Dirt Showdown

Blog Post: Demolition At Its Finest

Mike Mahardy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:58:00 GMT

This review was written for Gaming Nexus.

DiRT Showdown is a bold undertaking. Developer Codemasters has never exactly stuck to the norm when it comes to the racing genre, and their newest title is no different. While most racing games encourage player progress with a steady mix of new tracks and vehicles, Showdown uses the game modes themselves to add variety to the mix. The premise is solid, and it is executed well, but fatigue eventually sets in.

As soon as the main menu pops up on-screen, you'll be prompted to sign up for Race Net, a social tracking service that spans all future Codemasters titles. After every single event in Tour mode, the option to challenge a friend will be offered. Bonuses such as in-game money and vehicles are dangled on a stick in front of the player, who will be rewarded merely for taking their racing online. Codemasters wants you to spread the word about this game, and they make no attempts to hide that fact.

For all of the annoying prodding, multiplayer does give a glimpse of the best aspects of the game. A few modes are exclusive to the online scene, including Smash and Grab. Essentially a new take on Halo's Oddball, drivers must learn the course quickly if they want to accumulate points. The added unpredictability of human-controlled cars racing alongside you spices the sometimes-monotonous events up, seeing as how the single player modes are surprisingly easy.

The new physics engine in Showdown allows the player to acclimate quickly. In fact, I realized that I was over thinking the drift and donut controls of the gymkhana events. All it takes is the tap of a button, and the occasional flick of an analog stick, and it's all smooth sailing from there. Although the simple controls do wonders to increase accessibility for players new to the racing genre in general, a lot more depth would have kept me on the edge of my seat at every turn. This much-needed shot in the arm is all the more apparent after about five hours into the single player game.

The first circuit of Tour mode is thrilling. Just when I though I had mastered one event, another would throw those rules out the window, forcing me to adapt. Demolition derby type events kept me tense as I avoided oncoming crashes, and trick-based sequences allowed me to master the somewhat easy controls of the gymkhana events. Traditional races require precise turning later in the single player game, while the collisons in demolition derby events increase in frequency as the AI becomes more accurate and cunning. The dirty maneuvers that are encouraged during races also became more pervasive, requiring the player to watch their back at all times. Although their is no cockpit view this time around, the game does a great job of immersing the driver with constant action everywhere you look. The stage is set for an enticing game, but the flaws soon become apparent. The problem with single player, multiplayer, the entire game really, is that it becomes boring after about six hours.

The game modes can only go so far when it comes to creating an engaging experience. It's the lack of content that really disappoints. Halfway through the second difficulty tier of Tour mode, and I had experienced just about every track. That would be fine if there were only two tiers, but there aren't; there are four. The dwindling roster of venues became even more apparent when it was clear that Codemasters simply implemented new time of day and weather effects to create a new aesthetic for the same exact tracks. Although the game is gorgeous as far as visuals go, the added snowfall doesn't change the fact that I had completed the same exact race three times in a row. There isn't a huge amount of vehicles to choose from either. Aside from a few late-game anomalies, you'll probably end up sticking to the same few cars for each event type.

Again, the game looks great, much like Codemasters' previous installments in the series. Flecks of dirt spray out from tires appropriately, and the lighting is dynamic enough to create a real sense of placement on the tracks and arenas. The minimal supply of venues all have their own unique appeal to them. Michigan's mud-covered track and varied elevations provide a breath of fresh air from the single-planed venues that fill out the rest of the game. The trademark slow-motion crash cams are always entertaining, although I found myself skipping out on this mechanic just to finish the banal events. Aside form a commentator who butchers the rock-heavy soundtrack and the English language in general, the presentation of Showdown left little to be desired.

Showdown is a much shallower game than DiRT 3. There are added event types, yes, but the overly accessible controls and a lack of new content becomes tedious not too long into the title. If Codemasters could have integrated their innovative take on the racing genre with traditional aspects like varied tracks and vehicles, the overall package wouldn't have suffered as much. If you're looking for short-lived thrills in place of extended enjoyment, DiRT Showdown won't disappoint.

Blog Post: Turning Into Dust

Matthew Kato — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Dirt Showdown tries to tackle a tall order, and not because the game’s aggressive driving is a slight tweak on the sim-based off-roading of previous titles in the franchise. The progression path of a game like Gran Turismo entices gamers with a trickle of new cars, but since Dirt Showdown has to keep and hold players’ attention with exciting and unconventional ways to race, the stakes are higher. While Dirt Showdown creates a fun new avenue for the franchise, it’s hard pressed to sustain its surprises throughout the entire experience.[Excerpt]

As you make your way up the career ladder, you’ll hoot and holler at events like 8 Ball (the track folds in on itself and creates opportunities for jarring T-bones), demolition derbies such as Knockout (you drive opponents off a raised platform and earn double points in a last-minute frenzy), or Hoonigan’s Head 2 Head races that mix enclosed rally-cross tracks with gymkhana objectives. I expected this to be just the beginning, but as I progressed up the career tiers and wanted the game to expand and offer new race types and experiences, I was disappointed that this didn’t happen to the extent that I was hoping it would.

