Pretty much all of the games in Codemasters’ Dirt series have been fun-focused games with more emphasis on realistic-looking damage than actual driving physics. Don’t get me wrong, those games were great, but there was a very strong simulation itch that they weren’t scratching, even though the fans had been asking for one for year now.
Well, Codemasters is finally doing it – it’s working on a hardcore simulation title called Dirt Rally; even the name hints at the fact that this is a different game to what we’ve seen so far.
The developer/publisher is adopting a unique tactic for this title, one that it has never resorted to in the past – it’s launching the game as an early access title (which you still have to pay for…) and it’s asking players to share their opinion of it so far and propose changes or additions.
The choice of cars and tracks is currently limited, but the simulation side of the story is really enticing. You really have to concentrate hard in this game, as the damage model is unforgiving, but I think that’s better than sliding around corners without even using the handbrake (you could do that in older Dirt games).
Check out the first trailer and several gameplay videos posted after the virtual jump!
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