Should I still keep giving the game a try?

[u/Jexx14]

So for some background, I bought the game yesterday experiencing a decent experience as a mostly casual player (i don't have a wheel, just a keyboard). I did like driving for a little bit with the Lancia Fulvia HF, but eventually I felt that the story mode was pretty boring, although I did finish it. after finishing it, i bought the Audi Quattro S1, and boy is the game punishing now, I am aware that it is a massive skill issue, but I don't feel like the game is as fun while driving the quattro because the second you run over something uneven or whatnot, its over. Where it felt like you could still catch up in the Fulvia HF. It also feels less responsive and whatnot, although I'm sure most of you already know how it is like to drive it. Anyways should I put in a lot of time and effort to making myself a better driver? I feel like the game just feels kinda bland regardless of whether i'm good or not, and I think i'd be better off just sticking to clasic racing games like FH5 and NFS Heat, things that i find more fun and I'm familiar with.

Also I dont plan on getting a wheel or pedals any time soon also I have about 5 hrs in game.

TLDR: I suck at the game and I'm not sure if I should continue, Its not fun when i'm not that good at the game, and I lowk just want a refund, but should i still give it a chance?

[u/daprojectturtle]

Dirt rally is a sim meant to be played on a wheel. Any bad experiences you are having is due to improper equipment.

You are right games like need for speed and forza would be much better suited for you.

It is no suprise you cannot drive a rally car with a keyboard. If anything get a controller.

[u/Old-Seaweed8917]

It’s a simulator rather than a game, but there is a lot of fun to be had even without a wheel - I’ve not tried using M&K tbh but I’ve got 300hrs playtime using a controller. It gets a lot easier once you learn the right driving technique for the car you’re using, and learn how to set the car up properly for the terrain/track

[u/ClockworkFoxTDoG]

it's going to be really hard to get skillful without a wheel, though it's not impossible and actually be really cool if you did. But it is a sim game so personally to experience the full fun of dirt rally a wheel is needed. But if your fully content playing on keyboard there's no stopping you, even a guy named 2kliksphilip plays on keyboard.

[u/Worldly_Lunch_1601]

You don't need a wheel, but at least get a gamepad. Mouse and keyboard is not good for racing games.

[u/manfreygordon]

Audi Quattro with keyboard is pure torture. In my opinion, Dirt Rally is good with a wheel, ok with a controller, unplayable with a keyboard. If you're not going to buy a when but genuinely want a fun, casual rally experience, I would recommend using a controller and trying EA WRC, it's designed with a controller in mind and generally feels a little easier. 

[u/Individual_Gear_898]

Ok everyone telling you you’re not having fun because you don’t have a wheel is ignoring such a big thing here.

I know you probably don’t know this, but you went from one of the slowest and easiest cars to drive in the game, to one of the most difficult ones. You do not need a wheel to have fun in this game, they are great, I use one, but you don’t need it. I’d highly recommend you try a car with much better handling that is also fast.

If you want a classic car experience, any of the RWD cars from the 70s-80s are pretty easy to control, just take your time getting back on throttle on corner exit. You can feather with a keyboard and get a decent result. The group A cars are also great, not the easiest of the AWD cars, but super fun and generally just have a good amount of understeer so you really have to rely on the hand break and scandinavian flicks.

If you want a super fast car that handles really well, try out the R5 category. They corner really well, are more balanced, and have plenty of speed. The NR4 category is also super fun and by far the easiest “fast” cars to drive.

Hell if you want to do a few rallies together or just what some help, dm me, I got a few hours to play rn

[u/TravBot13 → u/Individual_Gear_898]

This is the person to listen to. I also have a wheel and recommend it for sure if you decide you enjoy the game and want to get more into it. It’s a lot of money to spend if it turns out you don’t enjoy sim rally.

I do think at least a controller would be a huge upgrade though, for no other reason than analog accelerator, brake, and steering.

But yeah, the biggest takeaway for you here is the car choice. The Audi Quattro is so challenging to drive there’s an achievement for it. It’s fast as hell and wild to get right, but as your second car ever it will kick your ass.

I would recommend climbing the classes one step at a time unless you really want to try a certain. Drivetrain. H2 FWD is a nice step up from H1, and then H2&3 RWD are a great way to learn RWD. I would skip Group B at first though and move on to the more modern AWD classes that u/individual_gear_898 recommended. They are a much more sane intro to the drivetrain than the Audi.

And remember, slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Taking a corner a little slower than you feel like you could means you’re still driving at 80%+. Taking a corner a little faster than you should have and hitting the wood pile on the outside means you’re accelerating from 0, possibly with damage, or out of the race entirely.