The Codemasters ‘Full Tilt’ Racing Bundle

by Nish
written by Nish 8 minutes read

Summary

The Codemasters ‘Full Tilt’ Racing Bundle (2013)
PS3 • Compilation • MSRP at launch $29.99, routinely <$10 pre-owned today
Reviewed on original 500 GB PS3 slim via HDMI at 1080p; 2.5 GB mandatory install per disc; no online pass required.

Codemasters has spent the better part of two decades convincing us that nobody does racing quite like the house that built Micro Machines. The Full Tilt bundle—exclusive to PlayStation 3—rounds up two of the studio’s loudest, most crowd-pleasing racers (GRID 2 and DiRT Showdown), straps on every morsel of DLC that ever rolled out for either, and slaps on a budget price-tag that still feels like a typo in 2024. If you’ve got a dusty PS3 under the telly and a hankering for velocity, here’s everything you need to know before snapping this one up off eBay.

  1. What’s Actually in the Box?
    Disc 1: GRID 2 “Power & Glory” Edition
  • Base game (2013)
  • Season Pass (12 post-launch packs) already on disc—no codes, no expiry dates
  • Two exclusive premium cars: Mercedes SLG AMG and McLaren MP4-12C GT3 “Speciality” liveries
  • Double XP for first 15 levels (handy if you intend to hop online before the servers inevitably sunset).

Disc 2: DiRT Showdown “Hoonigan” Edition

  • Base demolition-racer (2012)
  • All DLC cars, arenas and the “Boost” pack pre-loaded
  • Exclusive “Hoonigan” Subaru WRX and Ford Fiesta liveries
  • 250,000 in-game cash to buy new rides outright.
  1. Two Very Different Flavours of Speed
    GRID 2 is the snappy-dressing, globe-trotting cousin who insists on power-sliding through downtown Chicago while a cinematic camera zooms in on tire smoke. Handling sits halfway between sim and arcade—brake points matter, but you’re never more than a button press away from a lurid drift. Meanwhile DiRT Showdown drops the rally pretence entirely and goes full Destruction Derby: figure-8 circuits, physics-heavy pile-ups, and commentary that sounds like it was written by the Top Gear team after three espressos.

The genius of bundling them is tonal variety. Had enough of nudging European sports cars through the hills of Cali? Swap discs and start launching a slammed pickup truck off a San Francisco pier while fireworks explode overhead. Neither game takes itself too seriously, but each scratches a different itch—precision motorsport vs. metal-crunching chaos.

  1. Visuals: Holding Up on a 65” 4K TV
    Yes, the PS3 caps output at 720p for both titles, but Codemasters’ art direction still punches above its weight. GRID 2’s deferred lighting smears neon across wet Parisian asphalt, while Showdown’s pyrotechnic arenas light up like a Muse concert. On a modern 4K set you’ll spot jaggies and the occasional low-res crowd texture, but motion-blur and rock-solid 30 fps keep your eyes focused on the tarmac, not the pixel count. Frame-rate dives only when eight-player online lobbies explode into slo-mo crashes—frankly, that’s half the fun.

  2. Content Avalanche
    GRID 2 alone ships with 63 cars, 18 locations, and 43 routes. Add the DLC and that jumps to 80+ cars (including vintage Grand Prix monsters) and another dozen circuits. A five-season career mode takes you from amateur Touge battles in Japan to the fictional “GRID World Series” where you trade paint with Ferraris on the California coastline. Online, lobbies support up to 12 players and still populate within a minute during peak U.S. evenings.

DiRT Showdown offers a shorter career—around 8 hours if you medal every event—but the joy is in local multiplayer. Eight-player offline is supported via split-screen tournaments, and the “Knock Out” mode—where you punt rivals off a raised platform—remains one of the best couch-competition experiences of the last console generation. Add DLC arenas (Miami Port, Yokohama Docks) and you’ve got enough variety for a Friday-night beer-and-pizza session.

  1. Handling & Difficulty: Goldilocks Territory
    Both titles default to generous braking assists, but switch everything to “Pro” and you’ll discover Codemasters’ nuanced tire models. GRID 2’s rear-wheel-drive classics will bite if you jump on the throttle too early; feather the right trigger and you can hold a slide for half a mile down an Alpine pass. Showdown simplifies—gas, boost, smash—but the physics engine still tracks weight transfer, so a well-timed nudge on the rear quarter panel will send an opponent barrel-rolling into a stack of tyres. Newcomers mash buttons; veterans master momentum. Either way, you’ll grin.

