DiRT Rally infuriates and invigorates, providing the go-to racing game for the PS4

It is finally time, for DiRT to come to the next gen consoles in the form of DiRT Rally. DiRT 2 was one of my favorite racing games, and while DiRT 3 and Showdown strayed a bit too far from it’s roots, I was still looking forward to seeing how it would look and play on the PlayStation 4.  In DiRT Rally, Codemasters has provided 39 cars across the sport’s history around the world through 70 stages. Events range from traditional rally stages, Rallycross that also includes official FIA World Rallycross content, and the Pike’s Peak hill climb. While you are unable to customize the look of the car outside of liveries, but you do upgrade the performance of your car over time and even faster by way of hired crewmembers with assignable perks. Now it is time to see how it plays. 

To start, DiRT Rally sticks to it’s roots by making the gameplay and physics incredibly tough to master, which makes placing during events very, very satisfying. The way in which each car handles is very different and unique to each other, just when you think you have gone and mastered your car and feel like switching classes, it is like learning all over again. The locations and cars are beautiful and even at high speeds it looks stunning, even after driving through tress, signs, and stones the dilapidated vehicle hobbles as rough as it looks towards the finish line. While the single player career mode is near perfect, Rallycross is available via online multiplayer and there also community events to see where rank in the form of daily, weekly, and monthly challenges with entry by way of the cars in your garage. 

In my time spent playing through the multiple modes, there were a couple nuances that took away from the game and features that didn’t quite seem fully functional yet. Playing PvP while fun as hell to play against people from across the world, lobbies are rarely full and there are a lot of people that race dirty with no penalties for their actions. The leagues, while available by way of the DiRT Game site are not displayed in the game menu after linking the console to your Racenet account. I do miss the ability to rewind a certain amount times each race in order to right your wrongs, which make mistakes that much more impactful and frustrating, resulting in numerous restarts in search of the perfect run. 

At the end of the day, DiRT Rally did a great job of avoiding all the flashing lights of 3 and Showdown while providing a good amount of what made DiRT 2 so much fun, the right amount of Rally and Rallycross. While there are some blemishes to it, none of them take away from the experience of white knuckling the controller and swearing at the TV the way the developers had intending. The gameplay stability really shines, thanks to the 60 million miles driven by the DiRT community during the release on Steam’s Early Access. If you are a glutton for punishment, just wait until doing a night run on an icy track with no headlights due to not listening to your co-pilot when he says don’t cut. Seriously…don’t cut. Codemasters, if you are listening please bring us some of the locations events and vehicles we last saw in DiRT 2.

MashButtons stacks them high in our Bodycount review

So here we go with another review, this time we are checking out a shooter from Codemasters that we enjoyed our time with at E3, by the less than subtle title, Bodycount. In Bodycount, you the player, take on the role of an "asset" tasked with taking care of "targets" on behalf of the mysterious syndicate know only as the "Network". Vague? Yes, but all is revealed shortly after being thrown into an Africa hot zone between two duelling factions. What makes Bodycount stand out in a world full of shooters though, that would have to be the shredable environments, ability to chain kills, and earning power ups to unload air strikes on enemies. That along with the online coop and multiplayer modes. So after playing through the story mode followed up with online play, I think it is time to got down to my time spent with Bodycount.

Visceral is how I would describe my time playing through the story mode of Bodycount. The reason being is that the gameplay is fast and the shredable environments to creatively take whoever needs a good shooting is a strong feature to this shooter which adds an element of creativity in takedowns. I did enjoy the fast run and gun gameplay, as it made for some hectic white knuckle situations. The guns you start with felt a bit nerfed, but you will soon be able to select some beefier artillery along with power ups to make hard to complete situations a kick in the pants to run and gun through. Unlike a lot of other shooters out there, Bodycount is bright with large open maps to determine the strategic approach in which you choose to take towards your next objective. The story unravels through the narrative from an unknown woman which one can assume works for the network, but I felt the audio gold that the developers were trying to get across, and might I add did well, was how much louder the gunfire and the explosions were in comparison to anything else making this a title to truly enjoy at high volumes.

