Dirt 4

[CuriousMike]

Pre-loading atm.

I put ~ 225 hours into Dirt Rally - by far-far the most hours I've put into any game in the last 15 years.

I'm totally stoked for Dirt 4 - looking forward to multiplayer Rally stages a la Dirt 3.

Gamer Mode vs Simulation Mode - HA HA.

Simulation Mode all the way baby!

 

[futurefields]

Let us know if its as good as Rally

 

[shortylickens]

We have so many Dirt games and they all feel the same. Do we need another one?

 

[EXCellR8]

Preordered it... kind of regret it. I put in over 100 hours into Rally and this one just isn't that. Playing in sim mode with no aid and MT and it feels like Dirt Rally but there's clearly something odd with it. For starters the graphics aren't great and I'm maxed out on UHD. My biggest complaint however are the track designs... they are fun to drive but are clearly made up of sections that are reused in different ways throughout each stage--kind of dumb.

I do like the game but Rally was amazing in terms of difficulty and despite the lack of locales it was a terrific game. 4 is good, but honestly I am disappointed. I am playing on the "demanding" difficulty (around +85% XP) and it's a walk in the park. Dirt Rally always surprised me in that I though I was boss but then found myself careening off into the woods or getting caught up on the edge of the trail.

Haven't gotten to the online part yet but it looks like the events are set up similarly to Rally. I'll keep playing it, but I'm not really sure if I'd recommend it yet.

 

[CuriousMike]

It's not Dirt Rally 2 -- that's for sure.
I picked sim mode assuming it would be Dirt Rally handling. It is not.

Graphically, it seems like it's a step back.

Until you get into Wales at dusk -- it's amazing.

It's a Dirt game, not a Dirt Rally game... I need to adjust my expectations.

The first 1.5 hours, I wasn't digging it.
The last 1.5 hours, I was starting to have fun with it.

The difficulty ( well, the AI times ) are a walk in the park for that first 2 hours -- but they do get more competitive as it goes on.
Dirt Rally difficult? Not yet. But it *is* improving.

 

[EXCellR8]

I played Rally not 15 minutes before diving into 4 and it certainly feels similar in sim mode, but it's too forgiving with both handling and track design.

the graphics are definitely puzzling to me; I updated my drivers to the 17.6.1 version prior to playing. everything looks pretty flat during the day though and wtf is up with that random fog attack nonsense. pretty sure fog doesn't roll in that fast and leave just as quickly lol

 

[Dankk]

It's a Dirt game, not a Dirt Rally game... I need to adjust my expectations.

This is the most important thing.

I've only put a couple of hours into DiRT 4 so far, but I'm completely thrilled with it. It's probably the largest and most comprehensive offroad-racing package that a video game has ever offered, in my eyes.

But, Dirt: Rally it is not. If you're only interested in "pure" rally driving, and the simulation aspect is really important to you, then stick with Dirt: Rally. For me, the "simulation mode" in DiRT 4 feels close enough. I think I'm impressed more than anything... I assumed that the driving model wouldn't be super realistic, since it's a mainline DiRT game. But I think it actually feels great to play.

The graphics are fine. Not much of a step above DiRT 3; but to be fair, DiRT 3 had really good graphics for its time (and I think not enough people appreciated that when it released in 2011). Anyway, the game's not a technical powerhouse by any means, but it runs at ~100fps in 1440p on my RX 480 without a hitch, which is good. 144hz freesync renders the game like butter.

DiRT 4 is a well-polished racing game with both quantity and quality. Not a simulator, but it hits that really nice "simcade"-type driving model that most of the other Codemasters racing games are known for (like the GRID games). It gets my personal recommendation for sure.

 

[CuriousMike]

The graphics are fine. Not much of a step above DiRT 3; but to be fair, DiRT 3 had really good graphics for its time

The thing is, some stages look incredible. It's like they're modeling lighting too well - and drab days look drab.
I feel like they must have a new art director who decided for the more "realistic, muted" look.