  2. Audio Design: Turn It Up
    Engines bark, turbochargers chirp, and the backfires sound like someone tossed M-80s into a drainpipe. Showdown’s licensed soundtrack (The Qemists, Skrillex, De Staat) syncs perfectly with slo-mo destruction, while GRID 2’s dynamic score swells like a Hollywood heist flick. Play on a soundbar or headset and you’ll catch gravel pinging off wheel-wells in DiRT or the hollow thunk of a gear change in GRID’s cockpit cam.

  3. Trophy Hunters & Completionists
    Two separate Platinum trophies—one per disc—mean double the bragging rights. GRID 2’s “Legend” trophy demands you hit level 250 online (roughly 25–30 hours), but servers remain active thanks to a cult following. Showdown’s toughest ask is “Party Crasher” (wreck 1,000 cars), easily grindable against AI. Combined, you’re looking at 60+ hours to 100 percent both lists, and not a single online pass to worry about.

  4. Performance & Technical Quirks

  • Mandatory installs: 2.5 GB each; clear some space on that ageing 80 GB fat PS3.
  • Load times hover around 25 seconds per race—installing shaves off 8–10 s.
  • Auto-save icon pops up frequently; disable “Auto-upload” to PS+ cloud to avoid stutters.
  • No PS4 cross-save or backward compatibility on PS5, so keep that PS3 hooked up.

  1. Online in 2024: Still Kicking, But Be Quick
    Codemasters shut down DiRT Showdown’s servers on PC in 2020, but PS3 servers linger thanks to third-party hosting. Peak activity is Friday/Saturday 7 pm–11 pm EST; expect 6–8 full lobbies. GRID 2 is healthier—YouTube revival videos and Reddit “PS3 Racing Nights” keep numbers buoyant. Still, if online trophies matter, start sooner rather than later.

  2. Pricing & Value Proposition
    At launch the bundle asked $29.99—already a steal versus buying GRID 2 + Season Pass ($60) and Showdown + DLC ($40) separately. In 2024, pre-owned copies float between $8 and $15 on eBay, even less at flea markets. Digital versions on PS Store were delisted in 2018, so physical is your only route. For two full games plus 20+ DLC packs that’s cheaper than a single month of PS Plus Premium, and you actually own the discs.

  3. The Elephant in the Room: Missing Entries
    Purists will note the absence of the original GRID (2008) and DiRT 3, both fan favourites. Codemasters clearly aimed for the flashiest, most DLC-heavy entries to sweeten the bundle, but if you want pure rally stages instead of gymkhana, pick up DiRT 3 Complete separately. Likewise, GRID Autosport (2014) skews more sim-ward; grab that if you crave authentic touring-car disciplines.

  4. Who Should Buy This Yesterday?

  • Nostalgists rebuilding a PS3 library on the cheap.
  • Trophy hunters eyeing double Platinums.
  • Local-multiplication devotees (eight controllers, one console, infinite smack-talk).
  • Newcomers curious about Codemasters but unwilling to drop triple-A cash.
  1. Who Can Safely Skip?
  • Players who already own either game digitally with all DLC—no new content here.
  • Simulation die-hards seeking laser-scanned tracks and 90-second pit strategies.
  • Anyone without a PS3 or a tolerance for last-gen resolutions.
  1. The Verdict
    The Full Tilt Racing Bundle isn’t just a bargain-bin afterthought—it’s a carefully curated time capsule of everything that made late-era PS3 racing so vibrant: approachable physics, bombastic presentation, and a mountain of content that respects your wallet. GRID 2 delivers globe-spanning, cinematic wheel-to-wheel combat, while DiRT Showdown supplies chaotic, couch-friendly carnage. Together they offer a yin-yang of velocity that still feels fresh in an era of always-online live services. At under ten bucks, the only thing you’ll regret is not grabbing a second controller sooner. Strap in, floor it, and party like 2013 never ended.

Review Score

8/10

Profile photo of Nish

Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More