Dirt Rally vs Dirt4 vs WRC7 vs SLRE - Which is your favourite? ;)

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cjr3559
I like the stage generator in D4 even though the corners will repeat. My issue with Rally games has always been the more you play them the more they become time trials, which goes against the spirit of rally racing. The generator is the best option out there to create stages that are as unique as possible.
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I think everyone would agree here. The issue with Your Stage is that it needs at least 10x more tiles than it has now. There are only two types of each turn, and the fact that there are only 5 rallies makes it worse. Your Stage is a good start but they should have put the time into it to make it more varied and less robotic. I think the flaws in D4 are due to orders from the suits at Codemasters to get something out there and get some money. I doubt the final product is what Paul Coleman and his team envisioned.

cjr3559
The only game crashes I've had on D4 is during 'Pro Tour' in which I likely wouldn't participate much anyway. No other major bugs other than the strange AI rally times I came across using certain cars in certain events.
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That same bug happens in PvP as well, on top of the fact that finishing orders are frequently botched and championship points being awarded seems like a random coin toss.

Back to the stage issue, I agree, DR and SLRE are already boring stage-wise because I know them all. WRC 7 will surely get to that point, too. But that's when you need to look at how deep the game is for replay value.

DiRT Rally: Haven't touched single player in a year. But my league is in its tenth season and still going strong. No matter how well I know the stages, it's still great fun blasting through them on the same rally as my long-time league friends. It keeps things fresh and competitive.

SLRE: Time-trialing against Loeb's ghost. Challenging and lots of fun. Also Custom Championship vs Realistic AI with Realistic damage. A massive challenge. One slip-up will drop you five places in the order or worse: damage your car. Even a brush with a curb is sometimes enough to damage your suspension. Also I still play online. No matter how well you know the stages, the added pressure of being online with friends and strangers makes it a whole new ball game.

WRC 7: With 400km of stages it will take a long time to memorize them, but I am already having a blast online and time-trialing against the leaderboard ghosts. Career or Custom Championship on Hardcore difficulty is extremely challenging. On that difficulty level the AI puts in times near the world records.
 
I would say Rally, but only by a hair due to the better handling model. 4 feels much more like a game then Rally does, Rally feels more like a science experiment, a test balloon.

I've said this before, but I think probably the best way to go in terms of career set up for the DiRT games would be the career set up and team building elements of 4, and the gradually increasing in difficulty seasons of Rally. Would certainly work a lot better in my experience.
 
After around 10 hours of WRC7, I’m going to say I still prefer DiRT4 and DiRT Rally.

I think you need to be a big WRC fan to get the most out of WRC7. The real cars, teams and schedule is nice, but I still prefer the handling physics of the DiRT series. I’ve only driven the WRC Junior car so far, but the steering seems vague, and the car seems to swing between oversteer and understeer wildly at different speeds. I’m using the G29 on the PS4 with default settings. Maybe I need to play around with the control settings, but out of the box that’s my initial impression.

Experiencing real world stages are great, as they are detailed but so far I’m wanting more after completing them. The game runs smooth, can’t complain.

Career mode is worth the effort, as I hope to improve and move up through the series. This will be the main reason I will continue to play.

I feel that WRC7 is an excellent game, but it lacks a certain ‘fun’ factor that the DiRT series has.
 
cjr3559
After around 10 hours of WRC7, I’m going to say I still prefer DiRT4 and DiRT Rally.

I think you need to be a big WRC fan to get the most out of WRC7. The real cars, teams and schedule is nice, but I still prefer the handling physics of the DiRT series. I’ve only driven the WRC Junior car so far, but the steering seems vague, and the car seems to swing between oversteer and understeer wildly at different speeds. I’m using the G29 on the PS4 with default settings. Maybe I need to play around with the control settings, but out of the box that’s my initial impression.

Experiencing real world stages are great, as they are detailed but so far I’m wanting more after completing them. The game runs smooth, can’t complain.

Career mode is worth the effort, as I hope to improve and move up through the series. This will be the main reason I will continue to play.