For its part, multiplayer does add some options. You can play any of the game’s race types in eight-player free-for-alls or with teams, or participate in multiplayer-only events like Smash and Grab (similar to Halo’s Oddball). The freestyle gymkhana compounds also return with multiple areas to open up and loads of objectives to knock down. Unfortunately, these free-form gymkhana areas are not open to multiplayer apart from leaderboards.

Despite Showdown’s limitations, as it has with its other games, Codemasters has provided this title with a solid foundation. The handling of the cars is thankfully easier than the base Dirt series (including in the Hoonigan events), and the balancing on the Boost ability is great. Codemasters’ first try at this offshoot series is decent. It’s limited more by its execution than its premise.

Wiki: Dirt Showdown Guides

Anonymous — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:35:00 GMT

Guides for Dirt Showdown

Blog Post: Rally plz

rokz — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:10:00 GMT

not buying it bring back Rally plz, and longer stages 3 mins stages are boring and too short...and put Loeb's name in there again not that knockoff Block that sucks a s s at Rally

Blog Post: Turning Into Dust

Matthew Kato — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:55:00 GMT

Blog Post: Turning Into Dust

Matthew Kato — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:55:00 GMT

Blog Post: Dirt Showdown Goes Full Throttle

Matthew Kato — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:18:00 GMT

Codemasters is going gonzo with Dirt Showdown, a game that combines various kinds of racing events into one enticing stew. Today the company unveiled a slew of details about the title, including its release date, online and demo plans, and in-depth gameplay footage.[Excerpt]

Dirt Showdown comes out for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on May 29, and will be proceeded by a demo (featuring one multiplayer- and one single-player event) on May 1. Players of the demo will also get to experience a taste of Codemasters new online endeavor: RaceNet.

RaceNet is a cross-title online profile that the company (now putting out Showdown under the Codemasters Racing publishing arm) will maintain no matter what Codemasters Racing game you play going forward. RaceNet keeps track of your stats and progress, but also features community features (including community challenges), online events, and awards. If you sign on to RaceNet during the demo period, you'll get a Founder Status award and a RaceNet XP boost.

Codemasters has also announced a special Hoonigan Edition of the game available at Walmart, which comes with an in-game cash boost, an online XP multiplier, and a clutch of car skins.

Be sure to check out the lengthy gameplay videos below (as well as new screens in the gallery) showing off different aspects of the game's various race events.

HOONIGANS GO HEAD 2 HEAD & SOME FREE-FORM GYMKHANA

[view:1571418412001]

MORE HOONIGANS

[view:1571343097001]

FIGURE 8 TRACK & A KNOCKOUT EVENT

[view:1571418463001]

Blog Post: Dirt Showdown Goes Full Throttle

Matthew Kato — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:18:00 GMT

Codemasters has also announced a special Hoonigan Edition of the game available at Walmart, which comes with an in-game cash boost, an online XP multiplier, and a clutch of car skins.

Be sure to check out the lengthy gameplay videos below (as well as new screens in the gallery) showing off different aspects of the game's various race events.

HOONIGANS GO HEAD 2 HEAD & SOME FREE-FORM GYMKHANA

[view:1571418412001]

MORE HOONIGANS

[view:1567762461001]

FIGURE 8 TRACK & A KNOCKOUT EVENT

[view:1571418463001]

Blog Post: Dirt Showdown Goes Full Throttle

Matthew Kato — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:18:00 GMT

Codemasters has also announced a special Hoonigan Edition of the game available at Walmart, which comes with an in-game cash boost, an online XP multiplier, and a clutch of car skins.

Be sure to check out the lengthy gameplay videos below (as well as new screens in the gallery) showing off different aspects of the game's various race events.

HOONIGANS GO HEAD 2 HEAD & SOME FREE-FORM GYMKHANA

[view:1571418412001]

MORE HOONIGANS

[view:1571343097001]

FIGURE 8 TRACK & A KNOCKOUT EVENT

[view:1571418463001]

File: Dirt Showdown's Hoonigans

Matthew Kato — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:24:00 GMT

Dirt Showdown's Hoonigans

File: Dirt Showdown 4.19.12