Agreed, the graphics look immense and the gameplay sounds like a good improvement too, the addition of the stage degradation is also awesome, but the dlc is a disgrace. Charging for old content, even some of the dlc cars are from the first game. I’m surprised it’s even legal. People wanted dlc for Dirt Rally 1, and codies seem to think this was the correct action to take, they are either trying to pull a fast one or are just very deluded, thinking that customers want to pay for the same content again.
DiRT Rally 2.0 Review: The New Rally Sim Standard
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
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Agreed, the graphics look immense and the gameplay sounds like a good improvement too, the addition of the stage degradation is also awesome, but the dlc is a disgrace. Charging for old content, even some of the dlc cars are from the first game. I’m surprised it’s even legal. People wanted dlc for Dirt Rally 1, and codies seem to think this was the correct action to take, they are either trying to pull a fast one or are just very deluded, thinking that customers want to pay for the same content again.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,290
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
Well a lot of us will as, certainly for me, have an appreciation of their efforts to actually support this game post launch. I'm bit delusional in the slightest, just keen for more content whatever it may be.
Especially content that will have taken quite some effort to get up to scratch for the new game.
I agree that would have had a backlash as well but why didn't they include Monaco, Germany and Sweden in the the base game. This way the game would have had 9 locations and it would have been a great base package. DLC could be expanded upon with additional stages for those locations and a couple of remastered locations from D1. I am sure people would be willing to pay for that solution a lot more easily than currently seems to be the case.
Career locked behind online connectivity is another thing that doesn't make me that happy
And if those 9 locations were in the base game and you find out Wales, Finland and Greece are coming as DLC later on you'd be like "Why aren't those in the base game"?
If this was the case we would see a release around X-mas instead of now.
- 6,362
- Nantes
- P308R
I don't agree since one of Dirt Rally problems was the lack of content and Codies had since 2015 to address this problem for Dirt Rally 2.0. They simply decided against it for the base game.
I'll leave this here for some additional thought:
Dirt 4 (9.2)
Dirt Rally 2.0 (8.5)
Same reviewer, same source....
What? You are aware that the team that made D4 is the same team that did both DR and DR2 right? So did you just forget D4 being developed there in between or did you expect them to work on DR2 at the same time D4 was being developed?
No idea what you are aiming at with the reviews. D4 did really well review wise but that means nothing when the players doesn't agree as it turned out in the case of D4.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,290
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
- 6,362
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I simply don't care if it is the same team or not. They are pointed many times at the problems at hand and 4 years later they still haven't addressed it. That is some serious "listening to the community". Why throw YS out of the window and start from scratch once more? Why not invest in the technique so that it actually could generate those "iconic stages" to a certain point? Handdrawn I prefer personally as well but with 12 stages it is simply not enough. I think I made my point several times already and I stop repeating it.
Concerning the reviews: It could be almost a copy / paste of eachother with slighly different nuances between YourStage and HandcraftedStages. It simply shows that most reviews are completely useless and that impression from players in general should be a lot more valued and seen by public. I appreciate the impressions of the members here a lot more than those corporate reviewers or the reviewers that are to closely tied to the dev.
@bogani I give you credits for being straight to the point with your answers and critics towards the game. I appreciate that 👍
- 3,572
- Connecticut
- SPhilli
- SPhilli911
Amazing review, thank you, I can't wait to play this tomorrow after work.
- 3,572
- Connecticut
- SPhilli
- SPhilli911
It doesn't bother me one bit. I'm actually happy to have updated stages from the first game in 2.0, even if I need to pay for it.
I understand why it bothers others, but it really does come down to "if you don't like it don't buy it" kinda things.
Nobody bats and eye when Nintendo releases Wind Waker HD full price on Wii U, or many, many re-released Nintendo games. Or Resident Evil 4 is relaunched 2-3 times (as are other RE games). But Codemasters releases old stages as optional DLC and people go nuts.
- 3,040
- The Netherlands
- MarcoM1972
True, thing is I also work in the software industry (business software luckily). It seems that everyone wants things for free. Thousands of man hours have gone into it and you don't want to pay for it. I don't get that.
@kikie and @SPhilli911, no you're not alone!
- 6,362
- Nantes
- P308R
I am happy with that too.
I don't want it for free, simply better thought out and well balanced.
- 3,040
- The Netherlands
- MarcoM1972
- 6,362
- Nantes
- P308R
Epic! That is "de Nederlandse" DS23 if I am correct. Yup makes my knees weak a bit....
Yep, looking at the license plate, it is a Dutch Citroën.
- 3,040
- The Netherlands
- MarcoM1972
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,290
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
Nothing you couldn't get in the game. My definition of DLC is clearly different to yours. If the car was unavailable without buying it then yeah you have a point but it was in the game and could be unlocked like any other regular car. What Codemasters do is give lazy people an option to have things they can't be bothered playing the game for.
They were also included in a majority of day 1 versions of the game.
- 59
- United Kingdom
and the 'exclusive livery' - was that obtainable in the game without purchasing this pack - for both the escort and the mini? Or just the upgrades?