I feel that WRC7 is an excellent game, but it lacks a certain ‘fun’ factor that the DiRT series has.
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Good to hear you are giving the game a chance. I wouldn't judge too much by the R2 cars, though. I also found them very odd. On asphalt they seem correct but on gravel I get the same impression as you. Just weird pendulum swings between understeer and oversteer. I have heard that it's actually realistic behavior but it's definitely unlike FWD cars in other games. When you get to the R5 and 2017 cars I think that's when the enjoyment really starts. And the 2016 cars are great fun; handling more similar to DiRT Rally but with more realistic weight / weight transfer.

On the G29 I think you definitely need to reduce the steering sensitivity. I use 40% along with 515 degrees of rotation.
 
@Pfei

Your suggested G29 settings feel better and give a good start on dialing in what I want.

It's still really odd that steering gets ultra light on the Junior WRC cars at very low speeds/tight turns. Kind of the opposite effect I would think would occur.

Also, it would be nice to have a Shakedown session before each Rally.
 
I haven't played WRC 7, but I prefer DiRT 4 over DiRT Rally just because there's more of a career mode.
 
cjr3559
I’ve only driven the WRC Junior car so far, but the steering seems vague, and the car seems to swing between oversteer and understeer wildly at different speeds. I’m using the G29 on the PS4 with default settings. Maybe I need to play around with the control settings, but out of the box that’s my initial impression.
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Its pretty normal behaviour for FWD race or rally prepped cars. A very mobile rear that requires you to get the front tyres dug in well initially, which will getthe rear end very light and mobile and as the rear comes around point the nose at the corner exit and bury the throttle as you unwind the lock.

The diff will pull you straight.

As I'm sure you have founhd now, once you get to the WRC spec cars and the epic stages things start getting rather insane.

Thsi is still my favourate momemnt in any of the current gen rallytitles:



For me in terms of a mix of fun factor and physics accuracy I would have a list that looks like this:

SLRE > Dirt Rally / WRC > Dirt 4
 
Scaff
Its pretty normal behaviour for FWD race or rally prepped cars. A very mobile rear that requires you to get the front tyres dug in well initially, which will getthe rear end very light and mobile and as the rear comes around point the nose at the corner exit and bury the throttle as you unwind the lock.

The diff will pull you straight.

As I'm sure you have founhd now, once you get to the WRC spec cars and the epic stages things start getting rather insane.

Thsi is still my favourate momemnt in any of the current gen rallytitles:



For me in terms of a mix of fun factor and physics accuracy I would have a list that looks like this:

SLRE > Dirt Rally / WRC > Dirt 4
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Nice video. Haven’t run that rally yet, my current career progress has me up to and enjoying the WRC2 cars.

Now that there are so many titles available I’m finding myself having to adjust from one to the next.

Still haven’t warmed up to SLRE nor played it much, but the difference in handling between D4 and WRC7 is kind of stark. It takes me a moment to overcome the ‘boaty’ feeling of WRC7 after a lot of ‘grippy’ D4, but I don’t find it difficult adjusting from WRC7 to D4. For what it’s worth, both sim models have their pluses and minuses. The CM developers kind of bragged about having accurate R5 physics, but the Fiesta (only R5 I’ve actually driven) generally feels like piloting a hovercraft. Maybe that’s the way these cars handle IRL, but the suspension model seems to float over every bump. To me, the classic rides in D4 are my favorites. All of them.

Speaking of DR; I played it once semi-recently after playing it a lot for the first time this summer. And mainly the classic cars and just a little dab into the MG. But man, I booted it up recently, went straight for the Audi and it’s basically like driving a jet fighter after playing everything else. It would take me some serious time to work back up and drive the Group B rides with any consistency. Evil, evil, game. :)
 
I have DR, D4 and SLRE.

I only played DR briefly last year when it came out, just the Mini and MK2 Escort. I remember driving the Escort for the first time in shakedown and binning it over and over again.

I then started playing SLRE in Feb this year and only just completed it last month. Excellent game, I couldn't give a monkeys about it having the weakest graphics, it's driving physics are top notch, I would recommend it to anyone, and in fact find myself always talking it up in work!

I was going to go back to DR next but having bought D4 and reading all of the complaints about the handling and stages decided to play this next as didn't want to feel disappointed if I played DR properly first.

What can I say, I don't think it's too bad, good graphics and sound, Nicky Grist, love holding the handbrake on at the start of each stage. I do appreciate that the handling is a bit basic but I'm still having fun at the moment. Not sure about the team aspect of it though, not really interested just want to drive.

