Long load times, short race

I was in the mood for a race simulation, which also uses DirextX11 functionalities. It is played on a 27 "monitor with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The computer hardware is an AMD II X4 635, 4GB of RAM and an ATI Radeon HD 6870 with 1GB of RAM. The computing power is absolutely sufficient. But To anticipate, a graphics card with 1GB of RAM is almost compulsory, already with half of graphics memory to increase the already unbearable long loading times for the circuits on the 4 to 6 times! It then waits almost as long as the actual race ever lasts. The graphics are beautiful z. T. almost too sharp and detailed. The cars are nice to look at. A good impression one gets when the demo of Dirt2 downloads. The graphics of Dirt2 if not designed at the same level even somewhat affectionate than Dirt3.

For the installation you have to bring time, it lasts about 30 to 40 minutes! The start of the game takes an eternity. Is really annoying that the game is initially switched once to windowed mode and Win7 now thinks on a Basic scheme having to change (without Aero). So clearing the warning window and turn with the game back to full screen mode. Although it has bought a freshly launched Complete Edition you will be pointed out that you can still buy 2 car packages. This and still skip an autosave warning. Then you can start at last. To get used once started the DiRT Tour. There are a beginner driver aids preset. Before each race video clips and a selection menu for the race settings appear. Then remain continuous full power and always beautifully animated racing line and you have to have right away without really done successful experiences something;) The race itself take on average just under 2 minutes after each race spokesman who congratulate one to success but this is more just than. Children animation is good. It's annoying that you can not turn off this time absolutely unnecessary cutscenes.

As the beginner mode is now so no challenge to the driver aids soon to amateur. Not only the AI ​​opponents but also the control is more difficult. The game can hardly be played with keyboard! So a game pad rausgekramt. But even with game pad, the steering still feels very digital and indirectly. Now is also evident that the driving characteristics of cars of all classes are quite similar and unbalanced. If you drive on the racing line is all Palletti but woe you leave this. There is often independent of the means of propulsion a barely manageable tendency to oversteer. Rotate tires by or you begin to lose the drift cars equally noticeable at speed. In addition, many parts of the course are more like a bobsled or at the other extreme, the road edges are very steep and you lose there immediately take control of the vehicle when you leave the road. The simulation of driving sometimes does not match the terrain. One can Curves and through potholes heat not there as his they, on the other hand sometimes reaches an invisible blade of grass on the route to a complete departure to make multiple rollovers. ZT are even spongy handling of Flatout2 realistic, but as a pure arcade game shoot with a focus on opponents and is intended to make dents.

First, the route selection appear diverse, but there is limited but then on the venues. Within one location there are routes with different names, but quickly turns out to be just as reversing the direction of travel or other starting points and acronyms.

The Gymkhana mode with skill exercises brings the arcade-trailer at their expense. I find it quite interesting and the challenges animate to continue playing and learning.

Still you miss fast real opponents. These offers Dirt3 a multiplayer mode via the Games for Windows Live interface or Local Area Network. Over the Internet but we need to find something already experience in the search criteria for a well-balanced group. Either the players very experienced and strong or there are the typical NFS players miss no opportunity to shoot other and easy to miss every braking point. If one value in a fair and sporting opponents should look beyond the search criteria games with realistic damage model. Over time, you will find certainly players that suit their own skills.
Serviceable back to the loading slowest computer in multiplayer has something quickly to a ratio of 1: 1 results from waiting to race.

One should know that on Games for Windows Live own TeamSpeak interface by default on computers connected microphones free also. In the options menu of Dirt3 one looks in vain for configuration options. If you have made it into the options of Games for Wndows mute the local microphone is heard often still coughing other players or even a mostly distorted feedback game or music from people which is obviously not aware that they 'bugged' be. I think this is the one for privacy for quite questionable and secondly also for annoying that there is no general button to disable this functionality.

Conclusion: Beautiful Gafik but in my opinion unrealistic and unbalanced rather arcardelastige driving physics. In relation to the annoying loading times very short race. The multiplayer option can provide the variety of Wettbewerbsmodi (racing, gymkhana, team) quite for long lasting driving pleasure.