Dirt 3 came out on Tuesday, and reviews for Codemasters’ rally racer are in. Dirt 2 scored in the mid to high 80’s, and earned a Metacritic score of 89 for PC, and 87 for both PS3 and Xbox 360. By the looks of things Codemasters has pulled off another impressive feat with Dirt 3, which is sitting on a Metacritic score of 88 for PC, 89 for Xbox 360, and 88 for PS3.
Dirt 3 sees the return of the classic blend between arcade and simulation racing, with the majority of the action taking place across classic off-road terrain. Players will earn reputation points by performing well, and reputation points will be used to unlock new tracks and vehicles. The game makes use of the flashback system from Dirt 2, which allows players to pause a race and rewind to an earlier point, thereby circumventing race spoiling crashes. These, however, cost reputation points.
New to Dirt 3 is the gymkhana mode, which challenges players to pull of unique tricks with their cars while navigating obstacle courses.
We are busy working on our review, but in the meantime, here is what other critics have had to say about Dirt 3:
Giant Bomb 5/5
Everything fans of the series have come to love in past games has been tuned and upgraded, making it feel an awful lot like the definitive off-road racing game. Read more
Gametrailers 9.2/10
Dirt 3 really does have something for drivers at every level, offering a surprising amount of variety. It’s a strong package overall, with beautiful landscapes and an exhilarating sense of speed, making it perfect for anyone who wants to take a not-so-quiet drive through the woods. Read more
Dirt 3 introduces snow
Destructoid 9/10
This game is freaking massive, with a steadily increasing difficulty that will leave you feeling like a bonafied rally racer when it’s all said and done. That’s all I’ve ever really wanted out of a racing game.
Read more
Edge 9/10
A vast, almost encyclopaedic look at the united nations of rally, Dirt 3 doesn’t feel definitive despite America – it wouldn’t feel definitive without it. Read more
Videogamer.com 9/10
It’s got the looks, the style, the superb sense of speed, and spot-on handling model that blurs the line between sim and arcade. It also introduces Gymkhana and with it excellent potential for players becoming addicted to going for new high scores. What it doesn’t do is innovate in the racing game genre, generally making refinements where needed rather than redefining what’s expected in a modern racer. Read more
Dirt 3 cockpit view
Gameinformer 8.75/10
Codemasters has made a good name for itself with this franchise’s heart-pounding racing and arresting graphics – which are even more striking with the inclusion of night driving and falling snow. The renewed focus on rally racing and the addition of Gymkhana keeps it in good shape, even as it pares down some of its previously interesting career aspects. Read more
IGN 8.5/10
While the agent isn’t the best leader through the tour, and the garage is limited in its operation, the solid gameplay, variety of tracks and events, and overall fun factor make this a terrific game.
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Gamespot 9/10
Dirt 3 is a superb off-road racer that adds some great new features and improves upon its predecessor at just about every opportunity. Read more
Joystiq 4.5/5
It has the capability to convert people who aren’t particularly interested in rally racing to addicts who need just one more race or Gymkhana event. It would seem that Codemasters’ love for the sport is infectious.
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Eurogamer 9/10
Codemasters has succeeded in curating another superlative festival of driving. It’s a package more inclusive than any of its predecessors, shot through with the quiet innovations that have defined the studio’s more recent efforts. With its off-road events celebrating the series’ past and Gymkhana presenting a potentially bright new future, it’s another great racing game from an outfit that’s proving itself to be a master of its craft. Read more
Dirt 3 is currently available in local retailer stores around SA. The MyGaming Shop has a couple of copies left in stock, don’t forget to use your R100 discount voucher (“mygaming”).
Dirt 3 PC R339
Dirt 3 PS3 R509
Dirt 3 Xbox 360 R509
Dirt 3 gymkana track
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