Had my first few hours on Dirt 4 last night and it was the most unexpected fun I've had for a long time.
Straight off, the menus are inviting and the guide that talks you through is clear and concise, helping you along with relative ease to a complex game within the detail. I chose Simulation over Gamer (Arcade) as I used to love the Colin McRae's with that driving style. Not that I was any good, but it felt so damn amazing when you pulled off a clear stage sliding around the dirt rally tracks.
I started off a little slow, trying to remember how hard the brakes would be in rally games and how forgiving it would be when you make a mistake. I started at Pro, second option, like Hard really. My first stage went pretty decent until I hit massive fog so you had to immediately listen to Nicky Grist giving the instructions; 4 right, 4 left, over crest. That's when I found out how unforgiving the game was and exactly why I love it, turning slightly too early and hitting the apex of a corner when he has told you not to cut, nearly damages your entire stage. The true, gritty sounds rip through you as you hear the gearbox rattling away tried to help pump you round the stage as fast as you can. The graphics are more colourful than expected, yet show true deep colours on a showery dirt stage through the woods.
When I completely lost it after a fantastic split, I actually made the car flip. It rolled a good few times and even though I was gutted for my was-good run, I knew this was an addictive game to play and enjoy. The thrill of having certain failure on the end of a mistake at high speeds is epic. I won a few races and tournaments before logging off when I got the hang of turning into corners and striking the balance on the throttle and brakes again.
Tonight I quickly checked the 'My Club' element. Again, they've thought it through. Similar to TOCA Race Driver with the great story campaign, it has this but extra detail yet not too complex. You can still tweak the car at each rally if you know what you're doing. I tweaked my brakes for more responsiveness which I think helps when you start out.
Great game and just what the racing genre needed as not a great deal stands out right now. I'll stream some more when I can.