Grid was great, grid was the racing game that GT6 wasn't for me. GT6 was about modding, Grid was great racing.
And it's back...
I hope this add is hype though, too much arcade and not so much racer. Though as per my previous post on Dirt4, a relaxed setup isn't the end of the world. Cars that don't behave as they do in real life is though. Codemasters, please don't mess this up, slicks grip OK?!
Looking at the last iteration it was also fairly hyped, but a bit more 'autosport' going on.
And here's a blast from the past, me, VE holden racing at Bathurst, I'd say until this generation the best racing on the hill on a console by far (for the love of all holey, don't do Shift Unleashed's version)...
Apologies for cataract filter - not only is it on a PS3 but the record and replay process was akin to passing prison hooch through a sock to make it taste better... which it doesn't (doesn't for red at home either, for science).
So what to think. I think to topple the crown of PCars2 on PS4 is a good call, if they do that then Codemasters will have a good run into a sequel on PS5 (or whatever it's called). And of Assetto? Dead to consoles I think which is a shame, but not surprised, maybe next gen. GT Sport? LOL it's just an arcade game, which I think this will sit above somewhat (as a racer if nothing else). And GTR3 from Simbin? That's not going to happen, their site is not updated since early in the year when they posted up an advert for new developers. To be this late in the current console generation lifecycle you'd wait, test and do a launch title for the next - that's smart thinking, though no doubt they could use the coin from the PS4/XB1 brigade no doubt.
One thing is for sure, we didn't see this coming, and that can't be bad - always time for another player in the game.
So many people hate Dirt4. Coming in after Dirt Rally at a time when realism is becoming expected in rally games, and for arcade, there was Gravel (in or around then) it really didn't have a home.
And then there was the track 'builder' which made tracks on a whim, dial in length and complexity and it makes a new stage. Sounds great but in the hour or so I've played it I've started to see repetition, in fact on the same stage. Think of Scalextric and you're not far away from reality.
But... and it's a reasonably big but, I am actually digging it quite a bit at the moment, here's the reasons...
1. It was cheap. Really cheap. It's currently on sale in the PSN store for <$20 which means that if it's little more than a night's entertainment then it's worth it.
2. Cars. It has many cars. Old and new, and all are available from the outset in freerun mode. So I can run GroupB 2wd or 4WD, WRC and more on rally stages.
3. Stadium trucks. Actually quite a laugh, not that I'll play them much but certainly a nice addition to the game.
4. The tracks. Hated by so many, but actually the reason I bought the game. Why? Well I like tarmac rally, and I'm loving another discount game, WRC7, at the moment but it's limited in it's car selection. To the point that it's a playthrough game and then really that'll be it. But, I want to take cars on roads and enjoy ragging them about. And Dirt4 will do that. I can create a long open track to race on a night stage or, as I have done already a super short stage that's complex, ala hill climb. And this is ace.
So, as a package, it isn't half bad. If you want to recreate a genuine WRC rally I can see the problem. But if you hanker for a quick rally, or to have a go in a few cars then this is not half bad. What's more you can save stages (so don't lose them) and try them with different cars.
And what about the physics? Not bad. There's sim and arcade (or something like that) and I chose sim and was pleasantly surprised. Then I tried arcade and went back to sim. Arcade is bad mmmkay.
I can't say they're realistic - I didn't crash anywhere near enough. But I think, like how you want to drive is about right. Not too much oversteer and not too much grip. The replays don't do it justice actually, making it look like the cars are crabbing.
And here is a reply, a short track in one of my favourite rally cars of all time in fact;
What am I comparing this too? I'll see if I can get the list out in order of preference:
WRC7 - I'm really liking the career mode in this. Just a great game.
Seb Loeb Rally - Dated graphics but a good solid rally game for sure.
Dirt4 - It's around about here, possibly above Seb, I'd chose this for an easy night's gaming!
Dirt Rally - An excellent game for sure, but damn hard to master.
WRC6 - So very slightly less polished version of WRC7, hence being lower, I'd have that first.
Dakar 18 - Only got this as it's on major sale. Ingredients are great, meal terrible. Undercooked by far.
I think that's the collection, I do have WRC5, it was part of a pack of three on discount, but all reviews say steer clear and as you can see from the collection I have plenty of tier one racers before I scrape really poor review games!
Would I buy Dirt4 at full retail? Absolutely not. I'd buy a current gen game or something else - it's just not a rally solution. But for less than the amount I've paid for a maccas (I was hungry OK!) I'd say it was well worth it, if only for the relative cholesterol benefit...
Still enjoying my little silver car. Still not named it - it's a tool to give me and my passengers adventure. Which it does, this last weekend was a road trip to the Gold Coast and back.
This needs sound, it really really needs sound. About as much as I need to buy an Alfa about now.
Amazing. Pro tip, the engine is the 3.2 V6 that's in the pricey 147 GTA, the pricer and more exclusive 156 GTA and rather handily the much-maligned Alfa GT. Car sales online hunting begins (for a couple of years I might add).
Credit to David Ceroni who may put up a copyright notice, but it'll need to be in English cos I don't know what cease and desist is in Italian (always got a slap first)...
