DiRT Rally Early Access- Early Impressions

"Haimatox" (haimatox)
04/28/2015 at 09:20 • Filed to: Digital Burnouts, Sim Racing

If you haven’t already heard, the new DiRT game, DiRT Rally, launched its Early Access program yesterday. Right now it’s $31.49 on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and I’ll give you my initial impressions of the game in the state it is in now.

*Disclaimer*: This review is of a game that is still very much in development. Many of the things I will tell you now might change over time. I don’t personally have any footage of the game yet, but you can go look it up yourself.

Let’s begin by going over what “Early Access” gets you. This list is going to expand as the early access continues, but this is what you get right now.

At the moment, your $32 allows you to drive 14 different cars from different eras of rally, starting in the 1960’s Mini Cooper, Group B, and all the way to modern WRC machines. It also gives you access to three rallies in Wales, Monaco, and Greece. These three rallies are comprised of 36 stages in all types of weather conditions.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, here are the things I love and hate, in no particular order, about the game so far:

PROS

Codemaster’s DLC Program- Codemasters has forgone the norm, confirming that there will be no paid DLC. Once you pay for the game, everything they add (cars, rallies, etc) afterwards is free. That’s a rarity in this age of “release a half-baked game and charge for the rest in DLC.”

Graphics- What can I say? The game looks stunning. *There is a con to this, but I’ll get to that in a moment*

Game Content- Gone are the days of Gymkhana, DC sponsorship, and Ken Block (no offense, Ken). This game is pure, 100% rally. The stages seem to be much longer than those of DiRT 3, and there is no magical “rewind” function to make you God. New Team Management features allow for new upgrades, and the tuning system is more comprehensive than before.

Physics- The physics engine is much improved compared to DiRT 3. Granted, I haven’t driven a Mk. 2 Escort on the Col de Turini, but it’s definitely improved.

Cons

Bugs- This is only due to it being in Early Access, but it’s almost a game-breaking bug. There’s no co-driver. No co-driver means no pacenotes. No pacenotes means crashing. I’m sure it will be fixed in future updates, but it makes the game nearly unplayable as it is.

Difficulty- You almost need a wheel to play this game. The assists are toned down, and the increased physics engine doesn’t help. Using a keyboard is impossible, and using a controller isn’t much better. I’m sure it’s better if you have a wheel.

No Console Versions Planned- This goes along with the graphics. Codemaster’s focus on improved graphics essentially put the console gamers in the back seat. This isn’t an issue for me, but will be for many others.

Conclusions

This game is not, as some have said, a successor to the Richard Burns Rally game. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a massive improvement over DiRT 3. If Codemasters keeps this up, they very well could make the next RBR successor.

Should you buy it? Do you like rally? Are you perseverant? Are you willing to deal with the bugs that come with an Early Access game? Then yes.

Well those are my opinions on the DiRT Rally Early Access build. If you guys want I can continue to review the game as it progresses through the development process. Thanks for reading this very long-winded article.

DISCUSSION (43)

area man > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:27

How did I not know about this?? Goodbye $32...

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:27

Yes! Give me difficulty! No arcade style bullshit! Basically, I want iRacing on dirt. I’m buying it tonight.

GTI Sprinks > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:28

Just heard about this game this morning via the Dirt twitter. i was looking for someone to share some thoughts and opinions about this game. Someone cross post this to digital burnouts.

I will say i’m kind of bummed that it won’t come to consoles, but that said, also glad as it’d likely go to the next gen while i’m kinda stuck with a 360 til i pony up coin or i can just spring for this now.

Milky > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:32

Wat?! I haven’t heard about this. I’m assuming tis coming its coming to the PS4 …. I can wait.

505 - morphine not found > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:34

I have a wheel for my PC, and i much rather it be Richard Burns than Dirt - this should be right up my street.

Shame I’m not ready to shell out $32 for a game. Let’s hope that changes by the time most of the bugs get ironed out.

Haimatox > Milky
04/28/2015 at 09:35

The devs have said that they don’t plan to release it on consoles at all.

Haimatox > GTI Sprinks
04/28/2015 at 09:36

Digital Burnouts? Never heard of that forum.

Haimatox > Milky
04/28/2015 at 09:37

Scratch that. Devs said it’s coming “eventually.”

Haimatox > area man
04/28/2015 at 09:37

I highly recommend it.

Haimatox > 505 - morphine not found
04/28/2015 at 09:38

The price will only go up as the Early Access continues...

Haimatox > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/28/2015 at 09:38

I don’t think it’s exactly “sim”, but it’s definitely close if you turn off all the assists.

area man > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:38

Someone posted a gameplay vid with a co-driver giving pace notes - maybe you have to enable it somewhere in the settings?

Milky > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:39

The fuck? Its not world of warcraft, who makes a game and doesnt put it on consoles?

Haimatox > Milky
04/28/2015 at 09:40

Notice my edit... It’s coming eventually.

Haimatox > area man
04/28/2015 at 09:40

Nowhere to be found. I’m not the only one who had this issue.

Milky > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:41

Ah okay. I love Dirt so I’ll be eagerly waiting.

Do-Rif-To > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:42

I played a ridiculous amount of this last night and I have to say... didn’t hate driving without pace notes, it heightens the thrill. I’m pretty big into the RSRBR15 community and rally sim in general and this game feels pretty good for the stage it’s at. Wheel feedback seems a little off but I haven’t played with the settings, running a G27. It’s definitely not a full sim like RBR was but it feels completely unlike dirt 2 and 3 - which is a great thing. I’m getting a fizzy feeling in my root about the upcoming Pike’s Peak update too... though it it’s the current paved abomination I’m going to cry a little.

