Buy DiRT Showdown

Dirt Showdown is in my opinion a bit underrated and really misunderstood by some people. They consider the game as the successor of Dirt 3. However, Showdown is more a spinoff, that has nothing to do with the other Dirt games besides the 'Dirt' name. That being sad, I think this game is really good in what is does. Just mindless 'demolition derby like' fun. The car handling is just right for this type of game in my opinion. It also has great graphics and sound. There's single player with a career mode, wich will keep you busy for a while. It has enough variety with many different gamemodes. And then there's another SP mode, called Joyride, were you have to complete a series of tricks and collect all the Showdown logo's. Well, if you want those achievements at least :) But the game really shines in multiplayer. Unfortunately, the MP isn't really active anymore. Often you find yourself in an empty lobby. The best idea is to look on the forum for people to play with. Because of this, I wouldn't recommend the game just for MP. But like I said, there's enough fun to be had in SP alone.

(Before you destroy me for recommending this game because "It's not DiRT", let me quote the steam store info Codemasters provided since this game was announced in the end of 2011: IT'S A SPIN-OFF!)

Anyways, onwards!

Some of you may (others may not) know that I absolutely love racing games! My problem is I have a bit of OCD towards the genre. If it isn't exactly what or how I want it, I don't like it.

And Dirt Showdown got my interest, though not much because I played pretty much all racers since 2004's Burnout 3: Takedown, which is the masterpiece of racing games. That perfect title that never leaves your memories. It had stellar graphics, perfect controls with perfect responsiveness. Also has the best soundtrack of all time of any game or movie, ever! Car variety was huge! Campaign was huge as well! Replayability was huge! Menus were super slick and everything about it was just pixel perfect! One of the best games of all time and I still have the whole soundtrack on my phone :D

Anyways, and those racers since 2004 never gave me that spark again for the racing genre. My reaction were always "Ugh, wtf is this sh*t?" or "Meh..." and I proceeded with the uninstall process.

But I got in a trade with a friend Dirt Showdown because it was being given away alongside the pre-order of GRID Autosport and I couldn't really let this slip by my fingers.

I installed as soon as I got it and started playing.

You have no. Damn. Idea. Of the levels of joy I had when this brought me fond (VERY fond) memories of that 2004 classic game you should know by now. It's like a Burnout 3: Takedown 2! Everything I needed was there! The fantastic graphics, the absolutely AMAZING Soundtrack, the perfectly responsive controls, the car variety and level variety. It even has an announcer like 2004's B3 and this one is also really good! He keeps throwing little jokes, funny puns, etc. It's really cool! It really is!

And after 22 hours of 100%'ing the whole game. [Campaign: Everything gold. Joyrides (2 Open World maps for you to complete missions in and also find all the 100 hidden collectibles): all 150 missions done and all 100 Hidden Packages found (which reward you with something if you find'em all (not saying what, of course!)) and level 12 in Multiplayer Sessions] I can safely say this is the best racing game and the best racing game experience I've had in the last decade! (That's 10 years!!!!!).

Modes are also very unique, it's not just racing like most borefests of racers. You have regular racing, domination (get the best time in certain track portions), 8-balls (super fun variation of the regular racing mode), ram rage (destroy and wreck ♥♥♥♥ up! (Demolition Derby, pretty much) King of the Hill (knock all cars out of the podium), Head 2 Head (Gymkhana competition between oponents (whether it's 2 or more people or 2 teams). Smash and grab (get a bag full of loot and hold it (avoid getting hit) for as much as possible to get as much points as possible to win). Capture the Flag (FFA or Team based), etc.!

I don't think I have anything else to say do I? I already said it. Great graphics, great level variety (different weather conditions as well!), top notch of perfection soundtrack! (Also on my phone), great announcer, super slick and responsive controls. Loading screens are very short and this game is a PERFECT PC VERSION! Everything it needs, it's there! Controls are great (though, of course, controller's always better), benchmark tool! Wide range of options to tweak for weaker PC's to be able to run this game well! (Which I believe pretty much any PC can! I tried this on my regular PC, can play 60 FPS "almost" maxed out no problems. And I tried on my older PC (quite weak) with a 2.4 GHz Dual Core and an AMD Radeon HD 3650 (Mobile version (yes, a laptop)) and it ran really smooth at 50-60 FPS, though I had to tweak most stuff to low and others to medium, obviously.)

