DiRT Rally 2.0 Review — A Challenging, Mud-Splattered Race to Glory
Our critical journey into the exhilarating and unforgiving world of DiRT Rally 2.0.
VR Support
last updated Nov 30, 2023
DiRT Rally 2.0 doesn’t just take you on a joyride; it puts you in the race.
Navigating the Terrain: Gameplay Mechanics
Embarking on the rough and tumble roads of DiRT Rally 2.0 is akin to strapping yourself into a rollercoaster with a drift button. The gameplay delivers a superbly realistic and punishing rally experience that will have you tightening your grip around your controller or wheel. While the career mode presents a meticulously crafted pathway to rally stardom, the true joy comes from hurling your rally beast through the time trials and custom rallies. With the range of difficulty settings, both rally novices and hardened veterans can find their sweet spot. However, be warned; this game has quite the steep learning curve, but once you finally nail that perfect drift, it’s exhilarating.
Sonic Landscapes: Crank Up the Volume
Get ready to be soothed by the sweet symphony of revving engines and the delicate crunch of gravel beneath your tires because DiRT Rally 2.0's audio delivers an orchestra of vehicular mayhem. Every exhaust burble, gear shift, and gravel scatter comes through with remarkable clarity, immersing you so deep into the driver's seat that you'll be sniffing for motor oil. The co-driver's pace notes, despite being at the center of some controversy, still manage to guide you through the chaos with varying degrees of success, enhancing the white-knuckle tension of narrowly avoiding trees at breakneck speeds. So blast the volume and let the car's acoustic prowess carry you across each rally stage.
Beauty in the Breakdown: Stunning Graphics and Performance
Visual junkies, feast your eyes on the picturesque panorama of DiRT Rally 2.0’s world, where mud splatters and sunlight filters are rendered with such detail that you'd swear you were there. From the dewy morning stages to treacherously dark courses, the game showcases diverse environments that are a treat to tear through. Performance-wise, the game runs like a dream—if your rig can handle it, of course. Pushing the graphics settings might mean you’ll occasionally face the ol' fps drop, a slightly terrifying prospect when barreling down narrow paths. Tinker wisely, and you’ll be rewarded with a graphically stunning, liquid-smooth ride.
A Wheel or a Wheel-not: Hardware Compatibility
In the eternal bid for realism, DiRT Rally 2.0 doesn’t skimp on its peripheral support. From pro-tier direct drive setups to controllers—and yes, even those stubborn keyboard warriors—the game tries its best to accommodate all. However, while your Logitech G920 might be recognized with the grace of a celebrity at a nightclub, you may find yourself wrestling with settings to hit that sweet force feedback spot. But fear not, once dialed in, the game sings in harmony with your hardware, pulling you even deeper into its mud-splattered embrace.
The Unseen Rival: The Dark Side of Details
Now, we can't ignore the elephant in the room—or should I say, the darkness in the track? Some stages in DiRT Rally 2.0 can be darker than your favorite emo band’s lyrics, which is both a marvel and a menace. This has led to a little community-driven patchwork, with racers scouring the internet high and low for fixes to ensure they don't end up as part of the scenery. It's all part of the game's rough charm, but it would've been sweet if the developers had thrown in a little light on the subject. So, just a heads-up, you might want to prep your modding skills before you hit the track.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Codemasters
Publisher
Electronic Arts, Codemasters
Release Date
February 25, 2019
Final Thoughts: A Rally for the Rally Fans
DiRT Rally 2.0 is the high-octane, dirt-throwing sequel that we had hoped for, and more. As challenging as it is rewarding, the game pushes the boundaries of the rally genre with aplomb. Though it’s not without its dark corners, both literal and figurative, with a few tweaks here and there, you’ll be in for a rally experience that's as gripping as the tires tearing through a Welsh countryside stage. It's a potent blend of adrenaline and frustration, refinement, and raw power—just like the cars it glorifies. DiRT Rally 2.0 doesn’t just take you on a joyride; it puts you in the race.