6Cylinder > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:43

I played this last night! For some reason pace notes don't work so I was driving blind. But I think compared to Richard Burns the feel of a real car on different surfaces is more prevalent. Like you said they have a ways to go because it is early access, but a good start nonetheless.

Haimatox > Do-Rif-To
04/28/2015 at 09:43

See, I don’t have a wheel, so I need all the help I can get knowing what’s coming up.

Then Something New > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:47

It is a known bug, I’m facing the same issue and they’re looking into it.

What’s weird is that the audio and indicators are not working. However, with the Mk1 mini for the first few stages you can still be 30seconds off pace for a 3rd place so you can advance. Just in a dramatic and terrifying fashion.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 09:47

It’s a bug with US market downloads apparently. Codemasters says they’ve gotten to the bottom of it and are working to QA a fix and patch asap.

Then Something New > Do-Rif-To
04/28/2015 at 09:49

I put some serious time into it too last night. The no pacenotes were challenging but not insurmountable. I didn’t see the PikesPeak update until you mentioned it. Now I can’t wait to bomb the mountain in a proper hill climb car.

Do-Rif-To > Then Something New
04/28/2015 at 10:01

I know right? The thought of bombing Pike’s Peak in glorious HD from the comfort of my boxers at home makes me so giddy.

Wheelerguy > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 10:15

Kinja'd!!!

Why did you have to die? And why is your death a shameful one? Tell me. Somebody tell me.

TheJWT > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 10:27

About how long is each stage? I loved Dirt 3 but two-minute rally stages got boring pretty quickly.

Haimatox > Wheelerguy
04/28/2015 at 10:37

The Evo? A damned shame indeed.

Haimatox > TheJWT
04/28/2015 at 10:38

Much more than two minutes. Let’s put it this way: the first stage has a maximum time without penalty (getting closer to real rally) is 15 minutes. 15 minutes.

GTI Sprinks > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 10:41

http://simracing.kinja.com/
and tag:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tag/digital-bu…

Haimatox > GTI Sprinks
04/28/2015 at 10:42

I don’t know how to share it... I’m pretty sure someone who has posting permissions has to cross-share it.

GTI Sprinks > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 10:43

Agreed. I’d just add the tag and hope someone notices it there for x-post.

Haimatox > GTI Sprinks
04/28/2015 at 10:48

Done. Added both digital burnouts and sim racing.

TheJWT > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 11:20

I might have to check that out then... Fingers crossed it’ll run on my computer

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 14:16

Even without notes, I’m really enjoying this game. I just got back from rally school and the cars are driving just like they should. Rotating with the brake on the mini was great once I adjusted the brake bias.

Using a g27. I was actually able to win one rally with the mini. Really hoping for pace notes soon

The Stig's Canadian Cousin > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 14:27

No pacenotes for me either. Not sure if this is actually a bug or if there’s actually no audio recorded for this yet. Do other people hear the audio pacenotes?

I was able to get a 7th place finish (overall on the first 4 stages) even without the notes on courses I’ve never gone through before. I just took it easy and didn’t live by the “when in doubt, flat out” moto.

I’ve been using my new Thrustmaster T300RS and it works well, though I will say that the steering feels loose, even with the wheels settings all at 100% and no deadzones.

I’ve read elsewhere that although there aren’t console versions planned, that if the game is finished and sells well on PC, that they may put out a console version. It’s likely that they will, but it’s just not something that’s in the works right now.

The Stig's Canadian Cousin > Do-Rif-To
04/28/2015 at 14:31

They’re going to have both paved and unpaved pikes peak, though I’m not sure if the unpaved is the partially unpaved one from a few years back or the original.. Would be cool to have 3 versions. Totally unpaved, half paved, and newly paved.

Haimatox > The Stig's Canadian Cousin
04/28/2015 at 14:33

Apparently the pacenote bug is only for US downloads.

The Stig's Canadian Cousin > TheJWT
04/28/2015 at 14:33

Some of the stages are about 4-5 mins.. They’re noticeably longer than dirt3

Burrito de EJ25 > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 16:09

What I want is a progression system similar to the ones you get in Forza/GT6. Where you start off in a dumpy old N/A Impreza, modify it, and move on from there to the big leagues.

It doesn’t look THAT good, by the way. They’re using the last ten graphical engine rather than the new one that’s being used for the new F1 game. That part really bums me out.

Graphics are not the reason it isn’t coming out on consoles anytime soon, too. There isn’t a system in place on any of the machines that’s similar to that of Steam’s Early Access and the game is a ton more serious than the main Dirt games. It's a more niche product.

KirkyV > Milky
04/28/2015 at 16:34

I believe the plan is to put out a console version once it’s out of Early Access, as I don’t believe either console has an ‘unfinished games’ section.

KirkyV > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 16:37

I’m gonna get it, but I suspect my lack of wheel will give me some trouble. I’d just buy a G27, but I hate the idea of paying out that kind of cash and then being unable to play, say, Forza with it. (Not that it’s any fault of Logitech.)

aquila121 > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 18:19

Is there persistent damage/limited repair time between stages? That’s something that I sorely miss from some of the Colin McRae series entries.

Haimatox > aquila121
04/28/2015 at 19:02

Yup.

aquila121 > Haimatox
04/28/2015 at 20:03

First stage: made it through the last two shakedowns without rolling, said “Let’s race!” During race event, passed the end-point of shakedown and almost immediately had an off. Rolled my Mini four times, drove the last tenth of the stage with a flat right front tire. Came in 7th. Grinning like an idiot.

Give me pace notes, and I’ll be so happy. Also, I do need a racing wheel.