I very much look forward to WRC 7, (when I get round to it), although I find myself missing SLRE at times.

Can't complain though, after years of hardly any rally games suddenly it feels like we are well catered for !
 
Got wrc7 on release and my conclusions:

This game has seen many improvements, the graphics look very average on the standard ps4 but are transformed on ps4 pro and it really does look stunning at times.

The career mode is well executed and success is rewarded quickly.

So what's wrong? Had I reviewed this after a few weeks I probably would have given it 3-4 stars but the deeper I go into the game the more underwhelming it becomes.

The audio makes the cars sound like hoovers, it's not a game breaker but becomes gradually more annoying as time goes on.

But the fun factor just isn't there, the handling isn't bad, sometimes on gravel it feels fun and you get "the feeling" but a lot of the time it feels quite floaty and you never feel fully in control with very little sensation of weight transfer in the physics.

Added to this the many landmines encountered on stages and the fact the AI is dreadfully slow on easy mode but uncatchable on medium, often up to 2 mins faster than easy AI per stage it makes for a frustrating experience.

Shame as it could have been so much more but I think Dirt Rally will be keeping the crown for a few more years yet.

As for Dirt 4, I sold it after a few weeks - biggest gaming disappointment of the year
 
Ripper83
Got wrc7 on release and my conclusions:

This game has seen many improvements, the graphics look very average on the standard ps4 but are transformed on ps4 pro and it really does look stunning at times.

The career mode is well executed and success is rewarded quickly.

So what's wrong? Had I reviewed this after a few weeks I probably would have given it 3-4 stars but the deeper I go into the game the more underwhelming it becomes.

The audio makes the cars sound like hoovers, it's not a game breaker but becomes gradually more annoying as time goes on.

But the fun factor just isn't there, the handling isn't bad, sometimes on gravel it feels fun and you get "the feeling" but a lot of the time it feels quite floaty and you never feel fully in control with very little sensation of weight transfer in the physics.

Added to this the many landmines encountered on stages and the fact the AI is dreadfully slow on easy mode but uncatchable on medium, often up to 2 mins faster than easy AI per stage it makes for a frustrating experience.

Shame as it could have been so much more but I think Dirt Rally will be keeping the crown for a few more years yet.

As for Dirt 4, I sold it after a few weeks - biggest gaming disappointment of the year
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I'm surprised you find the AI uncatchable on medium yet you enjoy DiRT Rally, which even on Clubman is a reasonable challenge. I play WRC 7 on Hard and it's similar to Masters on DiRT Rally, so I appreciate the fact that there is the even higher Hardcore in case I ever get too good.

I think you should give WRC 7 a chance on medium as it's a good balance.

Agree 100% on D4... deleted it months ago...sigh...
 
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Is SLRE as realistic as Richard Burns Rally?

I'm looking for a good rally game and it seems from this thread it's the most like it
 
For me it' definitely DR over D4. The handling physics have way more depth in DR. In D4 I felt I was doing really well without trying to hard so I got bored easily. But the rallyx physics are really good, they behave similar to the way I want the rally cars to behave, also the free roam area is tonnes of fun. I have to say though the rallyx in PC2 is better than both these games. (I've never driven a rallyx car in real life so can't' say which is the most realistic only which one I prefer). But overall DR is amazing, one of my favourite games of all time. I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I put it on like getting home after being away for a while. Now to continue saving up for my gaming pc so I can get Richard burns rally
 
I was surprised too unfortunately.

Wouldn't claim to be the greatest rally driver but with lots of hard graft I won a few titles on Dirt so like to think I'm ok but I cannot get anywhere near the AI on medium in WRC7 - can drive what I feel is almost a perfect stage and I'll end up 30 secs off ogier!
 
Ripper83
I was surprised too unfortunately.

Wouldn't claim to be the greatest rally driver but with lots of hard graft I won a few titles on Dirt so like to think I'm ok but I cannot get anywhere near the AI on medium in WRC7 - can drive what I feel is almost a perfect stage and I'll end up 30 secs off ogier!
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Agree, I’m at medium difficulty too and always seem to finish 6th-8th. I play WRC7 sparingly so I don’t risk becoming too familiar with stages to preserve the ‘Rally’ aspect of the game. WRC7 was a pleasant surprise for me.
 
