Now, before ya’ll start writing our usual vast host of EA criticism, downvoting this post or rolling your eyes so hard that you start to see Roman soldiers, hear me out.

EA bought out Codemasters’ beloved franchise DiRT games and now subsequent WRC license this year so they’re going all out. Codemasters had already done some work here so, props to them as well! DiRT Rally 2.0 was my favourite game… until now.

The tracks are marvelous, the colour, detail on all necessary things is there. Of course, this game has been plagued by some performance issues and usual bugs in the Ul but reactions are a mixed bag. I think it’s okay to wait a few weeks to get these sort of small problems out of the way. Updates are coming in steadily and the public is adhering, reviews are positive overall and the players are excited to see how this develops in the coming future, myself included.

The thing that stood out to me the most was the sound experience. Being a rally fan has put me at the forefront of risking blowing out my eardrums by standing by the tracks when our local rally is going on, but it is worth it!

Those pure engine sounds are soul-filling, dream-enhancing melodies that soothe my impulse to get all my savings together and just by a project car just so I can join these guys - my wife would not be happy about that.

The engine sounds are realistic and characteristic of each car - as Codemasters had already showed they could do in DR2.0 - this game just takes it a step further. Hard acceleration is rewarded by a umpf in older cars, while not drowning out high RPM sounds. The rev-hang on older manual transmission cars is audible enough to feel realistic, but there’s no sound for when you cock it up and nail a gear without clutch in (weird?) It should sound as if there were nuts&bolts throwing a party down there.

I know racing/rally games are not this sub’s favourite but anyway, I hope this can reach some rally fans or car enthusiasts in general here, I really appreciate the work being put into this game and wait for a long support from EA. The bar was set high and they did deliver on some big fronts.

^(Car in the photo is the Escort MK2, video.)