Oh yeah! Problems with the game: Campaign (called the "Showdown Tour") is REALLY short. I finished it in 10 hours with everything gold (1st place). I wanted at least 20 hours! But the multiplayer's there to make up for it. Sadly, the MP's pretty dead. I can (and so should you be able to) find occasionally some MP matches to play in and I can say it's one of the best and most fun MP experiences I've ever had the pleasure of trying! It's so varied and fun! Lots of modes to play (around 8, I think) and all are unique and fun to do!

Campaign's short but the JoyRides are also there to make up for it (1st place Gold in every campaign level and 100%'ing all missions and getting all hidden packages in both JoyRide maps took me between 17 and 18 hours of pure adrenaline running, head shaking, song-humming fun!

I can't recommend this enough! And at it's current price on steam of 19,99€, there's no reason for you to not get it! If you still don't know about it, it's easy! Try the free demo on steam! The game also goes on sale quite often, when other Codemasters games are on sale too. So, grab it and come wreck stuff in MP with me! :D

Oh you want a score? Ok fine. 22 hours of quality, no problems except the fact that it's too short the SP campaign (and even then, it's not much of an "issue") But even then, the game wasn't the classic rip-off 50€ full retail price. It was cutback to the more reasonable and accessible 39,99€. They knew this SPIN-OFF (it's a SPIN-OFF, not "This shouldn't have Dirt in the name") was a smaller and more digestive experience, so it's commendable for them to reduce the pricetag. So the smaller length's is proportional to the price. Think of Alan Wake and it's Spin-Off: American Nightmare. It's kinda like that!

10/10. One of the VERY few games I've played in my life that deserve a perfect score. Enough said. Have a great day!

DiRT Showdown is a more accessible entry in the series than other DiRT games, but still a most enjoyable experience. You can play in events varying from races to destruction derbies and sumo wrestling for vehicles. (I'm serious)

It's a little less realistic than the other games in the series, but you know, I'm totally fine with this. It's clearly meant to be a spin-off from the series, and isn't really connected to DiRT 3 for example. Although, if that's what you want, then I wouldn't recommend it. There's a greater focus on aggresive driving and smashing up opponents, rather than clean rally driving.

I'm personally having a lot of fun with the Rampage event where you smash the hell out of every other car in the arena, but the races are a lot of fun too. I recommend you gives this game a try, DiRT fan or not!

My only minor complaints is the lack of cockpit camera and the lack of ability to import your own music to the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWlTx77_quo

"You get what you pay for" is the moral of the story here.

Dirt Showdown isn't supposed to be a AAA, GOTY, "11/10 better than CoD - IGN" game. It's a minature game, if you want to put it in context.

Some negatives: Can't customize cars or paint schemes like other Codemaster games, not too many locations, demo-derby really sucks, handeling is too arcade-y.

Some Positives: Great graphics, good surround sound, decent selection of cars (even if they handle near identical), decent online (if you can still find anyone).

Honestly the game modes get repetitive after awhile, but it's fun for some hours. Worth ~$15

6.9/10

It has nice graphics, but the problem is this yellowish shade fitler that CODEMASTERS seem so obsessed over.

Then we have the depth of this game, or rather the lack of.

Just pick a car and race. No upgrades, not much in the way of unlockables and for a destruction derby like game destruction and damage feel underwhelming. Race mode is the worst and by far the most boring. The rest are just passable.

It also lacks any sort of minimap(probably to hide the extreme rubberbanding), no speedometers and no interior cockpit view.

It feels like a filler for the next game in the series, something to shut up the whiners who like yearly releases. It also is unacceptable that this game is not better than Flatout 2, a game that is far supperior and several years older.

gets a 5/10

After Successufly completing the game 100% gold, I though I owed it to the makers of this fantastic game to write an honest reveiw on this amazing game! As a big fan of the dirt series for many years loving dirt 2 and dirt 3, Showdown did not disapoint adding a whole new level of excitment and joy when you cross that finish line, If you don't buy this game you're seriously missing out on a piece of gold. 10/10

This is definitely not like the rest of the Dirt franchise. But it is still fairly amazing, grab it on sale and you will have no regrets.

I loved playing through this game. I've not played through the joyride mode on the pc version yet. But i've got 1000/1000 on the 360 version so thats a testiment as to how good this game is considering i don't normally finish a good portion of my games. The demolition events are the best thing though. Its reminiscent of Destruction Derby.