When you get to some venues at dusk (in particular), or in the shadows with wet road surfaces... it just looks awesome.
But then the other 75% of the time it looks drab...

 

[Smoblikat]

Ive played Dirt 1, 2 (my fav), 3, and Rally. I enjoyed Dirt 2 the most, with dirt Rally being in second, followed by 1, and finally 3. Theyre all very fun but even on the hardest difficulty most of the AI is useless. Eventually I want to get a sick racing wheel with an H pattern shifter and a meaty clutch pedal. I can see myself having infinite amounts of fun with somthing like that. As soon as winter hits again I get to do fun stuff like that IRL too.......

 

[guskline]

Dirt 4 is a load of fun.

 

[ronbo613]

I have nearly 400 hours on Dirt Rally, thanks to the long PacNW winters and fact I only have a few games. I've found the more you play, the better you get. Take some time off and get back on it, you find yourself a few steps back. Compared to the other Dirt games(I think I had Dirt 2 and Dirt 3), as well as Forza games on XBox, I find Dirt Rally to be the closest feeling to actual driving. At this point, Dirt Rally seems limited, stage and vehicle-wise, but I've gotten my money's worth out of it. I haven't played it for a few weeks, so it will be almost like starting over when I play again. Buying Dirt Rally during early access turned out to be a great deal, but I am on the fence about Dirt 4 and will probably wait and see on it.

 

[CuriousMike]

Buying Dirt Rally during early access turned out to be a great deal, but I am on the fence about Dirt 4 and will probably wait and see on it.

Doing the "wait and see" approach is valid at this point - I do want to re-iterate that you need to pay attention to reviewers who have more than a few hours in the game.
A lot of the negative sentiment ( mine included ) was derived from that initial play.
I'm about 10 hours in now and it continues to get better.

 

[EXCellR8]

I'm about 12 hours in now and it's grown on me some... but I'm not sure how long it'll keep me entertained. Once you start building up a good team in career mode and start more in-depth tuning it begins to get a bit more rewarding. I do like the repair system after getting through a few stages; the better you drive the less you need to pay for repairs and upgrades etc. Acquiring sponsorships also helps the cash flow in but there aren't many good ones you can load up at once. I did start the RX series which is pretty fun, as it was in Rally, but unless you crank up the difficulty the AI struggles a bit. I haven't done Landrush yet...

 

[ronbo613]

Once you start building up a good team in career mode and start more in-depth tuning it begins to get a bit more rewarding. I do like the repair system after getting through a few stages; the better you drive the less you need to pay for repairs and upgrades etc.

One of the negatives for me with Dirt Rally is once you buy all the cars, what's the point of earning more CR?

I haven't done Landrush yet...

I think the RX is the worst part of Dirt Rally, but I did enjoy the Landrush truck racing in previous Dirt editions.

 

[guskline]

Well I couldn't resist. Went to BestBuy today and bought a Thrustmaster T150 racing wheel with pedals. Now Dirt 4 is REALLY a blast.

 

[EXCellR8]

anyone still playing this on PC?

i'm about 30hrs in and I'm pretty hooked on it at the moment. been doing the daily deltas and competitive events religiously and I'm almost done with the career mode (level 36) with a 30 car garage. i do hope they add some more vehicles to the mix along with a few more locales, but I do like the current offerings.

one thing i do miss is the hillclimb/trailblazer events that were in previous Dirt games.

 

[CuriousMike]

I'm at the 35 hr mark, having fun.
I'm spending 1/2 my time in career mode ( now in the "classics" career ) and the other 1/2 looking for players to do multiplayer rally races with.

I don't like RallyCross ( didn't like it in DR either ).

Player availability for MP is really hit and miss... mostly miss.

anyone still playing this on PC?

i'm about 30hrs in and I'm pretty hooked on it at the moment. been doing the daily deltas and competitive events religiously and I'm almost done with the career mode (level 36) with a 30 car garage. i do hope they add some more vehicles to the mix along with a few more locales, but I do like the current offerings.

one thing i do miss is the hillclimb/trailblazer events that were in previous Dirt games.

