Review: New racing game a 'dirty' delight

NASCAR enthusiasts and Formula 1 fans might turn their nose up at off-road and Rally racing, but they should reserve judgment until they've climbed behind the wheel of Codemasters' "DiRT."

It's a brand-new mud-splattering racing game that serves as a successor to the company's best-selling Colin McRae driving series.

Available for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and Windows-based PCs, "DiRT" offers racing types including European-style Rally circuits, where drivers race point-to-point in countries such as England, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as in Australia and Japan.

And for the first time in the franchise, gamers can also tackle races from the U.S.-based C.O.R.R. (Championship Off-Road Racing) series, featuring up to 10 dune buggies or trucks speeding along on official C.O.R.R. tracks including Bark River, Michigan, and the Crandon off-road raceway in Wisconsin.

From the main menu -- which is as gorgeous and smoothly animated as the game itself -- you can choose to play a single race against the game's smart artificial intelligence or over the Internet with up to 100 people at the same time on a Rally track or more extreme Hill Climb race up a steep mountain.

But for a deeper commitment, the Career mode is a lot more gratifying, as you work your way up from a modest car to a world-class vehicle by spending points earned on new cars and upgrades.

More than 40 different officially licensed vehicles are in the game, covering 12 car class categories, including Colin McRae's prototype red R4 and Travis Pastrana's blue Subaru Impreza.

Whether you use a game pad controller or an optional (but recommended) racing wheel peripheral and pedals, the vehicles offer authentic handling, though sometimes they feel quite "slippery" on sharp turns.

Players can also tweak the handling for it to feel more like a simulation or an arcade game, or a bit of both.

Damage can also affect performance, which is divided into nine parts such as wheels, engine, suspension and bodywork. After a race you will have a chance to repair each of the damaged areas. Similarly, you can visit a Service Area prior to a race to tweak your car's performance.

Regardless of the game mode you choose, you can record and replay videos of your performance, which is captured with multiple cameras and pieced together for an impressive highlights reel.

"DiRT" is the summer's best -- and best-looking -- video game for racing fans. It offers a ton of solo and multiplayer options, plenty of cars and tracks to choose from, and captures the fast and frenetic racing that off-roading is known for. E-mail to a friend