Doing Your Block

Developer: CodeMasters
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Driftmaster Ken Block may only be going so-so in the current World Rally Championship, but the driver from Team Monster is the focus of the latest rally release from developer, Codemasters.

Dirt 3 is the continuation of the rally franchise first known as Colin McRae Rally and it certainly ramps up the razza-ma-taz from former iterations of the game. While there is no WRC points here, there is plenty of rally action in the form to the Dirt Tour comprising multiple seasons and world tours.  Here you will find traditional rally game-play in glorious high definition graphics and multiple difficulty settings.

The short gap sequence rally driving, putting cars on the road with minimal intervals between them adds a further level of pressure and focus to the game. Attempting to catch the car in front, while not making mistakes to allow the car behind to catch you adds a new thrill level to rally game-play.

The handy rewind feature (now a staple in racing games) makes covering up and learning from those mistakes that much more palatable.  And that’s important if you only want your perfect runs to be uploaded by the in-game YouTube connection.

Then there is the world of Gymkhana; precision trick driving in a compound such as the iconic Battersea PowerStation.  Performing jumps, drifts, donuts and spins in and around obstacles is actually quite a thrilling diversion from the business and concentration of the main rally season play.