Dirt Rally 4 is a racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for Microsoft Windows. A Steam Early Access version of the game was released on 27 April 2015, and the full version was released on 7 December 2015. PlayStation 4, Xbox One and physical PC DVD versions were released on 5 April 2016.
Dirt Rally 4 follows in the footsteps of DiRT Rally and once again offers a clear focus on classic off-road racing against the clock. Codemasters has also secured the official FIA rallycross license again. On the official courses of the World Cup, we deliver bitter head-to-head races with our competitors. In Landrush mode we drive special round courses with buggies and trucks and in Joyride mode we should experience special modes such as destruction derbies in open arenas.
In career mode, we take care of sponsors and lead our team to the top of the world. Over 50 rally cars are in the garage at Dirt Rally 4, racing locations include Australia, Spain, Michigan, Sweden & Wales. With the course editor Your Stage we can have new courses designed by the random generator. Codemasters also wants to improve the online mode Racenet in Dirt Rally 4 and offer a driving school for beginners.
Game or simulation? You have to ask yourself this question right from the start. Because Codemasters, as an alternative to the significantly simplified control system designed for the game pad, actually offers the demanding driving physics that is known from the celebrated rally simulation. And the differences are huge: While the licensed off-road racers have excellent traction under the gamer setting and appear comparatively tame, here under sim conditions you have to fight just as hard with breaking out tails, significantly more sensitive steering and the balance of the car like the big brother.
You can feel not only the different driving characteristics of front, rear and all-wheel drive vehicles, but also the effects of the floor coverings on the level of grip. The fantastic driving experience unfolds especially with a steering wheel and force feedback, but off-road trips are also a pleasure with the controller.
Dirt Rally 4 inspires with a claim that one would not have believed in the main series, which is more designed for arcade. This not only applies to the driving physics, but also to the extensive setup options for the chassis, brakes and transmission, which allow detailed settings on the cars. This is simply great and makes Dirt Rally 4 interesting for the target group that has already been addressed with DiRT Rally. That should also be right
The fight against the clock and nature in historical and modern rally bodies is the focus. The fight against the clock and nature in historical and modern rally bodies is the focus. Sober presentation, which with a strong license soundtrack, briskly staged repetitions and introductory videos gets a bit of a kick, but still clearly bears the handwriting of the simulative brother.
At the same time, however, you will not be offended by the fans of the series so far, because in addition to the accessible gamer driving physics, there are also plenty of optional driving aids from ABS to traction control and even an extensive driving school where you can learn the art at the DiRT Academy learned to drive in rally in numerous lessons – and no longer just with small films, but also in practical use on practice tracks.
However, if you continue to expect cool Gymkhana stunts or a stylish action staging with a pyro show in the style of the X-Games, you will be disappointed. Only the challenges of Smash Attack and Time Trial, which have been relegated to the jaunt tour mode, still hold the arcade flag high if you drive the display over the top or secure important time bonuses by collecting symbols. Apart from that, people prefer to devote themselves to real motorsport disciplines …
Don’t worry, this decision can be changed later and fine-tuned in several parameters, the variety of settings in Dirt Rally 4 is exemplary extensive and in this regard on par with genre primus Forza Motorsport 6, including prize money bonuses for higher difficulty levels.
Beginners, for example, activate driving aids such as ABS and brake assistants and look forward to the significantly and sensibly expanded driving school (DiRT Academy) compared to DiRT Rally. There are no longer just self-running films, but a total of 27 playable lessons, in which you learn, for example, how to quickly steer a vehicle through a maneuver over a course or start it manually.
On the other hand, there is no rewind function, and yes purists can now turn their noses up and down. But if you mess up the last curve at the end of a long stage and miss the best time and place 1 sticking in front of a tree, it can be quite frustrating if you only have the (depending on the degree of difficulty limited) possibility of a complete restart.
In terms of scope, you can hardly reproach Dirt Rally 4, there are a total of over 50 rally and off-road vehicles and theoretically an infinite number of rally courses thanks to the new “Your-Stage” route generator. Here we set the complexity and length of the slope with two controls and shortly afterwards we get a randomly created course spit out.
This works very quickly and absolutely without any problems, but the lines are somewhat generic due to the generator. Too bad: There are only five manageable settings (Australia, Spain, Sweden, USA and Wales) and the route generator can only be used for the fight against the clock and not for the other racing disciplines.
We really like the integrated career mode, even though we only look at individual events and championships in a very generic way, climb in the “reputation” rank and thus in turn unlock new races and available vehicles. Much of the motivation is surprisingly off-piste, because we also have to take care of our racing team, hire personnel such as chief mechanics and technicians and create the basics with purchased systems and buildings, for example to be able to screw better parts into our speedster.
In addition, there are negotiations with sponsors, which even give us bonus goals for the individual racing events, such as completing a stage completely accident-free. This micro management is surprisingly a lot of fun, but the presentation of the career is not so much, because it turns out to be rather dull.
