Not what I expected after the triumphal Dirt2, not at all.
..This game feels like a step back from Dirt 2, or even two or three steps. Dirt 2, which I consider a masterpiece, had simply awesome rally stages, and it needed more of those, because the rest of stages were good but not that great. And Dirt 3 provides more rally, but the problem is that it has become too easy - cars are not insanely fast anymore, tracks have too little turns, so they are too visible and that takes away the challenge. That would be the first step back.
The second step back - worse graphics. I don't know what they did and how, but simple fact is that Dirt 2 has a lot better graphics than Dirt 3. Again - how, why, who? Only the developers know the answer.
The third step back - presentation. Remember the great atmosphere of Dirt 2 - Dirt 3 has nothing like that, it has sterile interface, forgettable electronic music and a half asleep female voice that says 'that was a good.. race'. It's so bad that it's funny. Thanks for at least that. It feels as if Codemasters wanted to save some buck and made their secretary do the work without paying her extra.
Yet another disappointing sequel in this year.