Codemasters have become well known for great racing games, like GRID, F1 2011
and of course the DiRT series. *Dirt Showdown* is the latest Codemasters
racing game, and it's quite a departure. While DiRT 3 was a kind of return to
more serious rallying, DiRT Showdown brings back the violent fun of
destruction derbies and stock car racing. It's been some time since a serious
effort was made to bring this kind of racing to gamers. Tracks with
crossovers will encourage crashes, which look great thanks to Codemasters's
excellent EGO engine. Rampage is like a classic demolition derby, while
Knockout is won by being the last car in the ring, after pushing all the
other cars out. One big development is the introduction of RaceNet. This is a
social hub where you'll be able to share all your racing achievements - and
it will be present in all future CodeMasters racing titles, so you'll be able
to have a persistent racing profile over different types of game. DiRT
Showdown also includes *gymkhana* events, which will require more nuanced
driving. How these driving-as-ballet events will fit with the rough and
tumble of the other modes is my main concern. Nevertheless, DiRT Showdown is
shaping up to be a fun diversion for the series, although serious rally fans
will have to wait for DiRT 4!Download *DiRT Showdown Preview* in Softonic
