FreestyleXtreme Magazine Issue 8 | Page 31

The DiRT series gets back to its roots Early Access: DiRT Rally Where: PC/Steam A NSWERING THE CRIES OF a vocal portion of their fan base, Codemasters have taken a step back towards the pure rally driving of the classic Colin McRae Rally series with their latest iteration of DiRT. Available now on Steam early access (PC only for now), the developers will be continuing to add to the game until it’s full release. We’re loving what we’ve played so far with the customary blend of speed, precision and occasional balls-out insanity, wrapped up in a smart package with a great selection of cars. We’ll have a full review when the final version is with us. Check it out! its own as all the elements drop into place - your first clean first-place lap around Monaco without assists will be a moment of pride. Changing a winning Formula? What: F1 2015 Who: Codemasters Format: Windows, PS4, Xbox One Availability: Out Now F1 2015 feels like Codemasters hitting the reset button on the longrunning series - with all the positives and negatives that come along with that. For the 2015 edition the game makes the leap to the next (and rapidly becoming current) generation consoles, meaning a complete overhaul for the graphics as well as an update to the presentation, handling and AI. The downside to this has been the loss of some of the series’ most treasured game modes - in particular career mode and ‘classic’ content (all the old-school tracks and cars) are absent. Fortunately F1 2015 has enough capability and nuance on the track to keep it a compelling play and a more than worthwhile buy if you prefer your top-level track racing on four wheels. Both the 2015 and 2014 seasons are featured in the game, meaning the inclusion of both sets of drivers, cars and tracks. Thankfully this means we still get to race Hockenheim, which the 2015 championship has skipped. The biggest update to the feel of the game comes from the real-life developments within the sport. Since the 2014 switch to turbo-charged V6s rather than V8s along with changes in aero rules, the cars are much more torque-y and twitchy. 2015 does a great job of incorporating this, making for sometimes less than forgiving but definitely more satisfying results. Throttle control needs to be tight and consistent, with as much concentration coming out of a turn as going into it. Like any sports game, it comes into The focus of play is on Championship Season mode as