DiRT Rally

The first thing I’d tell you is to start with the rally stages and save Rallycross for when you’re not bouncing on a treadmill, because DiRT Rally asks you to make tiny steering corrections while the road is trying to send you into a ditch. On a stationary bike, I think you’d have a much better chance of keeping your hands calm.

Gameplay

Rally racing is a great fit for a game because the road keeps changing and there’s almost always something to pay attention to, but DiRT Rally is much less forgiving than a casual driving game. You’re listening to the co-driver describe what’s coming up and trying to put the car in the right place, and I like that the challenge comes from reading the road instead of just holding the accelerator down. I’d be focused pretty quickly.

Those pace notes help, but they don’t make the stages easy. A turn can arrive right after another turn, and if I’m a little late reacting, the car can end up in a ditch or pointed the wrong direction, so I’d expect a lot of concentration even when I’m not racing other cars. I don’t know why I always assume I can drive a rally car like I’m running errands, but apparently the errands have trees.

There are different cars and rally locations to work through, and the career gives you a reason to keep going beyond one stage. I think that’s good structure for a racing game, since you can settle into the driving instead of getting pulled into a long story, though the menus and car choices can add a bit of standing around between the parts I actually want to play. The workshop breaks are useful for fixing damage, but I’d be happy if every menu took half as long to look at.

Rallycross gives you races against other cars, while Hillclimb has you pushing uphill on a narrow course. They’re both nice changes of pace, but I’d choose the regular rally stages first because they’re where the game’s road reading really works for me. Rallycross in particular sounds like a lot to manage when I’m also trying to keep my feet moving.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

Full controller support means you don’t need a keyboard within reach, and that’s a good start. It doesn’t make the driving loose or forgiving, though, and the controller inputs that seem small while sitting still can get messy when your arms are moving with your stride. I’d probably start on a stationary bike, where my hands have a better chance of doing what I mean.

The stage keeps asking you to steer, brake, and react to the next pace note, and mistakes can cost you time or damage the car. That’s an exciting setup when you’re focused on the game, but it’s exactly why I wouldn’t choose it for a run where I’m already working hard. I can imagine trying to correct a slide and accidentally correcting my whole upper body. Not ideal.

I’d turn on the driving assists, pick a car that feels manageable, and start with a stage that doesn’t leave me already tired. If the controls still feel twitchy, I’d lower the treadmill pace rather than trying to prove I can drive a rally car at full speed while jogging. I don’t know how much that would help once the road gets narrow, but it’s a sensible place to start.

Rallycross is the mode I’d skip while moving, because other cars add another thing to watch when the course is already demanding. The regular rally stages still need quick attention, so I’d save them for an easy ride or a very slow walk, and I’d stop if I caught myself gripping the controller like it owed me money.

Category Score: 1 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum requirements point to an older computer being able to run it, including older graphics cards and Intel integrated graphics, so you don’t need a recent gaming machine just for this. I’d check the graphics card first, since the game does require DirectX 11 and at least 1 GB of video memory, which is the part most likely to surprise an old laptop.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

DiRT Rally is a good choice if you want racing that holds your attention and you’re comfortable keeping your workout easy while you drive. I’d play it on a bike or a slow treadmill walk, and I wouldn’t buy it for a hard run.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3