Review

DiRT Showdown

Common Sense Media says

Offroad racing and bumper-busting fun with no consequences.
Age
11
Quality
 
Learning
1
  • Positive messages1
    The announcer will certainly boost the egos of players after a successful competition and the game also does not punish players for not doing well. However, this is a game about doing damage to others' cars. Cars and trucks are reset after being disabled and the competition continues.
  • Positive role models0
    DiRT Showdown is primarily about crashing into other cars in an effort to ensure they do not achieve the goals of the individual events. In that context, this is certainly not behavior that should be emulated in real life.
  • Ease of play3
    The control scheme of DiRT Showdown is simple enough, but the game does require some precision moves at fast speeds. The learning curve comes in tempering the speed of the vehicles with nudges on the controller so as to get in the right lines in the race course for taking jumps, turning around corners, or -- in the demolition mini-game -- lining up and tagging a competitor's car.
  • Violence2
    The violence perpetuated on cars in DiRT Showdown includes doors flinging open or falling off, as well as crumpled bumpers or front ends. While the damage does appear genuine, there are no true repercussions and players' vehicles will reset if the damage meter shows that the car or truck is beyond the operating level.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language1
    Lyrics in the background songs make reference to rude hand gestures including giving someone "the finger."
  • Consumerism2
    Car brands and other sponsors will have detailing on vehicles, and while these are very visible, the branding does not appear to be pushed and feels like a normal part of the racing game. After all, cars and drivers do have sponsors in real life, and the sponsor placement in DIRT Showdown mimics real life.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Lyrics in the background songs have some mild references to alcohol but the music is background to the game sounds and the references are few and far between.
  • Privacy & safety1
    Major privacy and safety concerns: There is an online component for multiplayer, allowing players to openly chat with each other during the gameplay. This can be muted, but the potential is there for younger players to talk with others. In addition, players can share video of their gameplay with others via a YouTube uplink. This hooks players into social media and allows others to see what they are playing and allows another avenue to contact players.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that DiRT Showdown is a racing game that has some vehicular violence and mild lyrics. The core elements of the game include crashing into other vehicles as well as racing on a variety of tracks. It is also a game that can be played in a single-player mode, or multiplayer on the same console or over an Internet connection. For Internet play, kids could be exposed to unwanted language while using open chat and they can share videos of accomplishments in the game on YouTube.

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