DiRT, as its name implies, foregoes gentlemanly racing in exchange for white knuckle off-road shenanigans, where gamers plunge their cars into mud and dust, picking up more than scuff marks along the way. Its propensity for destruction notwithstanding, players will discover a fine level of sophistication beneath the game's spit shined hood.

Upon first glance, everyone notices its amazing graphics and rightfully so; in such a cluttered genre, DiRT easily stands out. Each of the 46 cars feature exquisite damage modeling that rivals the Burnout series. In addition to picking up dents and scrapes, players decimate their rides, watching (in both shock and delight) as all sorts of parts fly from their vehicles. However, busting up one's speed demon has consequences. Cars eventually stop working, but seeing a head on collision, even right before crossing the finish line, never ceases to amaze.

The tracks, recreated using satellite imagery, look equally impressive, especially when cars interact with them. Smash into a wall of tires and watch them bounce around. Burst through a sign and see the wood splinter. Crash through branches and see them bend. The entire game looks remarkable, especially inside the cars. This particular camera view really immerses gamers in DiRT's crazy world, giving them a unique, first person look at the carnage.

Running into walls and other cars proves enjoyable, but gamers should probably try to win a race now and then. Career mode offers the most enjoyment. Spread across various event types, including Rally, Rallycross, Crossover, Rally Raid and Hill Climb, gamers compete against numerous cars all jockeying for position, the goal being to earn points in order to purchase better cars and move up the ladder.