Thanks to Koch Media we could try Dirt Rally 2.0, a new chapter in the franchise that debuted in 2015 and which was considered by many to be the best rally game available on the market. Four years after that chapter (three years after the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions) the boys of Codemasters are preparing to return us to the hard and dirty world of rallying.
As is not usual, let's leave the gameplay aside for a second to talk about everything Dirt Rally 2.0 offers in terms of modes. Several single player modes, a solid multiplayer sector and a well-established infrastructure of classic and evergreen modes that do not offer a great flicker in terms of inventiveness but serve for lovers of the genre to feel at home (this is the example of the classic time trial) ; in short, whether it is a single race, the myTeam mode or the rallycross championship, whether it is a race with classic cars of the past or an online multiplayer race, Dirt Rally 2.0 has everything an enthusiast looks for in a title like this. So why this beginning?
Because in our opinion Dirt Rally 2.0 really focuses on cementing the fan base of enthusiasts who have almost made it a religion of rally and racing video games by Codemasters. The eye to the future, the innovations and improvements are not here, in the game modes, which instead serve as a link with what the British software house has always done so far with its productions.
On the playful experience side, on the other hand, Dirt Rally 2.0 tries to raise the bar by taking the road of maximum realism, of the almost pure simulation of a discipline - that of rallying - which often does not receive the consideration it should for spectacularity and complexity. The first major introduction is the effects of terrain type on driving; now, in fact, every type of terrain affects the grip of the tires, the maneuverability of the car when cornering, the braking times to face the curves and the brake play (i.e. the amount of pressure to be put on the brake in order to better deal with each type speed maneuver). Tackling muddy terrain, gravel-filled terrain, or an asphalt road drastically changes the way you drive (just like in reality), imposing on the player the extreme knowledge of the types of tracks and their way of being tackled. On the sidelines of this there are also the atmospheric conditions that obviously affect, change and increase the variety of in-game terrains, with the consequent further increase in the variables "on the track".
The second big news is instead the work done by Codemasters with professional pilots to move the simulation bar, even at the driving level, to the next level. We are therefore talking about improvements to the car physics, to the responsiveness of the controls but also to responsiveness to errors, every small flaw will lead you to have to do great miracles to save the situation especially if you play with the steering wheel (certainly the best way to take advantage of the title). The car reacts to the landslide, reacts to the damage to the car that can occur if you are not careful, and to the thousand factors of a discipline that is not only "risking your skin" but also control of the nerves and feline reflexes. All this work is a godsend for those who want a pure, faithful and extremely satisfying game in terms of difficulty payback. Dirt Rally 2.0 wants to be able to offer a complete experience capable of reproducing every minimum aspect of the discipline and in our opinion - as far as we have been able to see and experience - the intentions seem to have been achieved in a very satisfactory way.
Dirt Rally 2.0 in this test seemed to us a demonstration of strength, of perfectionism, despite the need to wait for what contents and surprises will come with the launch of the title. Dirt Rally 2.0 is the expression of Codemasters' will not to rest on the laurels of the success of the first chapter, but to push even more at full speed. Just like the Rally drivers who, on the thin edge of risk, close their eyes and push the accelerator pedal.
