Introduction: While there are numerous racers on the DS only a few of them could be considered must haves, these include the Need for Speed series and just about anything that comes from developers Firebrand. The team has impressed gamers with the incredible TrackMania (which will soon get a sequel), Race Driver and last years GRID. Obviously when we first got word that they were teaming up with Codemasters yet again, Dirt 2 quickly jumped up our most wanted list but are they really the masters of the handheld racer?

GamePlay: Like most racers Dirt 2 allows you to tackle your racing in a number of different ways but given that both Quick Race and Time Trial appear in the Career Mode, we'll concentrate on that first. This is a fast paced trip around the world visiting a variety of places in order to show your skills as their very best behind a wheel. It begins simply enough with little money at your disposal allowing you to purchase only the most basic of cars. It's then all up to you; winning races means money and the higher the race is ranked (Rookie, Amateur or Pro) the more cash will come your way. You'll begin with the standard track race, with opponents jostling for pole position but you'll also have to deal with 'A to B' events, time trials, checkpoints and even jumps. This brings us neatly onto the Stunt Tracks, which is one of the weaker aspects of the gameplay. Hitting ramps and pulling off mid-air 360s just don't seem to belong in a race game. It's also a little temperamental on the control side of things so while you'll hit the score on the first level, you'll find it a great deal more challenging in the later ones.

As well as the single player game there's also a Multiplayer, which can be enjoyed with a single copy of the game. We still think more developers should include this especially when the game cries out for a Multiplayer experience and Firebrand should be applauded for this move. Sadly there's no on-line play so if you don't happen to have a friend to hand, it's back to the single player game.

Control: The control is just as you'd expect and mastering the handbrake and 'drift' maneuvers is as important here as in previous outings. Each car has a different weight too so just because you can throw one of the smaller rally cars around a hairpin bend, don't expect the same of a Hummer. The only real problem with the control is the rather odd collision so instead of forcing opponents off the track, you simply bounce off them, which can be a little frustrating just before the finish line.

Graphics: Firebrand have always been applauded for the their visuals and their ability to balance in-game speed and an impressive framerate without compromising the gameplay, something that has eluded some other developers. Dirt 2 is yet another title which highlights just how far they've brought the handheld racer and the rally based tracks are excellent. Unfortunately the same can't be said of the various snow bound courses, which are bland in comparison. There are an impressive amount of licensed cars though, all of which are well modeled and animated.

Sound & Music: While there's not the quality and selection of tracks you might have hoped for, there's still a decent soundtrack to race to. In addition you'll get the standard engine and tire noises but nothing outstanding.

Dual Screen Use: While there's nothing in the game that really utilizes the touch-screen, this changes when you enter the Track Editor. This is just as easy to get to grips with as the previous version and with the help of your stylus you can create just about any type of track you wish, with varied terrain and weather conditions. This includes 'A to B' and standard circuits and is really where Firebrand has provided for almost endless replay value, it's just a shame these can't be uploaded on-line. You can, of course, share them with friends and your created tracks can even be enjoyed in Multiplayer Mode, which should be enough to encourage the designer in everybody.

Final Comments: There are simply too many racing types on offer here for anything to really stand out and in the process of trying to pack everything into one package Firebrand have unfortunately watered down what they are good at in the first place. It's still well above average but the lack of visual polish and some of the modes not quite working as intended may leave you a little cold. Worst of all is the absence of any on-line or sharing Modes, which were included the previous outing. If it's off road you are looking for though, there's more than enough to keep you happy here but if it's simply down to a solid driving experience then Codemasters' own GRID is still one of the best.

Pro: Fun Arcade Racing, Great Track Editor.
Con:Some Environments a Little Bland
Final Score: 7.8

Reviewed by: Andrew Blanchard