Definitely give it a try.

Excellent presentation, nice handling, variety of game modes.
Not a racing game, though, not even in those events that are about crossing the line first.

Pick it up at a low price if you like destruction derbies.

this game is simple to handle and loads of fun online and with friends. if your thinking about buying that you should do it!!!

Great Game, works very well with a keyboard!

This game is not Dirt! There is nothing here that resembles the old Dirt Series we all love. It's not like the old Dirt Series but rather something different. SO DON'T PUT THIS GAME IN THE DIRT FRANCHISE! This game is fun though. I'll give this a 7/10.

What was happened to me at first run is exactly what poets call the love at first sight.

+ High Quality textures and stylish presentation
+ NICE sound of engines
+ LOTs of cRuncy crashes
+ Amazing Joyride Missions
- BAD Commentary
- LESS tracks N cars

No incar view, no manual transmission, and yet it's the only Dirt game that actually let's you mess around on a track.

Fail.

It's not a sequel to any of the other Dirt games, just a spin- off. Dirt Showdown is one of those games you play at the weekend, sometimes. If there's nothing else to play. Good to play with friends and just 'okay' to play on your own. It seems rushed, due to a alot of repeat tracks from previous Dirt games, of which the developers have just added a few ramps and tyres to. There's a fair variety of things to do in the game though, ranging from Destruction Derby, to races and then Gymkhana (where you do donuts and jumps etc). You will have to play all these types of modes as in career mode you are made to in a random order. So one second you're told to 'put your foot down and plow in to your opponents' and then told 'don't scratch your car or you lose your points'. The AI has rubberbanding or 'catch- up' which is also easily noticeable online, considering me and my mates were laughing at how slow your car suddenly go if your quite far ahead in 1st place, when the guy in last would be given an uncontrollable amount of speed boost. Having said that, in Destruction arena's or 'knockout' this doesn't happen because all you have to do is wreck opponents and earn points for hits.

Likes about the game:
Destuction modes- 8 Ball style tracks, knockout and derby's, which are intense and a good laugh.
Graphics- Apart from the crowd, graphics are as good as always from Codemasters. So shiny as well.
Cars- I like the cars that you are given, you get different ones for the different game types. Some are made up, some are real. Depends what mode you are playing
Menu's- BIG, BOLD, LOUD. NICE.
Car Handling- Easy to get used to, which is right for this type of game
Party modes- For online, like capture the flag and smash and grab.

Dislikes:
Announcer guy- He needs to shush. Plus, you can't mute him. Says stupid things which aren't funny
AI rubber banding/ catch up for online- Kills any point of skill. It kills skills.
Repeat tracks - 'I saw that track from Dirt 2.......aaaaaand Dirt 3
Opponent amount- Only 8 players. Come on, they could of at least done 12 which they did for the game GRID.
Online ranking- Takes forever...mainly because no-one plays online anymore and you need a full lobby to get a good amount of levelling up points.
Gymkhana- There's only a certain amount of times you can do jumps, donuts and drifts till it gets repetitive.

I recommend only if you like arcade racers and don't mind getting smashed up by others.
6.5 (maybe a 7)/10

Had it for 2 years now. Great game - loved it. Works well, good rallying and has loads of other game modes. If you're looking for a serious rally game, this is not for you. Other problems include occasional lag, Annoying commentator(ok thats subjective) and lack of tracks. Despite this, its fun and friendly and will mostly satisfy your gaming needs. 8/10

It's like Call of Duty with Cars!!! 11/10 - IGN

The worst car game from Codemasters. Yes "car game", because it isn't "racing game". There isn't much racing in it. And when you finally are racing, you get the tracks with a lot of stuff obscuring the view, drivers hitting each other and just pure chaos.
The other modes... well, there's rampage, which is like the Destruction Derby, but the cars are respawning and you're just going for the points which are given to you for hitting other cars, but sometimes it doesn't "read" your hits, so you get 0 points for hitting someone at full speed. There are other modes, every one of them has some flaws that make them less enjoyable.
I wouldn't recommend this game for anyone who care about points, winning, and RACING.
It's a good game for kids who just want to have fun and see cars crash into each other.
I loved the old CMR's, liked the first DIRT, had some really great time with DIRT 2 and 3, but this one is awful.
Don't buy, even on sale.

simply....... one of the best games out there..............