Dirt 5: 10 Beginner Tips And Tricks

Dirt 5, the latest installment in Codemasters' venerable rally racing series, is out and with versions for next-gen consoles to boot. In a landscape that features precious few racing games for the latest and greatest machines, it's awesome to have one that's as good as this.

But if you're looking to show off your shiny new system, you might be curious about all the new features that Dirt 5 brings to the table, and wondering what to expect out of the game. Before you boot the game up, here are just a few things that you'll want to keep in mind.

10 Turn Off Assists Forꩲ༺ Faster Times

Like any racing game worth its salt, Dirt 5 features a competitive Time Trial mode that allows you to compete against other players from around the world. But if you really want to score big and climb the leaderboards, you'll have to take an extra step.

Dirt 5 features a slew of driving-assist settings, which are helpful for new players looking to acclimate to the game. However, if you want to rule the Time Trials, you'll have to turn off the assists in order to lower your times and achieve true dominance.

9 ꦜ Save The Realism For Rally...

Two Ford Mustangs drift over a watery track with Roosevelt Bridge behind them in the New York City stage in Dirt 5

The Dirt series grew out of the simulation-focused Colin McRae Rally games, which Codemaster began making in the late 90s. Dirt 5, however, is more of an arcade racer, and realism isn't this game's main concern. That distinction goes to the spinoff series Dirt Rally, with 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 featuring some of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:most realistic racing you can find.

This shift might turn off some longtime fans, but it also makes this mainline game more appealing to casual players and 𒁃newcomers.

8 ...The Game's Developer Is Different

A group of cars, including BMWs and Porsches, drift through a muddy turn in Dirt 5

Like its predecessors, Dirt 5 was developed by 🧸the British studio Codemasters; but unlike its predecessors, the specific team behind Dirt 5 was𒊎 Codemasters Cheshire.

Eagle-eyed racing fans might recognize the name♔ as the new iteration of Evolution Studios, 🎀who were responsible for the over-the-top, arcadey Motorstorm series for the PS3 and the slightly less over-the-top, but still arcadey Driveclub for PS4.

7 Play Around In Playground𝔍 Mode 🙈

A buggy jumps from a high ramp in front of a ring of fire in Dirt 5's Playground mode

In addition to the rock-solid normal racing, Dirt 5 offers a whole new type of challenge in its Playground mode. This is essentially the game's level editor, allowing you to build a custom track full of wild obstacles and test your creation with any of the vehicles in the game.

You can also upload your biggest and best tracks online for other players to experience. They can slot into a selection of different modes, and each one comes with a leaderboard, so you can see who's really owning your creation and who's getting their butt kicked.

6 Watch Out Fo🔥r Weath꧃er

A Citroen hatchback drives past a lightning strike on a snow-covered track in Dirt 5

One of Dirt 5's biggest features is its dynamic weather system. Some tracks will get hit with severe storms, while others will weather sandstorms that limit visibility. These changes aren't just for show.

Each new weather event will cause the terrain under your car to change, too, which in turn affects the driving physics. If you have to drive through a rainstorm, expect the ground beneath you to become more slippery as a result. Add in the game's day-night cycle and you'll have to juggle a lot of information while you tear up the track.

5 A Story To Savor 𒁏

In another departure from series tradition - and really, from most racing games - Dirt 5's story is surprisingly robust. Between events during the career mode, you'll be treated to bits from a fictional in-game podcast featuring real-life commentators James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes, who you might know from the YouTube channel Donut Media.

The story's production value doesn't end there. Your fictional mentor in the career mode is played by Troy Baker, while the story's antagonist is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:voiced by Nolan North.

4 Multiple Mul💮tiplayer Modes

A group of hatchbacks race over a muddy starting line in Dirt 5

One of Dirt 5's most appealing aspects is its wealth of different multiplayer modes. In addition to the basic offerings - like online racing against foes from around the world - the game features more inventive modes like Vampire, where one car (the "vampire") tries to tag all of the others within a set time limit. But perhaps most exciting for those of us who grew up without online gaming, Dirt 5 also offers local split-screen multiplayer.

You can race against your friends and show them who's boss, or you can team up in split-screen co-op during the career mode. It's a welcome feature, given how few games deign to include local multiplayer these days.

3 Pract𝓰ice Makes Perfect

A group of buggies races through a snowy track in Dirt 5

In addition to its Career and multiplayer modes, Dirt 5 offers an Arcade mode that lets you race on any combination of tracks, weather con𝐆ditions, and compe𝄹ting racers. If you want to race through a sandstorm against a bunch of rock bouncers, you can do that.

This means that Arcade mode is a perfect place to test your skills and practice different event types. If you're stuck on a specific stage in Career mode, Arcade can help you learn the ins and outs of the game in a lower-stakes way, so you can jump back in ready to dominate.

2 Customization Isn't In The Cards

A car drifts over muddy terrain with a bright colored backdrop behind it in Dirt 5

Though Dirt 5 offers a lot in terms of its different modes, gameplay features, and presentation, one thing that it doesn't have is robust car customization. Throughout the campaign, you'll unlock different cars that you can trick out with the decals of your different sponsors, and you have some other options to customize your cars' appearances, like changing colors or paint patterns.

However, you can't customize your cars' performance or handling, so if you're looking to change how each vehicle drives, you'll need to look elsewhere.

1 Each Location Offers A N♒ew Challenge

A Citroen hatchback drives beneath the Aurora Borealis in Dirt 5

Dirt 5's track selection will take you all over the world, from the icy streets of a New York City winter to the picturesque beauty of rural China. Beyond looking gorgeous, though, each different location also offers a different type of challenge that will test your skills.

For instance, Brazil's tracks wind through various different types of road, from solid tarmac to slippery mud and back; you'll have to learn to navigate these shifts in order to come out on top.

NEXT: 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Best Cars In Dirt 5 To Wreck Shop