Melee is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about the things that I disliked in my playthrough. Unfortunately, there are some more things that also come to mind when I start thinking about it. The story mode was rather short, taking just under six hours to play through on easy mode, don't judge me. Back to what I was talking about before I got sidetracked, melee, my shooter play style is to move fast and fight within close quarters, which means significant use of the melee attack. It is still an effective move in close quarter situations, but the hit detection is not very forgiving, as the enemy needs to be right in front of you and not off to the side at all. Lastly, for me and my time spent with Bodycount, was getting into online matches. It wasn't that nobody was on, because once I got into a decent lobby it played , as well as the single player mode, but some of the time it was almost like my system froze while connecting and wasn't able to ready up, but aside from those issues, that was all that came to mind.

Throughout my time spent with Bodycount, I did have fun. It did take some time to unlock those weapons that work really well when shredding buildings to take down anyone standing between you and your objective. The story progression went smoothly and the arcade gameplay is something that does help with the replay value of this game, but due to a very competitive release date and limited amount of content, I do not see being the online community being around long without additional DLC.


Mashbuttons.com gives Bodycount a 7 out of 10. Bodycount is available now for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Sergeant Knox gets introduced in new Operation Flashpoint video

Yes, Sergeant Knox, not General Knox from Borderlands, is a protagonist you will come across in Codemasters' newest entry, Operation Flashpoint: Red River. In Red River, it appears you will go to Tajikistan as part of the USMC. The previous entry, Dragon Rising, was not a very forgiving title in terms of FPS gameplay and difficulty, but for some reason Red River still looks good and though I am not willing to give up on Codemasters FPS titles, the Q2 2011 release of this will be marked on my calendar.

Ken explains Gymkhana in DiRT 3

Anyone that knows me, knows I love racing games, from realistic to arcade. So this comes as no surprise that I am absolutely ecstatic about DiRT 3 and here is a little video brought to you from Codemasters and Ken Block, giving a little introduction and some clips of the new feature, Gymkhana.

Gameplay footage revealed for upcoming DiRT 3

Codemasters has released their first Q & A dev diary for the upcoming rally racer DiRT 3. From the looks of it, the developers are putting even more into this racing title from environments to cars in their attempt to create an even better experience from DiRT 2, which I am still a huge fan of. Check out the video below to see what to expect.

F1 2010 | Review

Synopsis: Codemasters has just released their recent racer, F1 2010, putting us in the cockpit of F1 race cars and working our way through its extensive career mode, so I figured after spending all weekend listening to the sounds of car engines and getting hit with penalties that it was time to put the controller down and complete my review for our devoted viewers before more racing. Along with licensed tracks, cars, and drivers, this release also features an advanced damage model and dynamic weather system. With no further delay, it is time to put on your helmets, make sure your car is tuned, and get ready to work your way through the ranks of the 2010 Formula One World Championship.

Praise: As a fan of the genre and Codemasters’ DiRT and GRiD titles I had nothing but high hopes for their recent addition to the racing genre. My time spent with F1 2010 was with the career mode, which starts with picking a racing team and having your agent walking you through how to make a name for yourself. This title is a LOT more technical than the GRiD and DiRT titles, which is probably the only thing I felt those titles were missing. In terms of being technical, I mean that it is almost imperative that you go through practice mode to see how your car does against the other racers and trying to earn power ups to give you that little edge over the other racers by completing laps within a specific amount of time, then moving on to qualify for a good starting position in the race. The gameplay is incredibly fast and fluid, mix that with detailed damage physics and let’s just say huge wrecks become amazing. The sounds when cranked up sound like a swarm of killer bees mixed with your mechanic in your ear telling you the status of your car and how to work your way up the ranks.

Gripes: Just like in DiRT, you will spend a good amount of time adapting to racing F1 cars from the other racing titles you are used to as these are much faster and handle tighter than the Gran Turismo or Forza races I am used to. There is also a lot of work to be done before getting into a race with the practice and qualifying, though you can skip both, but you will miss out on better starting positions and getting used to your car’s handling in different weather conditions. I am ashamed to admit this but the first few races, brake assist was necessary to get used to the car, other racers, and to see where braking is most beneficial, which almost felt like cheating but proved to be beneficial without taking too much from the gameplay. Lastly, be careful as you get penalized when cutting corners and causing accidents. Don’t get me wrong as I feel more racing titles should do this, but it is way too easy to get penalized, however, I was lucky enough to get by with warnings on occasion.

