DiRT 3 mini review and Time Trial video.

[Frag Maniac]

Well the wait for DiRT 3 is finally over and of what I've seen the game is looking pretty good. I've only just sampled a bit of it, but here's my brief review thus far:

Pros:
Excellent graphics and sound. Beautifully optimized, running max settings at 1280x960 on a GTS 250. Tracks are really good and so far the cars are too. Menu easier and quicker to navigate now.

Cons:
KB steering is very twitchy even at lowest saturation and max linearity. Some maps in bright conditions, like Kenya, look a bit washed out. So far music is not so good.

Here's a vid of my first sampling of SP Time Trial mode on the Tupasentie track in Finland.

http://youtu.be/IE8ghoXShGw?hd=1

[zachig]

Thanks for sharing...Nice video. Seems like graphics is very good.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II using Tapatalk

[Frag Maniac]

No problem, and thanks. Yeah the graphics are great. Some are griping a bit about the looks, claiming it's a bit washed out in colors. I say they're too used to DiRT 2's heavy desert sepia tones and HDR, which had an unrealistic, overly glowy look. Most seem to be loving the graphics and it's getting an average rating of around 9/10 worldwide so far.

Here's some more vids:

Trailblazer at Evijarvie Finland in the Tacoma

Night Rallycross at Monte Carlo in the STI GR

Gymkhana Sprint at Battersea in the STI GR

I still want to go back and try that Gymkhana Sprint some more to see if I can get a Platinum medal. Only missed it by 1.2 seconds.

[PP Mguire]

Getting this game shortly to put my own judgement to it. Been a bit to busy with work and at home tasks to worry about games lately. Didn't even know this was released until today.

[Frag Maniac]

Well after playing it some more I can honestly see why so many are shocked at the content. There are minimal places to race and no choice of vehicles in Landrush. Feels more repetitive than DiRT 2 actually.

Here's some more vids:

Trailblazer at Michigan in the PM580

Rally at Norway in the Mini Cooper

Gymkhana Speedrun in the EVO X

[zachig]

Didn't even know this was released until today.

Me neither until this thread.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II using Tapatalk

[Frag Maniac]

A few more from Finland and Monaco:

Rally Stage 1 at Finland in the RS200
Rally Stage 2 at Finland in the RS200
Gymkhana Freestyle at Monaco in the EVO X

[PP Mguire]

To much going on, wont even be able to play until monday =(

[coxmaster]

So far i LOVE Dirt 3, much better than Dirt 2 IMO.

Gymkhana mode is AWESOME, and the entire online system is very entertaining too

[JJVal]

This is a great game and a ton of fun , im really enjoying it and my family to..

[Frag Maniac]

I spent a little time sampling the latest version of the Ryder PSSG Editor and Paint.NET and managed to make a mod that removes the DiRT3 watermark from the replays for more realistic, uncluttered playback or video making. I'm awaiting approval or lack of complaints from the Codemasters staff on the DiRT 3 forum to post a link to it if requested. Someone posted a similar mod for DiRT 2 on it's forum that many used, so I don't anticipate a problem with it.

Here's a demonstration video:

Gymkhana Depot Speedrun in the STI GD

[James86]

if the game looks good with a 250 then I can't wait to see it run on a multi display setup or hi res like 2560 x 1600

[Frag Maniac]

Not all the graphics are good IMO, as many have said. Some areas look rather plain and washed out, others incredible. Even with Med post processing there's over use of bloom and ambient occlusion lighting. I'll be testing out the RDDev Gl4dLights mod today which cleans up the graphics with better lighting.

[James86]

then post some pics

[Frag Maniac]

Well I checked out that mod and unfortunately it's just the same thing someone did with the DiRT 2 lighting. It just makes it look more bland with desaturated colors.

Here's the example vids that cause me to pass on even dowloading let alone using it:

Original Lighting - http://youtu.be/R_Ww9HAnYrM?hd=1

Modded Lighting - http://youtu.be/-CG9viOatyw?hd=1

If you find you don't like the haze and ambient occlusion lighting that makes some of the colors look washed out on certain tracks like Monaco and Kenya, just turn the post processing down to Low. It eliminates most if not all of it.