice for those that enjoy the idea of these games, but like me are still intimidated by the unrelenting difficulty. While it is still not a pushover, it makes it more manageable if I did make a mistake.

The biggest thing to get right with a driving game of any kind is, well the actual driving. DiRT Rally 2.0 feels outstanding. The weight of the cars and the way they handle is sublime. Being able to tweak just about everything will appease the hardcore crowd, but even on default it feels great. The co-driver is also great with a bevy of options in its own right. DiRT Rally 2.0 give a lot of customization to the player allowing them to tailor their experience as they see fit.

The tracks are all pre-built, meaning the generated tracks from the last DiRT game are long gone. This may mean less overall selection, but it also means the design is intentional. Every track becomes its own challenge. Sure I can mix it up with day/night and weather cycles, but every bump and turn remains the same. I actually prefer this method as it gives the developers a chance to tweak and perfect each course. Again I have always been a quality over quantity person and these tracks feel fantastic. Some of the best in the series to date.

As far as modes go DiRT Rally 2.0 feels a little sparse. The career mode is the bulk of the game with a few side championships and single races sprinkled in. Career mode is long and brutal. Rewards are dolled out sparingly and the progression is tied to an online connection. This can be an issue in some cases and honestly I simply don’t understand it. Why tie progression behind a connection that could have issues? Still there are daily and weekly challenges as well and the other stuff will keep hardcore players coming back for months.

Playing the game on Xbox One X is a delight. The car models are simply incredible and the damage modeling is second-to-none. The tracks being design individually also means they look even better. Pebbles kicking up and the puddles are things of beauty. Racing games are always a showpiece, but when Codemasters goes all-in, it really shines. The HDR colors are gorgeous and the world just feels alive. If there is one blemish it is the bystanders on the sides of the tracks. Their animation is jarring when noticed. It is just one small mark on an otherwise graphical showpiece.

DiRT Rally 2.0 nails everything it sets out to do. Players need to know going in though that this is a brutal game, unforgiving at times. Even with the easy option this is still no pushover. I had to earn every victory I achieved and that is certainly a turn-off for players looking for an arcade-like experience. Codemasters continues their trend of excellence and maintain their spot at the upper echelon of racing game design.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Visually stunning
  • Great options for customization
  • Handling feels great
Bad
  • Lack of modes
  • Punishing on normal
8
Great
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.