Overall, this is a title the hardcore race fans should have in their library because it is a solid racer with a good amount of depth and because there are very few Formula One titles out there, none the less good ones. Though it does take longer to get into a race than I would like, once you get to the race, with a loud stereo, and first person view is the closest you can get to the real thing without actually being there.

Mashbuttons.com gives F1 2010 an 8 out of 10.

F1 2010 is available now for the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3.

Ken Block brings Gymkhana to YouTube and DiRT 3

Rally fans and viral video scourers alike hear the name Ken Block and the first thing that comes to mind is his Gymkhana video in his Subaru on a peir. This time around in Gym 3 he is in the Ford Fiesta in France and you can see what over seven million have seen in just under a week. The reason for this post? Well that would be because Gymkhana will get a game mode in DiRT 3.

Here's more dirt in your eye

DiRT 3 has made me forget about my wait for Gran Turismo 5 altogether and that is a feat in itself. Codemasters must enjoy teasing me with the initial trailer and now visuals of the upcoming rally racer. Unfortunately, it looks like Ken Block will be appearing in his Ford and not the Subaru we all fell in love with in DiRT 2. This time around we will see more cars, locations, routes, and events.

DiRT 3 trailer makes my day!

As many of you may already know, I love racing games, as some closer to me may know, I played way too much DiRT 2. So needlessly to say when I wake up with a DiRT 3 trailer to post, my day cannot go wrong, and so far I have been right. Racers rejoice as you too can view, drool, and pop back in DiRT 2 until 2011.

Codemasters reveals new FPS Bodycount

Codemasters has revealed the pre alpha gameplay trailer of the new FPS title Bodycount being developed for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Check out the trailer and looking to get some hand on with this title tomorrow. Expect this title to be released Spring of 2010.

Bodycount announced as new IP from Codemasters

Codemasters has announced they have a new IP in production in the form of wait for it...a first person shooter, claiming to deliver a genre defining gun play in an "orgy of bullets and destruction". Players will take on the role of a powerful combat asset in the middle of a global power struggle recently given the go ahead to eliminate targets using contemporary weapons in a destructible environment, where it is encouraged to leave no witnesses. Expect to see Bodycount on store shelves Q1 of this year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Review

In this installment of JoeyVan reviews games, I will review Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising for the 360. Dragon Rising is a first person shooter/military strategy game that, in my video game experience, is very realistic, maybe even a little too realistic. The game takes place on an island that is being fought over by the Russian and Chinese armies in the not too distant future. Well, who do you fight for, Russia or China? Neither, as you as the good ole’ U S of A, bailing out Russia before they get slapped around by China.

As mentioned earlier, the realistic focus on this title is definitely not subtle, from the kickback of the gun to the way the soldier runs. This feature can also be just as much of a short coming to the casual gamer, especially when shot, even once, you must have a medic take care of you quickly or you will bleed out and die. Since you are acting as the squad leader, you can choose the actions of the other squad members and have them do most of your killing, which is what I did to prevent bleeding out when things got hairy.

Probably the most interesting part of the game, is that it is unscripted and very spontaneous. An example of this would be that if and when you die and have to restart the mission, you won’t be going through the same sequence as before, keeping you on your toes and preventing memorizing and mastering missions.

Once you get the hang of the gameplay, you find how fun being a futuristic (not THAT futuristic) squad leader can be. I give this title an 8 out of 10, as this is a must have for any fan of military style first person shooters like Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Call of Duty.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is available now for the Playstation 3, XBox 360, and PC.

DiRT 2 | Review

Synopsis: DiRT 2 is the sequel to its critically acclaimed predecessor that was released in 2007, adding new technology, race types, large scale events, locations, drivers, and vehicles. Players are taken on a World Tour, consisting of over 100 events across nine different locations, combining solo and multi car races. Up and coming rally racers Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, and Dave Mirra compete with and against you throughout your career, along with voicing their strongdisapproval when you’re trading paint or sending them out of control. Online gameplay allows for two to eight players, racing individually or on teams, to gain experience towards increasing their online level or just make their way up the leaderboards. To help provide that fast paced racing style that Codemasters is known for, DiRT 2 includes a garage, chocked full of the “best-in-class” licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles.

