Dirt 3 Review Round-up

Codemasters' new racing game Dirt 3 is sweeping the competition with its high octane gameplay. Since its release, the game has been well received by members of the gaming press as well as fans who've had a chance to get their hands on the game. GameTrailers calls the game "perfect for anyone who wants to make a not-so-quiet drive in the woods" while the equally exuberant Game Informer review calls the game "heart-pounding" and "arresting," in a good way.

9.5

totallygn.com review
Dirt 3 is an exceptional racing game. The development team has really hit a home run with this one and should be commended. It is very hard to achieve just the right balance to make everyone happy and yet that is exactly what has been done here. The Youtube functionality is a great touch and I’m sure a bunch of videos will pop up with people challenging their friends to beat their record or their highest score. The amount of content in this game is fantastic and I’m sure there will be even more in the future with downloadable content. If you are a racing fan then you need to give Dirt 3 a chance. Even if you are just a casual fan be sure not to overlook this game. You might be pleasantly surprised with what you find as this is a game for the hardcore and casual fan alike.
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9.4

computerandvideogames.com review
The DC Compound is effectively a free-roaming area for you to practise donuts, jumps, spins and drifts without any repercussions before heading into the timed Gymkhana events in career mode. It's awesome fun that could only be made more enjoyable with the addition of a Gymkhana track editor - and who knows whether Codies already have that in the pipeline?
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9.2

gametrailers.com review
Dirt 3 really does have something for drivers at every level, offering a surprising amount of variety. It's a strong package overall, with beautiful landscapes and an exhilarating sense of speed, making it perfect for anyone who wants to take a not-so-quiet drive through the woods.
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9.0

gamesradar.com review
DiRT 3 is more serious. Its about racing beautiful machines in hostile environments, battling the elements and each other while playing to the crowd at the same time. It oozes classic, score-chasing videogame immersion without even acting like a videogame, leaving you focused solely on the fragile relationship between your car and the surface of the road. The result, whether you stay on or not, is magnificent.
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9.0

multiplayer.it review
No Synopsis Available
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9.0

videogamer.com review
DiRT 3 is hard to pick fault with. It's got the looks, the style, the superb sense of speed, and spot-on handling model that blurs the line between sim and arcade. It also introduces Gymkhana and with it excellent potential for players becoming addicted to going for new high scores. What it doesn't do is innovate in the racing game genre, generally making refinements where needed rather than redefining what's expected in a modern racer. It's at the top of the tree as far as rally racers go.
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9.0

eurogamer.net review
The introduction of the elements is another welcome concession to the rally hardcore. A weather model brought across from last year's excellent F1 2010 throws up rain that can turn stages into mud baths, while heavy snowfall can force players to face Norway's stages near blind.
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9.0

incgamers.com review
DiRT 3 is not a racing sim but, it’s not an arcade racer either. It straddles that middle ground of combining real-life cars and event types with a handling model that is a couple of rungs away from feeling like a true representation of reality. I believe ‘authentic’ is the buzz word being thrown around by developers to describe such an approach nowadays. So, I guess, DiRT 3 is an ‘authentic racer’.
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8.8

gameinformer.com review
Codemasters has made a good name for itself with this franchise’s heart-pounding racing and arresting graphics – which are even more striking with the inclusion of night driving and falling snow. The renewed focus on rally racing and the addition of Gymkhana keeps it in good shape, even as it pares down some of its previously interesting career aspects.
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8.6

vandal.net review
No Synopsis Available
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8.6

spaziogames.it review
No Synopsis Available
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8.5

meristation.com review
No Synopsis Available
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8.5

ign.com review
Codemasters made an odd choice with car collections. Money's been thrown out the window and cars are automatically sent over by teams and sponsors through leveling up. It feels as though nothing's been accomplished when the garage is full of random new cars I didn't specifically choose. Also, the newest cars provide the greatest driving bonuses, so choosing anything less will lead to earning fewer points. My favorite cars gathered cobwebs for this very reason.
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8.0

guardian.co.uk review
Block invented a fantasy motor-sport he calls Gymkhana, which involves showing off around obstacle-encrusted courses by jumping, drifting, pulling doughnuts and smashing blocks designed to disintegrate, and Dirt 3 gives you the first chance to test your Gymkhana mettle – around a number of courses, including one set in the grounds of Battersea Power Station in London (which Codemasters set up in real life to publicise the game).
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7.5

bit-tech.net review
If we had to sum up Dirt 3 in more than one word, however, we would label it as ‘capable, but unsurprising’. Dirt 3 may tick all the expected boxes, but it only rarely musters the ambition to step beyond these parameters. It’s a fun racing game, but it plays almost painfully by the numbers in terms of the wider experience – a fact most brilliantly summed up by the idiotic chatter spewed at you by your faceless managers.
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