Not quite an arcade racer or a sim, Dirt 2 occupies strange and largely unexplored territory in the racing world. But don't let fear of the unknown dissuade yourself. Dirt 2 stands out as an excellent title that will be sure to please both casual and hardcore racers.

Visually, the game is stunning. Environments are vivid and detailed and it makes racing through them a pleasure. One of the real treasures, though, is the damage modeling. It's immensely satisfying to see your car deform from hitting objects and you might find yourself going out of your way to ram into walls, barriers or other cars. The actual gameplay is great and always challenging, making a win feel very deserved.

Unfortuntely, the game does have a few weak spots. Notably, Games for Windows - Live (GFWL) is frustrating at best. As well, there is no custom content support. Multiplayer is odd too, as no one seems to say anything to one another.

Overall though, Dirt 2 is fun and exciting and worth a try by any racer.

Mirror's Edge not only looks beautiful but offers a unique gameplay experience that will be fresh and exciting for many gamers. Unfortunately, the game falls short on replay value and custom content support.