DiRT Showdown: Game Preview

The DiRT franchise moniker has (since the passing of high profile rally star Colin McRae) long been associated with virtual rally driving and associated events such as Ken Block’s Gymkhana in last year’s DiRT 3.  However, with DiRT Showdown the game takes us into a more destructive world of car-play of the demolition derby.

Featuring cars, trucks, vans and hearses crashing, bashing and smashing to victory, DiRT Showdown is the action-packed extension of the award-winning DiRT off-road racing series and is set to debut this month (May 2012) for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, Playstation 3 computer entertainment system and PC.

The game is set to feature a number of modes including Knock Out which sees drivers using their cars as weapons to force opponents off a raised platform in a chaotic battle for domination. Eliminated vehicles can re-enter the fray by racing up ramps and jumping back onto the platform, where points are earned for knock-outs, hits and owning the ring alone.

Pyrotechnics, lasers and thousands of fans give each venue a vibrant sports entertainment atmosphere, with the player taking centre stage. Over 50 different events across four championships will challenge gamers in a variety of conditions – sun, snow and rain – through the day and under the floodlights at night.

There are three broad categories to DiRT Showdown’s action-sports racing. Players can use nitrous to blast past rivals and negotiate courses filled with ramps, pinch points and obstacles in full-contact Racing events. Finally, in Hoonigan events, gamers will send fans wild in huge stunt parks where accessible new controls offer every player the chance to become a freestyle driving hero.

Multiplayer events will make DiRT Showdown one of developer Codemasters most connected games ever. With split-screen multiplayer, eight-player online racing, on and off-line quick-fire party games and YouTube integration all included as standard. Players will also be able to issue ‘Showdown Challenges’ to compete with friends whether they are online or not.

DiRT Showdown is blasting away from the normal franchise model, is it too far away from what traditional Colin McRae Rally fans are used to; Does the moniker really matter if the game is simply good fun? We will find out in very soon.