{"id":58086,"date":"2020-06-23T08:10:24","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T06:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joypad.ch\/?p=58086"},"modified":"2020-06-26T15:49:31","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T13:49:31","slug":"dirt-5-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joypad.ch\/en\/anteprima-dirt-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Dirt 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

In addition to the upcoming release of F1 2020, Codemasters has another racing game up its sleeve this year. Let's find out, with our preview, why we're so hungry for mud racing right now.<\/p>\n

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The last installment in the series was released about three years ago. DiRT 4 offered a rich overall package with spectacular off-road races and classic rally challenges for players for whom DiRT Rally and its successors were already too hardcore. DiRT 5 is no different, as pure racing fun is the focus here too, and it has what it takes to become a successful title with excellent handling, spectacular graphics, and extremely promising tracks.<\/p>\n

How much fun is off-roading!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In DiRT 5, there will be a total of nine different vehicle classes to race on the track. In addition to classic '90s rally cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI and modern rally cars like the VW Polo GTI R5, you can also take the wheel of heavyweights like the nearly two-ton Race Touareg 3 or a lightweight like the Ariel Nomad. But the vehicles are not only highly detailed but also realistic: the dirt that collects on the exterior is, as always, a visual highlight.<\/p>\n

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Codemasters has also put a lot of effort into the handling model. With each car, you can feel exactly how much weight and power you have under your virtual ass. Generally, you can always tell whether you're driving on scree, mud, sand, or a more grippy surface. While the handling model is deliberately arcade-like and beginner-friendly\u2014which is why drifting is as easy as catching the car after a bad turn\u2014you don't have to worry about a lack of complexity. You never get the feeling you're driving on rails. Codemasters has also been exemplary when it comes to the sensation of speed. While in other games this proves advantageous primarily with the cockpit view or the "tarmac camera," in DiRT 5 this also applies to the two pursuit cameras and all six other selectable perspectives.<\/p>\n

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Beautiful views in any weather<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not only are the cars, with their beautiful roar, very promising, but also the tracks. We were only able to try four of them in the demo: China, Brazil, Norway, and Arizona. However, if only a fraction of the other tracks were half as good as the ones we tested, there would be nothing to complain about. In Brazil, for example, we raced near Rio de Janeiro. There are no spectators on the sidelines, but we quickly forget about them as we drive past beautiful palm trees on the edge of a favela. The light and shadow effects are particularly successful; we enjoyed letting our gaze wander or gazing at the enormous statue of Jesus, which rises majestically outside the village in the background.<\/p>\n

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In addition to the visual quality and versatility of the track, Codemasters enhances the race locations through the weather system. In Norway, for example, we raced during the day, in dry conditions or occasionally with light snowfall. This not only affects visibility, but also the characteristics of the track, meaning you might want to shift gears. We were also quite surprised when we saw a blizzard on the track for the first time. Ominously, the sky closed in, lightning striking the ground a few meters ahead of us. It looks fantastic, and we can't wait to play with the options available in the track editor in the final game. We don't know exactly how many tracks will be in the game, but Codemasters has revealed that there will be races in Carrara, Italy, Cape Town, and Nepal, where we'll even find one on a frozen body of water. There will also be some classic rally stages, taking us to the Dadestal in Morocco, for example, where Codemasters promises a particularly challenging route.<\/p>\n

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Career with Troy Baker and Nolan North<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Codemasters also provided more details on the split-screen mode for up to four players and the career mode. The latter, of course, won't just be about racing and winning, if possible. Players will also compete against a virtual opponent, played by none other than actor and voice actor Troy Baker. Troy Baker is no stranger to players; after all, he played the main character in BioShock Infinite and, more recently, Joel in The Last of Us Part II. The cast will also include Nolan North, who has worked on video games several times. It remains to be seen to what extent the story is central to the career mode, or how elaborate its staging will be.<\/p>\n

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\nBut even beyond this specific question, we generally don't know enough to be able to evaluate the career mode. How much freedom do you have in choosing events in the event tree? How much variety does the long-term mode offer? How exactly does it work with sponsors and related challenges? Since the basics are absolutely spot on\u2014the handling model, the tracks, and the technology\u2014there's no reason for great skepticism. However, some questions remain unanswered for now, including the details of how the special functions of the new controllers will work on PS5 and Xbox Series X. In any case, we're looking forward to further impressions. DiRT 5 is really inspiring so far.<\/p>\n

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Perspectives<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The first races in DiRT 5 leave you wanting more. The driving experience is fantastic, and the cars and tracks are incredibly detailed. There's also plenty of variety thanks to the dynamic weather, which not only looks great but also makes racing on tracks a completely different experience. There are still some unanswered questions, as we haven't yet had a chance to try out the career mode, vehicle customization, or online modes. Codemasters may also have an interesting new game mode up their sleeve, which the British studio isn't revealing until August. However, the first impressions are very promising. If you like arcade off-road racing, you'll be in for a treat. We'll learn more in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n

Original article by Benjamin Braun on games.ch<\/a>, published with permission.<\/strong><\/p>\n