Dirt 3
XBox 360, PS3, Tested on PC (opens in a
separate window) -
Codemasters
Dirt 3 brings back the excellant fully re-mappable control options from Dirt 2 and with them a big bunch of extra accessibility features included in their 'Difficulty and Assists' settings.
Amongst them is 'Corner Braking' which acts as an auto brake. This can be used as a driving 'assist', but also as a way to reduce the amount controls required to play. By holding down the accelerator, either manually or using a latched switch, you are able to race controlling the steering alone whilst you braking is done automatically.
Other useful features include the 'Auto Steer' assist which helps keep you on the racing line aswell as 'Stabilty Control' which helps stop your car from spinning out. Difficulty settings include six levels to choose from for your AI oppononents. Assists (except ABS) cannot be used in the Gymkhana events. In Drift events Auto Steer and Corner Braking cannot be used.
Online multiplayer allows you to use your prefered assists and compete against others in the various events available in single player, such as Point to Point, Circuit Racing and Gymkhana. In Hardcore mode you must use specific Hardcore settings which does not allow for assists to be used. As before Gymkhana multiplayer also restricts assists to ABS only.
The controls for either keyboard or controller and can be fully re-mapped (including the control sticks and the d-pad on a controller). This can allow you to place steering, accelerating and braking onto just one joystick on a controller to allow for one handed play.
Dirt 3, as with other racing
games before it such as Forza 3 and F1 2010, shows that by
offering players assistance with their driving, more of us can
race together. Simple.
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5 Comments
One thing that Bill did not mention in the review is the 'flashback' feature. I find this extremely helpful especially when I crash out as I said above and with out the flashback I would have completely lost a good time in the course but with the flashback I am able to re do my steps and not crash this time.
I also like the fact that even with all the driving assists on you can still alter the ai difficulty to make them a little harder, if you are finding it a little too easy and always winning every stage, like 10 sec in front etc.
This has nothing to do with the game play, but I like how on the Xbox version at least, your avatar is a little dangling thing which hangs from your wing mirror when you are in cockpit view, abit like an air freshener. I think it's a nice little touch.
I agree with Bill's review that Codemasters have certainly upped their game by putting a lot more features to help disabled users.
It doesn't have mouse control but you could use 'Alt-Controller' to play it using a cursor e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDClgif2r58
Let me know if you would like me to send you a Dirt 3 profile to use or need any further info on setting it up. Find out more on Alt-Controller (and a link to download it for free) here: http://t.co/ekC3tYe
Bill
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