Introduction

Welcome to 'Dirt 4', where the dirt is plentiful, the cars are screaming, and your ability to navigate through the mud might actually lead to discovering a few off-road shortcuts to your local drive-thru! Developed by Codemasters, this sequel to the beloved 'Dirt' series includes everything from rallying thrills to the sweet scent of burnt rubber. So buckle up, this review is going to be as wild as a rally car in a cow pasture!

Gameplay

'Dirt 4' is kind of like your rumpled uncle at a family gathering who claims he was a race car driver back in the day; it’s hyperbolic, chaotic, and loaded with personality. Players can choose from five stunningly diverse locations, including Australia’s Fitzroy County, Spain’s Tarragona, and the chill vibes of Michigan. Each locale challenges you with track variants and, let’s face it, their various moods—good luck dodging those rain-soaked corners! And if you’ve ever wanted to create your own rally stages, well guess what? Your wish is Codemasters’ command with the ‘Your Stage’ feature! This little magic trick lets you design courses from scratch, so you can finally put your mathematical genius to work—calculating hairpin turns like your life depends on it! The cars? There’s quite the collection ranging from sleek, turbo-charged modern monsters to some classic beasts like Group B rally cars. If you’ve ever wanted to feel the intricate pleasure of spinning a 1980s beast through mud, this game has you covered. Remember, whatever you do, don’t tell the neighbors—you might leave them questioning the very nature of sound in the universe! The game also embraces the wildness of rallycross racing, with licensed circuits and a multiplayer mode for when you want to show off your ill-gotten racing prowess among friends (or rub their noses in the dirt after beating them). With career modes and team management included, keep your eyes on the prize: sponsorship and success, baby!

Graphics

Visually, 'Dirt 4' is a feast for your eyeballs. From lush forests to rugged landscapes, Codemasters has nailed the aesthetics of rally racing. The graphics almost make you feel guilty for playing it instead of actually taking a drive through the great outdoors (if only it weren’t for that pesky mud everywhere!). The cars glisten and reflect the environment beautifully, so much so that they might be mistaken for shiny turds in a very opulent toilet bowl. Seriously, you might want to wipe your controller after staring too long at them—it’s that hyper-realistic! Weather effects also play a major role here, and the sound design? Wow! The engine roars are so immersive, you may forget that you’re gaming and start looking for your keys to head out for a Sunday drive. Can you say ‘ambient sound design goals’?

Conclusion

'Dirt 4' isn’t just about gameplay; it’s a virtual adrenaline shot with a side of pretty graphics that could charm a raccoon off the side of the road! Overall, it’s an engaging racing experience that lands somewhere between casual fun and hardcore simulation. Whether you’re a racing aficionado or a casual gamer looking to throw a little mud, 'Dirt 4' delivers a worthy escapade behind the wheel. With its mix of adrenaline, chaos, and the unmistakable thrill of driving through mud puddles whilst pretending you're an action hero, it gets an honorable '8.5/10' from me. So grab your controller, hit the gas, and may you always find the cleanest path through the dirt… or just embrace the chaos like I do!

See Latest Prices for Dirt 4 on PS4 on Amazon