Colin McRae: Dirt 2

The great man himself may have passed into legend, but a small part of Colin McRae lives on in the long-running series of racing games that bears his name.

The latest entry in the 11-year-old franchise is, however, a very different proposition from previous realistic rally simulations.

Dirt 2 drops most of the authenticity in favour of a more accessible ‘extreme sport’ approach.

True point-to-point rally racing forms only a small part of the game’s career mode, which mixes up a variety of different off-road racing disciplines to the tune of a high-energy rock soundtrack. For the most part this is a success.

Arcade-like head-to-head rallycross, dune buggy and stadium races are exhilarating additions and help to make the multiplayer element of the game more enjoyable.

As ever, the handling feels very natural, but the effects of vehicle damage are relatively forgiving and can be turned off altogether. And if you make a mistake, it’s even possible to rewind time and carry on like it never happened.

The PC release of Dirt 2 is notable for being one of the first titles to support Microsoft’s new DirectX 11 graphics standard. Since there are currently only a handful of DirectX 11 graphics cards available, this is something few will currently be able to take advantage of.

Even without the DirectX 11 effects switched on though, the game’s visuals are stunning.

Purists may bemoan Dirt 2’s lack of realism but the game’s environments, tracks and licensed car models themselves are all incredibly true to life.