Title Motorstorm (Japan Release) Date 12.30.2006 Genre Racing Platform PlayStation 3 Developer Evolution Studios Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment

You've played the demo and you've seen the videos but nothing can prepare you for the heart-thumping, edge of your seat racing that is Motorstorm. Simply put, this game is the most fun I've had with a racer since Crash Team Racing on the original PlayStation. The newest offering from Evolution Studios (purveyors of fine rally racing) combines stunning visuals with excellent gameplay and aggressive A.I. resulting in a game which will be sure to please millions.

Motorstorm is one of those games that's just a pure emotional rush. Words can't begin to describe how it feels to play “catch-up” after falling behind - taking risky detours you bypassed a lap ago, swerving around and through battling vehicles while navigating the harsh terrain, all the while using every ounce of your boost in a desperate attempt to catch the leader. Motorstorm is all about the simple joys and it doesn't look half-bad doing it.

A lot has been made about how good the game looks and Motorstorm delivers on all fronts. Get ready for the same “wow” factor you experienced looking at GT3 (PS2), Ninja Gaiden (XBOX), RE4 (GC) and Gears of War (360)…Hands down, Motorstorm is the best looking game on the PS3 by far. Motorstorm's eye-popping visuals rest on the balance between the vehicles and the environment. You may think that since the whole game takes place in a single desert-centric location, lack of variety may be an issue, but let me tell you, that is simply not the case. Each course is expertly crafted not only to convey its own unique look but to feel and play differently (which I will go into detail later on).

The vehicles too are quite detailed and show plenty of variety with unlockable models for each of the 7 classes available as you progress through the game. However, the true beauty of the game comes when both are combined in one twisted spectacle of chaos and destruction. Motorstorm is truly a sight to see in motion with mud slingers, trucks and rally cars jostling for position, ATVs and bikes flying over and around you, buggies doing something in the middle and big rigs just doing whatever the hell they want (dirt and mud flying everywhere). Crashes are spectacular and happen often whether it involves you or one of your 7-15 opponents. As a final disclaimer, let me state that this game was meant to be played in the “first person” perspective. I have yet to find a racing game that does a better job of immersing you in the action than Motorstorm does.

Motorstorm's engrossing gameplay experience stems from a variety of factors most notably the exceptional A.I., course design and vehicle controls. To begin, each vehicle handles differently and has various strengths and weaknesses. This will inevitably affect the way in which you approach each contest as well as your decision making during races. The bike is fast and small, but also the hardest vehicle to control. Because of this, bikers would be wise to avoid “the pack” as much as possible opting for higher, narrower routes where bigger vehicles cannot tread (with ease at least).

On the flipside, because the bike is relatively harder to control, players may actually choose to bypass smaller detours such as jumping through two rocks after a turn (to shave a half second off your time) because the risk of crashing into one of those rocks is greater than say with a buggy (which features much tighter control). However, the option still remains if you were in a hurry and needed to catch up to the first place car. The beauty of Motorstorm is that you are always developing new strategies and everything is situation-dependant. So what if bikes are supposed to avoid the pack? Why not on the 2nd lap, take the more direct path through the car yard (instead of through the cliffs)? After all, the big rigs and racing trucks did just plow a nice little path for you the lap before. Sure you might run into some angry driver intent on crushing you, but at least the path is clear.

The courses in Motorstorm play a large part in the success of the game. You will never follow the same path twice as there are just so many ways to complete each level. Each course is basically an open ended level with multiple paths to the finish line (all of which are connected – You could say be racing on a cliff and fall, but land below on a mud path that others are racing on). On each of these “paths” (although I use the term loosely), there are various obstacles you must traverse further broadening your options of how to attack each level (also resulting in thousands of different ways of completing a lap). Again, everything in Motorstorm is situation-dependant meaning that where you are and what your rivals are doing play a huge role in your decision making (and how reckless your driving becomes) unlike in other racing games where you just want to race “your race” (basically the way you got your fastest time in time trial).

Finally we come to the A.I. which in case you haven't guessed by now is very impressive. The real action doesn't kick in until you've finished the level 1 races (which serve as kind of a tutorial/practice setting). After that, it's mayhem – Among other things cars will jockey for position & aggressively pursue each other, they will use boost, they will slam you into the canyon walls…you get the idea. The CPU reacts well to almost every situation presented and that's no small feat considering how many vehicles there are and how much is happening on the screen at one time. But the thing I love about Motorstorm is that you're never really out of a race and you can rarely ever hold the lead for too long. Each race is extremely close with opponents finishing as close as tenths of a second behind each other in some instances.

In one race, I noticed that 5 other cars had finished within one second of me in a photo finish – great stuff. Oh, and in case you were wondering if random vehicles flying across your screen was a sign of weak A.I., you're wrong. I consider myself pretty good at the game and even I find myself helplessly flying into a rock faces regularly (whether it be from taking a jump at the wrong angle or boosting too much and hitting a turn – it happens especially when you're struggling to make a comeback).

Motorstorm is a game on the verge of racing perfection, but a few things keep the title from reaching those lofty heights. First off, as many of you might know, the game features little in the way of different modes. All that is available in the Japanese retail version is “Festival” mode (basically single player campaign), a couple movies (which are all pretty cool actually – see Monument Valley HD and the Evolution of Motorstorm) and your basic sound/control options. There is no multiplayer to speak of (offline or online). However, Evolution is working on an online mode for the NA release so let's cross our fingers and hope its of the same high quality as the rest of the game.

There is also no “quick race” or “time trial/practice” options either, although I don't see it as too big a deal now (because chances are the race setup you're looking for can be found on one of the tickets). The ability to customize your vehicle would be nice too. With regards to gameplay, occasionally you will find yourself wedged in a place that is very difficult to get out of (and even if you do get out you're so far behind you might as well start over). In this case there should be an option to press a button that will effectively make you “crash” (2-3 second lag and no explosion to deter abuse and “suicide bombers”) and respawn so you can get on with the race.

All in all though, Motorstorm is a racing game not to be missed. When playing this game you can't help but think you've reached the next generation of gaming.

A couple quick notes…

- I'm not sure what the framerate is locked at, but it is very solid and rarely dips (and if so, very briefly). Rest assured that you will never be bothered by slowdown.

- I know I didn't spend any time on it, but the physics system is excellent as well.

- The soundtrack is basically all rock with a couple custom tracks. Sound effects are fitting.

- The first race on Ticket #11 (Level 3) is called Giant Enemy Crab.

- The Playstation 3 is region-free for games so you can play import games on a PS3.

Game Score

A-

Reviewed By: Contributed