Praise: The graphics in dirt 2 are amazing and with everything going on at the same time the game play does not give the player a slowdown in frame rate. There are a large number of events across the globe to keep anyone busy for hours on end, while the variety of vehicles, keep racing along the same tracks fresh. The ability to choose the skill level before each race is a great feature, so you can begin your career on casual as the game starts while moving to a higher difficulty to make more cash as you get more familiar with how each car and race type plays. Flashbacks are a godsend with the white knuckle gameplay as it is easy to lose control or total your vehicle, and if that happens, there is the ability to rewind to a few seconds before you are out of commission to correct the mistake and complete the event. Online play is great, whether playing ranked or practice matches, there was virtually no lag, finding a match is quick, and I found myself saying “one more level and then I can turn it off” a few too many times.

Gripes: The ability to tune your vehicle is missing from DiRT 2, and while you are able to choose cars that vary in regards to speed, acceleration, and drivability, I was hoping for the ability to fine tune the performance and handling of vehicles. Some of the personalization abilities such as dashboard and mirror ornaments are not noticeable unless you choose to race in the first person view, however, the vehicle wraps, known as liveries, help you personalize the way each vehicle in your stable looks. My biggest gripe with online play, which has nothing to do with the development of this title, is that occasionally, you will race against the person who expects to win the race by barreling into or through you without any sort of penalty, and this concern would not exist if there was any sort of penalty for crashing.

Small gripes aside, DiRT 2 is a perfect rally racer with loads of replay value, after the world tour is completed. As long as you have your Xbox online, there is just as much time to be spent, if not more, racing against the online community. From the stunning visuals to the break neck speed of the white knuckle gameplay, any racing fan should pick this up as they will not be disappointed, as Codemasters has stayed true to the sport of racing once again.

Mashbuttons.com gives DiRT 2 a 10 out of 10 to a very well executed title for any rally racing fan to enjoy until DiRT 3.(Here is to hoping for a sequel)

DiRT 2 is available now for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP, Wii, and DS.

Authenticity is Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising's middle name

Codemaster's has provided us with another release video for their soon to be released first person shooter. While the last video we posted focused on the vehicles available, this most recent developer diary focuses the sounds inside the game that help add an authentic feel to the player. Though loud gunshots and explosion through a massive surround sound makes almost any gameplay experience euphoric and are bound to piss of your neighbors and family members, the gameplay video on top of the sound work done by the developers make this game look promising.

Tanks, Choppers, and Hummers, Oh My!

No, this is not an innuendo, but the list of the handful of vehicles available for the upcoming war game, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.



Another unique feature to this title is that a hardcore mode is offered, which removes the HUD, which essentially takes away the cross-hairs and compass, only leaving you with a map to complete your mission.

Dragon Rising is the newest sandbox shooter from Codemasters, that is slated for release on October 6th, for the Xbox 360, PC, and Playstation 3

DiRT 2 release announced, get DiRTy on September 8th!

So along with providing us with the release date of the newest Colin McRae title, we now have fresh screen shots and video. I have to admit, I was unable to get into the first entry, DiRT, but after seeing the screen shots, and gameplay video, the title looks amazing. Let's just hope the game plays as good as it looks and it will be a deal breaker.



Start marking your calendars for September 8th! Until then, there is always GRID, for your seizure inducing racer fix.

Overlord II,brought to you by the Minionsty of Information

The Minionstry of Information has sent me an e-mail regarding Overlord II with a video that is a little guide to get to know your minions before you get to control the evil little bastards. Red, brown, blue, and green minions each have their own special skill to achieve a common goal, being evil.



For those who have not checked out the first Overlord title, the main character is an Overlord that controls hordes of minions, that strangely resembles gremlins. You controls these minions to take over empires and lord over it's citizens. Sounds serious but the minions actually lighten the mood with their banter. See for yourself in these videos.



The demo is out now on the XBox 360, and remember, if you preorder at GameStop, you get a minion Figurine.

DirT2 teasing, leaving us feeling...DirTy

Codemasters is promoting DirT2 in full force at E3, with having a porn star as a booth babe and all. But along with that is the E3 teaser and gameplay trailer. There is much excitement behind this game for a number of reason. The graphics are stunning, large soundtrack which includes 40 popular bands, and lastly, no shortage of events to play.



With the number of largely anticipated racing games announced at E3 and the others that are expected to come out this year, DirtT2 still stands out with the heavy hitters as a title to check out. With DirT2 releasing on almost all platforms, everyone can get DirTy.