"DIRT TRACK RACING REVIEW" >Page 1, 2, 3

The Good

There is no other way to put it, the driving physics here are simply incredible. Set up the car at the end of the straight, dump it in and power it off. No other game gives you a better "feel" than DTR.

The computer opponents are all exceptionally aggressive and will dive to the inside, slingshot off the corner or even bang into you to pull off a pass. This game will make you work for every pass and to hold your position. There is no time to rest until the checkered flag falls.

You also need to stay on your toes throughout the race. Other racing sims have "the groove" the single optimal line around the track. DTR forces you to aggressively seek out new lines because, just like on a real Saturday night, the groove moves around during the race. What works well in the first few laps of the race might well have you getting lapped towards the end.

The career mode is the real bread and butter of this sim. Start out with a limited budget and go to the junkyard to buy a Street Stock, race for prize money and points. If you do well you might attract a sponsor, but the decision is up to you, accept this offer or wait for a better sponsor to come along? You can then use this money to buy new cars, improve the car you are driving and move up to other classes. The career mode features 12 different local, regional and national racing series for you to compete in.

Other notable aspects of the game include the detailed garage where you can tweak the transmission, springs, tires and more to try to get your car around the track better, adjustable difficulty so that your kids can enjoy the game when you are done racing the simulation, and multi-player support for up to ten human opponents over a LAN or internet connection.

Next page The Less Good and The Verdict >Page 1, 2, 3