We review the trajectory of Codemasters within the DiRT saga. The fifth numbered installment will be intergenerational, scheduled for October 2020.
The current DNA of Codemasters is configured from a golden stage for the genre. From those masses of pixels in the mud of Colin McRae Rally to talking about 120 fps in DIRT 5. Everything is possible in a franchise underwent a metamorphosis due to the sad death of the Scottish pilot.
After learning about the team's next move through the latest Inside Xbox, at FreeGameTips we reviewed the brand's journey since taking the DiRT name. We are on our way to three generations fighting against the clock.
From mud to show
The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 generation received the brand flyer. After two generations making fans of this aspect enjoy themselves with Colin McRae Rally, from Codemasters they wanted to put their imprint, their stamp that would start a new stage. In this way we would receive the first DiRT, which continued to have the nickname of the legend.
In strictly playable terms it felt like an updated and refined version of what had been seen so far on PlayStation 2 and co. The seriousness that characterized him gave way to a sequel that began to release his mane. The tests of always saw that they lost prominence after a variety of events that had mud as a common denominator. The off-road tests and the X Games went beyond the traditional stages. A sprint race aboard an SUV? It was possible.
It was in 2011 when DiRT 3 was carried away by the Jam Session commercial trend. The classic side was diluted to offer Rallycross tests, skill chains in environments full of obstacles, races and more. The Dirt Tour mixed all possible modes to follow in the wake of Ken Block's Ford. It included the latest version of the EGO Engine before making the leap to the next generation.
But before that, the company wanted to twist its arcade soul to the extreme. A year later Dirt: Showdown would arrive, a spin off that did not convince everyone because of how groundbreaking it was compared to what we were used to. That twist on something more like Destruction Derby was not the best decision.
Back to notebook
There was a sense of loss of identity that was wanted to be solved during the passage of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The DiRT follower had grown up emulating his idols on the edge of the fearbreaker. Perhaps as an experiment, in 2015 we received the first DiRT Rally. Although at first it came as early access on Steam, once it surpassed the 1.0 barrier we saw the first sample of the rally that we wanted almost five years later.
And is that the split of the brand to the nickname "Rally" allowed the SimRacers to take the wheel with him. And boy did they do it. Finally we felt again part of the sensations that left us pioneers like Richard Burns Rally in its version modified by the community. It was a battle between you and the environment, between respecting the terrain and brushing the fear of being in the next corner.
The time trial events coexisted with the entire Rallycross scene, since it had the FIA license for this modality. This agreement would extend to Dirt Rally 2.0, a sequel that made its debut in 2019. Contact with the track improved, help was provided for users with control and in general it felt like a much more educated product compared to its predecessor. If someone wants to bathe in mud, 2.0 is their game.
This kind of current, or spin off, would not leave out numbered deliveries. DiRT 4 landed in 2017 with the accessibility sign as the main identity sign. The rally was emphasized again, alongside a procedural leg generator that gave hours and hours of fun in the face of the unknown. The physics were simplified, as was the demand at the wheel. Within the arcade approach had its audience.
DIRT 5, balance is taste
What little we know about DIRT 5 aims to be a hybrid between the arcade that turned out to be the second installment with the variety of sections seen in other titles such as Onrush. The trailer they showed during the last Inside Xbox left us with a different, familiar flavor. The off-road sections were inevitably reminiscent of another of Evolution Studios' top sagas, Motorstorm, while the urban circuits showed a GRID soul.
The data so far points to more than 70 unique routes around 10 different locations, all with a day and night cycle and variable weather. Career mode is expected to take center stage. Actors like Troy Baker and Nolan North give voice to several of the icons that will protect us during our career.
Although the multiplayer has not been detailed, we will have local mode for up to four players in split screen for offline game modes. For enthusiasts of the best shots, a full photo mode will be offered.
DIRT 5 is one of the first titles that have been confirmed to be under the "Optimized for Xbox Series X" label. The game will make use of the capabilities of the new Microsoft console, offering 4K resolution, minimum load times and a display mode at 120 images per second. You will participate in the Smart Delivery program: buy a copy on xbox and enjoy it in its maximum version within its family of consoles.
For its part, the game will debut sometime next October on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC and Google Stadia.
