Dirt 3 is a rally car racing title that strikes the balance between simulation racing and arcade play. Players can rip through environments in modes such as rally circuit racing, rally cross, land rush and Gymkhana.

Developed by Codemasters, the course designs are breathtaking, and the car models are artfully crafted. The cars look so beautiful that I find myself driving more cautiously so as to avoid scraping the paint.

Dirt 3 features extremely responsive handling. The drifts, spins and cornering all happen at high speeds and are very natural once you get a feel for the driving. Accelerating out of corners has realistic responses, even when using a controller; you can feel the torque of the cars as you accelerate.

The different game modes offer players the chance to test out the subtleties in each car’s design. Customization of gear ratios, ride height, suspension and more are all explained in the game through voice overs. Players can test which car enhancements are most appropriate with each unique course layout. This customization tool is especially valuable when planning for different terrains and Gymkhana challenges.

Gymkhana plays very much like a Skate or Tony Hawk freestyle challenge; players are granted freedom to pull off stunts of their choice, competing for high scores. It’s essential to plot out your runs before you hit the course to make the most of your time. This element of strategy also provides the most challenge you will find in Dirt 3 while pursuing those platinum medals.

One downfall in Dirt 3 is that the cars feel extremely light. It’s easy to lose control at high speeds. In addition, most cars in the same class drive similar in terms of responsiveness until you tune them.

There is a lack of customization in terms of adding parts and customizing car appearances. All parts and specifications are predetermined. While there is a strong lineup of cars at your disposal, Dirt 3 lacks a true sense of ownership over these vehicles.

Codemasters put a heavy emphasis on the front-end presentation -- main menu music and graphics are inspired by Matrix-like special effects. The menus have considerable polish and detail, as cars, frozen in time, drift ever so slightly in the background. The musical scores complement the menu sequences.

Dirt 3 separates itself with its presentation elements on the track. The dynamic, progressive lighting and shadowing are nothing short of breathtaking. The sun reflects off the cars at different angles as you make turns. Shadows cascade over landscapes as you travel around. Dirt smokes as your tires rip through the trails, leaving tread patterns in the earth. The game is truly beautiful.

These are not just aesthetics either. The different terrains provide significantly different traction for your tires. Driving through rocky, dirt roads will work your suspension harder to keep the tires gripped to the ground -- acceleration will be sporadic until you are able to hit flatter patches of land.

Tires on different terrains have different sounds and driving responses. The audio only enhances the feel while the controllers rumble. The positional audio is brilliantly mapped, providing different pitches and tones of the engines depending on which camera angle you choose to drive with.

Final Thoughts

Dirt can be appreciated by most racing fans. It’s a high-octane racer, and it won’t sell you short on action. The game does leave out some simulation elements -- most notably the damage to cars that does not affect car performance, as well as true customization elements. With that said, Dirt 3 has amazing frame rate for such high-resolution graphics at frenetic speeds. The speed, sound, environments and vehicle response come together in this great, performance-driven racer.