A great racing game in all regards, Colin Mcrae's maiden next gen voyage is a great one.
Graphics: DiRT is a fantastic looking racing game with a very slick menu presentation, amazing damage modeling and great course detail. The damage modeling specifically lets do all sorts of stuff to your car, like breaking windshields, shearing off bumpers, dinging up the bodywork, and more. The graphics engine also allows for destruction on the course, like breaking tire barriers, destryoing guard rails, and a whole lot more. The one tradeoff: the frame rate. In races with other cars, the frame rate can literally PLUMMET down into single digits. On the rally stages when you're just driving by yourself, this isnt an issue, but the frame rate never go beyond any great numbers.
Audio: The soundtrack is pretty good, with some decent tunes to listen to during replays and while driving(if you like that). however, the menu music is that same repetitive crap you have to listen to EVERY time ur at the game menus. The co-driver who sits next to you on rally stages and rally raids is helpful, but sounds like he's reading a script(even though he technically is).
Gameplay: This is where DiRT shines. The Career mode, which is basically a huge pyramid of events for you to compete in is VERY deep. With 45 cars and over 160 paint schemes for said cars, this mode has a LOT to offer and will more than likely make you go back and ace the races you didnt ace in order to get the cash you need to buy on the cars and paintschemes. however, it wont take longer than a few days to beat the Career mode on the medium difficulty setting. This, however, is only the beginning of your fun. You can also take part in Rally Championships, as well as hopping on one of the tracks in the game for one race.
In terms of actually driving, there are 6 different racing disciplines: Hillclimb, Rallycross, Rally, CORR(Championship Off Road Racing), Crossover, and Rally Raid. The cars all handle really well, although they do tend to feel on the floaty side and not exactly realistic.
The biggest disapointment is the XBOX Live play. you CANT race against other cars online. What happens is you are put in a lobby for up to 100 players and you vote on one of 6 combinations of cars and tracks. once it starts, all the players race in a time trial at the same time. it's nice, but I would really have liked to see some wheel to wheel racing online.
Bottom Line: despite some disapointments, DiRT is a great looking racing game that happens to be fun as well. A great racing game in all regards, Colin Mcrae's maiden next gen voyage is a great one.