DLC is DLC, whether it's content to get you further quicker, or extra content. You said there were none.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,290
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
As I say clearly our definition is different. Don't like it, don't buy it. I don't care either way. I'm happy with how it is and if they release a third game and charge me for the same content again then I will pay it again.
- 430
- United Kingdom
Nice review. I'm sceptical about some of the points, especially tarmac physics and I think Codemasters could have done a much better job of communicating some of the 'negatives' up front.
But it feels like they've really taken on board requests from the community and it looks like the game is gradually improved in all areas across the board. Boxes ticked:
+ The stages look superb again. Dirt 4's stages killed that game quickly for me, whereas I was happy with DR1's for months. They may not be my choices, but New Zealand, Australia, Argentina have been frequently requested since DR1 and the Polish and US stages look superb too.
+ Physics on gravel look ace, they look to have improved all around and the immersion-breaking weightlessness is gone.
+ 'Offline' career mode seems to be an evolution of D1's well done but simple one.
+ A nearly 'complete' modern car roster - R2, R4, R5 classes are all well stocked and I'm really looking forward to the RGT class' addition.
+ Multiplayer rallies. This was well done in Dirt 4, but missing in DR1 so glad to see it's in this one.
+ Logical new features, like surface degradation and tyre choices. Some may want this done in more detail, but anything like this can ruin offline experience if it doesn't work with the rest of the game (see Project Cars 2's weather) so for me I'm happy with it being a step forward the way it's being done.
+ The big one to me: DLC and ongoing support. I was hoping for this on the last two titles, but this time I'm really happy they've waited for the base game to be 'right' first. Whilst I expect Season 2 to have too much RX content for my liking, Season 1 is perfect for me (apart from the 'missing' Lancia and Porsche).
Minuses are really personal to me:
- There are only 10km more unique stage mileage in this game than the first one at launch. More is coming, which is great, but they should have said very early on that this would be the case. I hope all 6 DR1 locations are added back in if that's the quickest way to generate more stage mileage.
- Tarmac physics still look really bad. After the first version of Germany in DR1 felt so 'right', it's a pity that they're really struggling to nail this one. With Monte Carlo and Germany coming post-launch, hopefully there are improvements to come here.
- AI feels very disconnected, little chance to develop rivalries and I can't even see which driver is using which livery. The performance of the cars aren't taken into account in times and I don't think drivers have surface preferences or different ratings, they're just random names and logos on a list.
- The class structure remains bizarre. The Stratos and 240Z should be in the same class as the Escort and 131, whilst Group A cars from the late 80s are split across three classes rather than brought together (H3 RWD BMW and Ford, H2 FWD VW and Peugeot, Group A Lancia). Makes for a very uneven selection in some classes. I hope they can move some of these.
- At the moment, it doesn't seem like AI strength or 'Hardcore' mode are options in Career mode. Hopefully this is a UX oversight.
- It seems like there are car licence struggles still; Toyota is the obvious one, but it feels like Hyundai and Seat might be the latest to fall foul of Codemasters' licence woes. Hopefully I'm proven wrong on this.
- RX inclusion and focus. I still wish the team would concentrate on rally.
- No 'hot seat' mode. Hopefully this is something that can be added down the line.
But in not way do those minuses add up to a poor product - they're just things I'd like to see improved and done better. DR1 was one of my favourite games from recent years and DR2 looks like a step forward in almost every area. Add to that the commitment to support and add content to it over the coming months (and hopefully longer) then this looks like a winner to me.
As somebody who was fooled by DiRT 4, if I'm fooled this time it's all on me. Looking forward to finding out and to the content that will be added over the coming weeks and months.
"Surprised it's legal" - really?
You are aware that they're not taking DR1 away from you, right? They're not deactivating those stages in the first game. They're upgrading three locations from the first game (new spectator models, new foliage, new textures, adding stage degradation and updating the AI for the new format and classes) and making it optional. Personally I hope they offer me the option on the other three from DR1 too. They could have been less consumer-friendly about it and included those in the base game and then included the new locations in the DLC, but they made it optional instead.
I agree they misread how people would see the situation, but it's a very consumer-friendly approach IMO.
But it feels like they've really taken on board requests from the community and it looks like the game is gradually improved in all areas across the board. Boxes ticked:
+ The stages look superb again. Dirt 4's stages killed that game quickly for me, whereas I was happy with DR1's for months. They may not be my choices, but New Zealand, Australia, Argentina have been frequently requested since DR1 and the Polish and US stages look superb too.
+ Physics on gravel look ace, they look to have improved all around and the immersion-breaking weightlessness is gone.
+ 'Offline' career mode seems to be an evolution of D1's well done but simple one.
+ A nearly 'complete' modern car roster - R2, R4, R5 classes are all well stocked and I'm really looking forward to the RGT class' addition.
+ Multiplayer rallies. This was well done in Dirt 4, but missing in DR1 so glad to see it's in this one.
