"If you play only one racing game this year, let DiRT 2 be the one" - that's what reviewer Asad Khawer has to say about Codies' latest game. Read on to find out why...

Available on - PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Parental Rating - 10+ / 12+ / Teen for Mild Lyrics
Also known as - Colin McRae: DiRT 2 in Europe
Released - 8^th September 2009 on consoles; 1^st December on PC

Unlike our hardware reviews, this review isn't split into several sections. It's all on 2 pages, to ensure you don't have to click too much and providing an incentive for me not too ramble on too much. Otherwise you'll stop reading, and we don't want that, do we?

The Colin McRae rallying series of game has a long and illustrious history. The game changed a few years ago, when the latest addition to the franchise, DiRT, was introduced. While less of a challenge than previous versions, it had a broader appeal and was extremely enjoyable. It garnered praise from its critics, but they unearthed a few faults as well. Now, though, the series is back with the second rendition - DiRT 2. With Colin McRae's unfortunate death, the series needed to change direction ever so slightly and focus on other race drivers as well. They've done this by signing on pros like Ken Block, the internet sensation, Travis Pastrana, and Dave Mirra to race alongside you and coach you along the way. Your opponents put up quite a fight, but the vehicle damage and handling is relatively forgiving and the flashback feature from GRiD returns to ease your burden. This game isn't a simulator, but it is exciting and enjoyable as any other off-road racing title, and then some.

You get off to a nostalgic start - your first car, an old Subaru Impreza STi, was once driven by the late McRae. You'll be able to see how good vehicles are easily thanks to a 10 point rating system which measures acceleration, handling, and top speed. At first, what you drive won't be too hairy, but as the game progresses you'll unlock better, faster, and cooler vehicles. When you need to participate in a new race type, you'll need to purchase an "upgrade package" for that race type. This is mandatory, and you'll also be able to tweak seven different variables for tuning before every race. This, however, is optional, and is nowhere as complicated as the system that plagued NFS - ProStreet. Everything's clearly marked and explained and you'll be able to notice your changes immediately.

DiRT 2's intuitive control system, even if using a keyboard, helps ensure you won't lose track of where you are and will be able to keep your wheels in control. There's a wide variety of race types in the game, from rallies, to rally cross, to buggies, and more. There's also a range of different environments to race in - Morocco, London, Japan, and more. These variables help keep the game fresh and exciting, even though the car list spans only around 35 vehicles - not too much by today's standards, but not bad either. The vehicles look great, inside and out. You can customize the exterior with different liveries and the interior with a windshield and dashboard ornament - you'll unlock more of these as you progress. For the OCD types out there (me), you can even change what horn you've got installed and test it out in the next race. Vehicles get covered in dirt and grime as you drive, which is later washed off if you hit a patch of water. They'll even get deformed beyond recognition, and this isn't just aesthetic - you'll notice differences in handling and power if you go too crazy - trust me, winning isn't easy when you've got a wheel stuck at an awkward angle. You can even total the car, but the flashback system means this isn't usually tragic - just rewind, and start again. The environments, if anything, look even better - Morocco is adorned with lovely Arab houses, London gets that grimy, "megacity" feeling down just right and the expanses of sand in the U.S are beautiful. There are more of them, too, and you'll enjoy each and every one as you take in the details. The water, trees, sky, and related particle effects are stunning, with a personal favorite being the splash of water you'll get on the windscreen if you hit a patch of water while in the in-car view - the wipers will then come on to wash it off in what has to be the most believable and realistic water effect ever seen in a driving game. The soundtrack is great, edgy and comprised mostly of rock titles. The sound effects in races are thoroughly believable and immersive, and codriver and voiceover dialogue is great too. Overall, the visuals, audio, and control system leave very little to be desired and add much to the game.

Navigation is handled through your RV and the area around it. The RV is what you use to travel the world, and the first-person perspective adds to the feeling of actually being a race driver and lends the game a sense of realism. You can do everything seamlessly from here, go to the desk to choose an event from the map or step outside to check on your cars, customize them, or buy new ones. Magazines inside outline your career progress, and a notice on the wall lists the various multiplayer options. The online options are all fun, smooth, and impressive, and it's a cinch to get in and out of a nice game. The presentation is unique and beautiful, and once again, adds a lot to the experience.

You have up to 5 flashbacks at your disposal depending on which difficulty level you've chosen. There are six, and you can choose from them before every race if you want to. Flashbacks will let you resume from any point between the last 15 odd seconds of the race if you mess something up, and are a lifesaver in some of the longer races. Having to start over would be a nightmare, because you make mistakes not only due to your own errors but due to those of your opponents as well. They'll drive very believably, and occasionally one of them will fly off in a whirlwind of metal and dust as they crash off the track. However, therein lies one of the few problems in DiRT 2 - the driver relationship system. This feels entirely like an afterthought - basically, the development of relationships ties in to your progress and your actions during a race. However, it isn't really realistic - smashing into someone and causing them to spin might result in - "Hey, are you okay!?" - certainly not what I'd say if I was in a similar situation. This doesn't, however, detract from the overall experience and is a minor niggle in an otherwise great game.

On the consoles, the frame rate will never drop below 30 fps - entirely reasonable given the amount of detail in the environments and vehicles. On PC, frame rates are fantastic, and even I got around 40 fps on a medium level video card with only some of the settings turned down to medium. Overall, this isn't an area of concern for most PC gamers, and certainly not for console owners. The sensation of racing along is great, extremely immersive, and adds much to the enjoyment factor of the game. Replays at the end of each race will let you see the entire race again from start to finish - something I loved, not only to see my Subaru sliding over the dirt effortlessly, but to get a chance to admire the beautiful environments in the game. The level of detail really is stunning. In certain race types, you'll race with a codriver. And unlike most other games, in which this is a largely useless feature, listening to the instructions of the person sitting next to you will pay dividends and is borderline essential if you want to come first. My only minor nitpick would be that the terms used are a bit... professional. I wasn't immediately sure what to do when I first heard "60 left easy", which meant I slammed into a tree. Once you get used to this, though, you'll love it. Once again, it really aids the feeling of realism while racing along. Your codriver will react realistically too; you'll hear a muffled scream after a hard crash and words of reassurance after a minor scrape.

DiRT 2 is a very special game. The game play is challenging but forgiving, everything in the game is meticulously detailed and the in-car camera has to be one of the most realistic and immersive in recent memory. There's a single player mode which will take even avid gamers long times to finish (there's a 100 events, many comprising multiple races), and a plethora of multiplayer options. The menu system and presentation through an RV is a stroke of genius, and you'll love seeing it fill up with souvenirs and trophies as you race. If you only play one racing game this year, let it be this one.

OVERALL RATING - 9.3 [Not an average]
Presentation - 9.5
Visuals - 9.8
Sound - 9.2
Gameplay - 9.5
Longevity - 9.3