A victory at a championship, for example, is only celebrated unspectacularly with a little confetti and cheering spectators, cutscenes or similar atmospheric elements are in vain, just like the WRC license, which is still held by BigBen Interactive (WRC 6).
Technically, Dirt Rally 4 is roughly on the level of DiRT Rally and accordingly shares its strengths and weaknesses. The vehicle models look great, for example, the frame rate remains constant and the soundscape with the wonderfully rattling and roaring engine noises creates a great mood, especially in the cockpit perspective.
Unfortunately, it is only enough for the rating “solid”. The ego engine, which has been in use for many years, can no longer really keep up with more up-to-date creations such as the technical framework behind Project Cars 2 or Forza. But DiRT4 can at least book for itself that it runs absolutely smoothly on the PS4 – and that at any time.
The age of the engine with its relatively low hardware requirements also stands out positively on the PC. In addition, the sound in the game is pretty good. The engine noises are OK, many background noises such as the howling of the gears and the pattering of the stones on the underbody are well received and mixed. The soundtrack is also consistent.
Speaking of which, we are a little disappointed with them, more precisely with the choice of disciplines. Because compared to DiRT Rally, there is just a measly new racing variant (Landrush) added to the already known rallycross and stage rallies. Sure, all disciplines play differently and accordingly varied – especially the banging with the Landrush buggies and trucks on dust and mud slopes is a lot of fun.
In terms of variation, however, the now six-year-old direct predecessor DiRT 3 with gymkhana, head-to-head and trail blazer had much more to offer. There is loosening up in the form of small dexterity tasks away from your career in the “jaunt” mode, but here only two disciplines (“destroy as many signs as possible” or “get as fast as possible on a course”) are exhausted too much, just vary by Course design and vehicle selection.
Unsurprisingly, the developers leave nothing to be desired when it comes to driving, Dirt Rally 4 plays absolutely excellent with both the controller and the steering wheel. The gamer handling model forgives significantly more, you don’t have to worry about erupting car bodies with this setting, for example, while the simulation setting drives the sweat beads onto the forehead of even experienced players. In particular, the successful enemy AI keeps putting us under pressure, but it also makes mistakes – very nice.
In general, it is once again fascinating how well, for example, the differences between the individual vehicle classes are simulated, the difference between front, rear or all-wheel drive vehicles can be felt and the different floor coverings (asphalt, snow, sand, etc.) influence driving behavior.
Visually, the damage model could have been a little more detailed, but it is very “palpable” because technical ailments such as warped axles or a broken tire have a noticeable effect on driving behavior. Here Dirt Rally 4 is very similar to DiRT Rally, but the latter feels a bit more consistent in direct comparison.
After the outstanding and popular Dirt Rally, Codemasters is sending the Rally series with Dirt Rally 4 to another branch, which is again aimed at the general public and significantly reduces the level of difficulty. Even without all the driving aids, the newest part is much easier than Dirt Rally.
However, little has changed under the hood. The in-house EGO engine is used again. If not officially communicated, it is probably version 3.0 of the technology. At least this gives an idea of the graphics and graphics options. The EGO Engine 4.0 would remain reserved for the F1 series (F1 2015 and F1 2016).
In general, Dirt Rally 4 may have its obvious mistakes in some areas and still not offer the greatest scope, but the title’s outstanding gameplay cannot be emphasized enough.
Dirt Rally 4 is always fun, demanding and captivating. So it doesn’t give you enough time to think long about stuttering, a stupid line shift or ugly trees, because you have to focus too much on the mean courses and the biting AI or online opponents if you are the first to cross the finish line want to jet. The realignment of the dirt series is therefore not perfect, but it was very successful. Now you can give the Grid series a makeover.
With Dirt Rally 4, the racing game professionals from Codemasters prove that accessibility and a certain degree of simulation do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. For beginners as well as professionals, there is a lot to offer in terms of variety and setting options, especially beginners can look forward to a much flatter learning curve thanks to the DiRT Academy and the integration of the gamer handling model.
I also like the driving experience as well as the predecessors, the career is motivating – even if it is a bit dreary – and there is almost nothing to complain about in technical terms either. This makes Dirt Rally 4 a very successful racing game overall, which also deserves the hit rating.
Nevertheless, compared to the two predecessors (DiRT 3 and DiRT Rally), I lack that certain something, my own identity. Yes, many were excited about the neon look and the Gymkhana events at DiRT 3, but that made the game unmistakable for me, and the fun factor with the greater variety was even higher there.
Dirt Rally 4, on the other hand, impressed with its consistency and tough focus and is already a classic for simulation cracks. Dirt Rally 4 sits more between the chairs and wants to please everyone – but forgets to offer its own unique selling point.
That’s why I recommend the game to rally beginners who want to continuously improve their driving skills. DiRT rally players, on the other hand, do not necessarily have to switch unless they really want to play Landrush.
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