That's why I've become somewhat disillusioned with WRC 7 - I'm stuck between difficulties as easy is so easy it's no fun but medium is just impossible to find any progress on no matter how many hours I put in.

Probably doesn't help that I'm driving the Citroen on career mode which is a pig
 
Just got WRC 7 played it for around 5 hours.
Finished WRC junior on medium difficulty which after initially getting used to the handling was finishing miles ahead by the end of each Rally.

Im finding the game fun I quite like the handling model with the lower category cars so far, it feels simple yet at the same time you can really push on as well, very satisfying. I loved Rally Poland it felt intense and on the edge.

After playing D4 the stages designs are awesome and seem to be packed full of details. I hope CM takes notice with their next Rally game or dramatically improves my stage.

I'm embarking on a season of WRC2.
Only played Monte Carlo so far, I quite liked it but the headlights onboard at night were pathetic.. ? I don't think I had broke them but couldn't see a thing..? Had to change view to be able to see. Is this normal ? This is the only negative so far, oh and the fact that the Speedo is in KM, why can't I change it to MPH ?

Also didn't like the look or feel of Finland either, I put this down to SLRE stages being so amazing, For me I'm not sure if any game will top that rendition.

Is anyone else still playing WRC 7 ?
 
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MrCrynox
Just got WRC 7 played it for around 5 hours.
Finished WRC junior on medium difficulty which after initially getting used to the handling was finishing miles ahead by the end of each Rally.

Im finding the game fun I quite like the handling model with the lower category cars so far, it feels simple yet at the same time you can really push on as well, very satisfying. I loved Rally Poland it felt intense and on the edge.

After playing D4 the stages designs are awesome and seem to be packed full of details. I hope CM takes notice with their next Rally game or dramatically improves my stage.

I'm embarking on a season of WRC2.
Only played Monte Carlo so far, I quite liked it but the headlights onboard at night were pathetic.. ? I don't think I had broke them but couldn't see a thing..? Had to change view to be able to see. Is this normal ? This is the only negative so far, oh and the fact that the Speedo is in KM, why can't I change it to MPH ?

Also didn't like the look or feel of Finland either, I put this down to SLRE stages being so amazing, For me I'm not sure if any game will top that rendition.

Is anyone else still playing WRC 7 ?
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I don’t play it a lot, but I’m still playing it. Currently half way through a 2nd WRC season.

Headlights at Monte Carlo seem ok.

You can change the distance units to MPH. I think it’s somewhere in the HUD setting.

I agree, Finland seems a little short. Poland is a good location. Mexico, Poland, Argentina, and Australia are my favorites.
 
MrCrynox
Just got WRC 7 played it for around 5 hours.
Finished WRC junior on medium difficulty which after initially getting used to the handling was finishing miles ahead by the end of each Rally.

Im finding the game fun I quite like the handling model with the lower category cars so far, it feels simple yet at the same time you can really push on as well, very satisfying. I loved Rally Poland it felt intense and on the edge.

After playing D4 the stages designs are awesome and seem to be packed full of details. I hope CM takes notice with their next Rally game or dramatically improves my stage.

I'm embarking on a season of WRC2.
Only played Monte Carlo so far, I quite liked it but the headlights onboard at night were pathetic.. ? I don't think I had broke them but couldn't see a thing..? Had to change view to be able to see. Is this normal ? This is the only negative so far, oh and the fact that the Speedo is in KM, why can't I change it to MPH ?

Also didn't like the look or feel of Finland either, I put this down to SLRE stages being so amazing, For me I'm not sure if any game will top that rendition.

Is anyone else still playing WRC 7 ?
Click to expand...

Incidentally I just checked and I can’t find where you can change the distance to MPH in the options. Could have sworn you could do it. Maybe you need to reset the data and it prompts you to select your distance preference when you start the game, but I’m not in a position to reset my progress.
 
Dirt Rally for me. Own both PC and PS4.

After Dirt 2, 3 Codemasters went south, Dirt Rally *the experiment that was really gave we SIM gamers a glimmer of hope. Still hate that reset to track... WRC for me has the official licence, however its meh.

Off-topic...
If were going to throw in another 2 games into the ring you should add RBR *Vanilla and Sebastien Loeb RE.
 

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