More extensive than its predecessor, not as simulation-heavy as “Dirt Rally”: In “Dirt 5”, the focus is on fun. Crazy drifts, hip sounds and high speed turn the rally mud battle into a spectacular and straightforward arcade racer.

Through desert und Morast Full throttle down the mountain, then drift around the tight curve and always look good – that’s “Dirt 5”. Codemasters sends players once again into an unyielding rally circus that takes them halfway across the world. It goes through muddy morass, over ice rinks and hilly mountain landscapes. Everywhere people are jostling, jostling and overtaking. Only those who are finally at the top can fully concentrate on the winding track.

“Dirt 5” is a typical arcade racer: In career mode, the young racing driver rises to become a star and grabs sponsors and invests the prize money in new cars. After winning a certain number of medals, a final event will be unlocked. Via 70 routes to 10 different locations and numerous types of vehicles make different demands on the players ) Spectacular, fast and accessible. “Dirt 5” is a no-frills arcade racer where fun is paramount. (Image: heise online) A converted off-road -Monsters like the VW Touareg steers more slowly than a tuned Ford Mustang, which mercilessly punishes any steering error. There are hardly any special challenges or game modes – it’s always about being the first to finish. Only in the Playground game mode do the players have to go through given or self-made skill tests similar to “Trackmania”. Practical: In addition to an online mode, up to four players can also smoke their tires locally on the split screen.

Nice and dirty What is missing, however, is a tuning mode in which the players tinker with their cars allowed to. There are a few basic settings such as driving aids, but there is no tinkering with your favorite cart. A damage model is also missing – the few bumps after the rough races are just cosmetic. This enormous loss of realism and complexity makes it easier to get started, but it is a bitter disappointment for fans of demanding racing simulations. In the end, only the basic values ​​of the cars and the skills of the drivers decide on the track. The precise controls leave little room for luck or chance.

What is missing in the game depth, they have Developers put into the graphics. The races through different weather conditions and varied routes are a real eye-catcher. It’s a shame that there is no open world mode like in “Forza Horizon 4”, in which you can comfortably zoom through the landscape. What will the next-gen versions look like? Pre-orderers of PS5 or Xbox Series S / X can definitely look forward to: You will receive a free update for Dirt 5.

Trailer for “Dirt 5”

(Source: DIRT) Interim conclusion “Dirt 5” is fast, fun and visually great. Newcomers in particular will be pleased with the easy accessibility and the flat learning curve. Simulation fans, on the other hand, go away empty-handed: There are no tuning options and no realistic damage model, and computer opponents also behave chaotically. But players who would like to do a lap alone or with friends on the split screen have come to the right place.

(dahe)