 

[EXCellR8]

are you able to create and set up custom Rally events like in Freeplay? for whatever reason i've found those randomly-generated routes to be a lot more fun than what the career had been offering up.

 

[CuriousMike]

For MP, I generally setup rally (simulation) events and use the random generator - it works well enough for my purposes. I know that sometimes you can "recognize turns" ... but really, it's random enough that you can't memorize it all.
And I tend to pick Wales ... in the morning... with light rain...

I don't think the random routes are any better or worse than the career mode routes... they all feel the same ( their locales ) -- just the turns are different.

are you able to create and set up custom Rally events like in Freeplay? for whatever reason i've found those randomly-generated routes to be a lot more fun than what the career had been offering up.

 

[guskline]

My son-in-law was having a great time for almost 2 hours yester day playing Dirt 4 on my 5960x/GTX1080/Dell U3415W rig with a ThrustMaster T150 Wheel and pedals setup.

 

[EXCellR8]

Fearless preset is no joke... thought I would boss it no prob but after about 20 seconds I was rolled over in a ditch... damn.

The way the tracks are laid out has kind of grown on me, like there is enough variety in each stage to make me want to keep playing. In freeplay I just let it add random routes and for the most part they are all enjoyable. Good way to make an extra buck... except I pretty much have all of the cars I want and my garage isn't even upgraded to 50. The only reason I'm even buying more is to participate in the Owner's Club events online.

Great game though, and unlike Dirt Rally I can actually endure Sweden without it feeling like an absolute workout.

Still missing the trailblazer mode though... no co-driver and/or pace notes made for some intense online races.

 

[EXCellR8]

holy crap my last post in this thread was a month ago!

anyway I've played this game to death but I'm still nowhere near the 150 or so hours I spent with Rallye. i think I'm level 42 but I've mostly been sticking to the competitive events. I can't get pro tour to work and before the last update the game kept crashing on me. i hope they can add some stuff in the near future because the joyride stuff just seems like filler content. it's fun, but after 10 minutes or so I get bored.

I also notice that no matter how I mix up my team livery and sponsors all of my cars pretty much look like shit lol

 

[CuriousMike]

I think I'm level 54 - I've completed the main Rally and Historical Rally careers. Maybe 60 hours in the game now.

I try to play multiplayer - but it's really hard to find people online to play. This is when I have the most fun with the game. I don't know where all the players are.

I've recently picked up playing the competitive (community) events - the dailies, weekly and monthly. Good way to build up in game currency - I can pull in 30-60k per day, compared to 3-15k playing multiplayer. (I wish there was a way to generate more cash playing multiplayer.)

I've tried the Truck racing ... and man. I cannot drive those things.

 

[EXCellR8]

I had a rough time with the trucks also... and the mini buggies but I'm champ @ RX and the stadium buggies are fun. I didn't find too many people to play with either.

the weekly and monthly events are def great for cash, but I don't really need it anymore. occasionally I'd pick up a new car just so I could do owners' club events but I don't really need anymore cars besides that. I do like the game a lot and I've saved a few really good courses but I'd like to see a bit more variety in stages. like the water splash in Michigan are always exactly the same sweeping left or right and the forest hairpins in the UK don't vary much.

I really liked the German stages in Rally since the asphalt was so uneven and unforgiving--but a different animal I suppose.

 

[EXCellR8]

Holy crap this is a big bump, sorry but...

CM recently added clubs and improved some bits of the game. I'm still playing on and off; still enjoying it to some extent. Really wish they would add a new location or two though as I've played the living hell out of all of the venues. I think the content curve would be a bit different for this title since the course are procedurally generated and whatnot--so might require additional testing or something idk. I'm at the point where I have a small fortune amassed but there's nothing for me to really do with it save for upgrade my team.

Screen space reflections have also been added but I didn't really notice much. My guess is that it will be more noticeable during stages with inclement weather.