+ Logical new features, like surface degradation and tyre choices. Some may want this done in more detail, but anything like this can ruin offline experience if it doesn't work with the rest of the game (see Project Cars 2's weather) so for me I'm happy with it being a step forward the way it's being done.
+ The big one to me: DLC and ongoing support. I was hoping for this on the last two titles, but this time I'm really happy they've waited for the base game to be 'right' first. Whilst I expect Season 2 to have too much RX content for my liking, Season 1 is perfect for me (apart from the 'missing' Lancia and Porsche).
Minuses are really personal to me:
- There are only 10km more unique stage mileage in this game than the first one at launch. More is coming, which is great, but they should have said very early on that this would be the case. I hope all 6 DR1 locations are added back in if that's the quickest way to generate more stage mileage.
- Tarmac physics still look really bad. After the first version of Germany in DR1 felt so 'right', it's a pity that they're really struggling to nail this one. With Monte Carlo and Germany coming post-launch, hopefully there are improvements to come here.
- AI feels very disconnected, little chance to develop rivalries and I can't even see which driver is using which livery. The performance of the cars aren't taken into account in times and I don't think drivers have surface preferences or different ratings, they're just random names and logos on a list.
- The class structure remains bizarre. The Stratos and 240Z should be in the same class as the Escort and 131, whilst Group A cars from the late 80s are split across three classes rather than brought together (H3 RWD BMW and Ford, H2 FWD VW and Peugeot, Group A Lancia). Makes for a very uneven selection in some classes. I hope they can move some of these.
- At the moment, it doesn't seem like AI strength or 'Hardcore' mode are options in Career mode. Hopefully this is a UX oversight.
- It seems like there are car licence struggles still; Toyota is the obvious one, but it feels like Hyundai and Seat might be the latest to fall foul of Codemasters' licence woes. Hopefully I'm proven wrong on this.
- RX inclusion and focus. I still wish the team would concentrate on rally.
- No 'hot seat' mode. Hopefully this is something that can be added down the line.
But in not way do those minuses add up to a poor product - they're just things I'd like to see improved and done better. DR1 was one of my favourite games from recent years and DR2 looks like a step forward in almost every area. Add to that the commitment to support and add content to it over the coming months (and hopefully longer) then this looks like a winner to me.
As somebody who was fooled by DiRT 4, if I'm fooled this time it's all on me. Looking forward to finding out and to the content that will be added over the coming weeks and months.
"Surprised it's legal" - really?
You are aware that they're not taking DR1 away from you, right? They're not deactivating those stages in the first game. They're upgrading three locations from the first game (new spectator models, new foliage, new textures, adding stage degradation and updating the AI for the new format and classes) and making it optional. Personally I hope they offer me the option on the other three from DR1 too. They could have been less consumer-friendly about it and included those in the base game and then included the new locations in the DLC, but they made it optional instead.
I agree they misread how people would see the situation, but it's a very consumer-friendly approach IMO.
- 430
- United Kingdom
This is due to the platforms cracking down on pre-order exclusives and forcing them to be made available for later adopters I believe. Which I'm glad they're doing (hence the 'available to all in 60 days' on the Porsche this time).
Now, I disagree with them doing that and it doesn't personally encourage me to buy the game, but unfortunately it's there. It's a positive that there's no such thing as 'pre-order exclusives' to me at least.
- 59
- United Kingdom
No ambiguity whatsoever. Down Loadable (I know it's downloadable) Content - Paid or free, to 'pay to win' or extra content either way.
You said there was none for DR1. So, after highlighting 3 instances, you suddenly don't care? Fine, but if you're going to call Northstar out, stating what you consider facts, make sure you check them out first, or you may make yourself look ill-informed.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,290
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
Preorder exclusives made available for purchase later which are available in game anyway. To me, doesn't really count. That's my opinion, you don't like it, fine. It's a completely different form of DLC to what you and others are complaining about. My "not caring" is in regards to whether you buy it or not. I truly don't, but you can't complain about Codemasters "practices" based on some early unlock stuff.
fernandito
(Banned)
- 797
- Spain
That wouldn't have been the case speaking of nine locations coming with retail and you know it. Pretty much the opposite it would have been quite a surprise so many rally countries coming from a modern CM game. Then the DLC you speak about with Finland Greece and uk would have been the icing on the cake, with I'm sure most of us purchasing it without hesitation and with little to none complaining.
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Well wel.., so the handling alone makes for a mandatory purchase of the game I think I understood after reading the review?, ok so be it
@_Reviewer: The handling with the controller on DR1 was top, but at the same time you kinda imply it wasn't at all and that DR2 improves it by a gentle margin. Could you please clarify or expand a little bit more on this point for all those of us who found DR1controller handling just as good as in any other CM game?
- 253
- Hungary
Nice review, nice car racing game, but what about rally? The original point in that sport is not learning the track.
After 1-2 hours of playing, this criteria is over.
My opinion is that the Your Stage concept should be developed further. But it is likely to be the better business.
After 1-2 hours of playing, this criteria is over.
My opinion is that the Your Stage concept should be developed further. But it is likely to be the better business.
