Unfortunately (as seems to be the norm with PlayStation 3 titles), there is a hefty mandatory install before the player even gets to the racing action. Weighing in at just a shade under 4GB, it`s best to go make a cup of coffee/tea or maybe catch up with some news while this takes place. It`s annoying, but only occurs once, so there are no further interruptions once it's finished.

Once into the game proper, DiRT 2 casts the player as a newcomer to the scene, attempting to make their way within the racing fraternity by using their driving skills to win races and earn the respect of their peers. The front end puts the player in the first person and into a camper van which acts as the player's base. From here, race events can be entered into, stats can be checked and all manner of options can be tweaked including giving yourself a comedy call sign that other drivers will call you by.

Race events reward the player with cash and the now-ubiquitous Experience Points, or XP, which is used to further the rank the player gains. As they move up the ranks, certain exclusive events are unlocked, culminating in the X Games series events dotted around the globe. These can be classed the ultimate goal to aim for, the reward for all the hard racing so far.

One of the more interesting additions that Codemasters introduced in their 2008 title, GRiD is the ability to rewind a particular part of the race. This mode has made its way onto DiRT 2 and proves most welcome. These "flashbacks"can rectify any badly taken corners, or a particularly costly overtaking manoeuvre that didn`t go well. While purists will bemoan the fact that it could be classed as cheating, it`s better to think of it as a device that helps ease newcomers into what can be very demanding, technical racing. In any case the ability can be turned off for those who wish to race in a more traditional manner.

The tracks have always been lovingly crafted in Colin McRae titles, and DiRT 2 is no exception. Whether the tricky, mud-splattered Malaysian courses, or the highly technical Croatian tracks, there is an excellent variety on offer. The thrilling mix of road and dirt-surface transitions makes sure the player is fully switched on at all times. Away from the more traditional surfaces to race on, the Rally Cross events are more urban in focus, situated in high-profile areas such as Battersea Power Station in London and heavily geared towards tight, multi-car racing as opposed to the usual McRae staple of point-to-point rallying.

The rally sections of DiRT 2 are as sublime as they`ve always been in Colin McRae games of the past. The player becomes one with the car as the co-driver barks out their instructions, and the player follows them implicitly. You could almost drive blind as they`re so accurate, throwing the car around, making sure to check speed and just how hard to push and when to ease off the gas. This would be impossible without the handling model being so well designed. The player can really feel their skills developing the more events they take part in compared to their start off point. Learning the intricacies of drifting around corners, the correct amount of handbrake, accelerator and throttle to apply all converge to the point where it becomes second nature.

The non-rally events can be just as engaging once a re-calibration of the player's racing attitude has taken place. Racing a large, lumbering Hummer across the Baja Desert is a lot of fun, as these vehicles can be deceptively fast, resulting in some hair-raising moments in races. Car selection is good, but at no point does the player feel as if they`re moving up in classes or the like, as tuning kits are provided for different disciplines, thus removing the thrill of maybe owning a high-end piece of racing exotica at some point.

The diversity of racing disciplines on offer is to the developer's credit, but at times it can feel as if it`s to the detriment of what made the series: rallying – which can almost be lost in the barrage of alternatives. This feeling extends to the tracks. While the series is obviously attempting to provide alternatives to rallying, including some of the excellent rally stages from the UK alone would`ve felt more appropriate than racing around Battersea. A minor complaint, but a valid one, as it feels like a missed opportunity.

The presence of the likes of Dave Mirra and Ken Block will feel strange to those who have obsessively followed the Colin McRae titles as they aren`t the usual suspects expected in a Rally game. These guys have either attempted or have made the move into full-blown rallying, but their inclusion feels like a warm-up act as opposed to being the main attraction. This is down to them not being the most endearing of characters, and will make people of a certain age cringe at their utterances. Colin McRae was never known as the most exuberant person out there, but he carried himself with a dignity that is missing from the makeup of the people who are inheriting his legacy.

The inane chattering of opponents during races will make the player want to smash their own skull in, as Mirra, Block, et al. use the same taunts over and over, becoming highly repetitive. Nobody likes a smart arse, and this case is no exception, especially from people who really are old enough to know better than to utter lines fitting for a Bill and Ted movie. Thankfully, their utterances can be turned off, but with the bizarre decision to only have the game's music playing before and after events, the player will find themselves with the roar of the engines as their companion, which is only a blessing in light of the alternative.

And all the while this is going on, there comes the moment of epiphany: the shift has been made, the need to celebrate and move on is all too apparent and you know the baton is being passed, not only for the sake of the series, but for Codemasters as well. The only real problem comes in whether or not there are enough people out there who care enough for these new 'stars' of the sport to keep the flame alive now the much loved and sorely missed McRae is no longer with us. The fitting tribute that the game pays to him is touching, but also brings home the fact that it ultimately finishes the series in any credible form if they continue to use the great man`s name.

DiRT 2 is a superb celebration of rallying as a sport, with a mixture of new events, which deserves to be played and enjoyed by any gamer with even a passing interest in the genre. The only real caveat is how much a potential player can stomach the more American-slanted approach the series is adopting with the departure of McRae.