MotorStorm PS3 review

Motorstorm for PS3Developed by Evolution Studios, MotorStorm is a brutal, no-holds-barred offroad racing game created exclusively for the PlayStation 3, where in July 2007 it became a million-seller.

The game is set in the fictitious desert environment of Monument Valley, MotorStorm takes full advantage of the processing power of the system to deliver an extreme racing event where the goal is to not only win, but to survive.

System: PS3
Genre: Racing
Release dates: December 14th, 2006 (JPN), March 6th, 2007 (USA), March 23rd, 2007 (EURO)
Players: 1 (2-12 online)
Developer: Evolution Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Origin: United Kingdom

MotorStorm PS3 screenshot
In the game, you will enter the MotorStorm Festival, a celebration of the alternative and extreme offroad racing culture. Throwing caution to the wind, players will take on a variety of racing fanatics and battle through chaotic, action-packed tracks to try and become the Festival champ.

Gone are the limits of power restrictions, limited classes, and qualifying rounds. You simply choose your vehicle from a range of dirt bikes, ATVs, sand rails, rally cars, monster trucks, and everything in between, then hit the track in a sprint to the finish line in generally three laps with two to fifteen racers in single player mode.

Known for their World Rally Championship offroad racing series, Evolution Studios with MotorStorm has created a true next-generation gameplay experience that features smarter artificial intelligence (AI), real-time track deformation, fully destructible vehicles and environments, and very detailed scenery. Tapping into the power of the PlayStation 3, MotorStorm will showcase cinematic effects such as motion blur, depth-of-field, and Hollywood-style “crash cams” that replay spectacular crash sequences during a race.

Watch the MotorStorm launch trailer.

What are MotorStorm’s main features?

* Attacking and Offensive Driving – Players must not only try to win the race but survive against the other racers. Combat-like racing takes center stage as the vehicles are the weapons.
* Stunning Environments – MotorStorm features amazing scenic environments that capture some of America’s most recognizable desert landmarks with wide-open plains, harrowing cliff edges, and tight canyon sections.
* Cutting-Edge Artificial Intelligence – The A.I. will be able to analyze the race and surroundings and react in the most realistic manner possible. Not only will the competition try to win the race at all costs, but the A.I. will react to situations realistically, such as locating the best routes and changing the level of driving aggression based on player actions.
* Real-time Track Deformation – Players will never experience the same track twice as each vehicle will carve up the track in varying depths, making navigation of each lap different than the last.
* Real-time Audio Manipulation – An entirely new in-game music experience where echo and reverb are filtered in, delivering a unique “live” music experience during each race.
* PlayStation 3 – Greater processing power on PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray technology enables more immersive visuals and sound effects in MotorStorm, heightening the chaos within each brutal race environment.
* Rumble functionality is already in the game (after the latest online update). But it cannot be experienced before the Sony DualShock 3 controller is released for PS3 in early 2008.

Watch MotorStorm’s multiplayer online gameplay.

To get the most out of MotorStorm, you’ll need to get your PlayStation 3 online. Outside of the fact that there’s no multiplayer to enjoy offline, there’s more than just multiplayer to unlock when connecting to the internet. In June 2007 a free download became available from the PlayStation Store that adds a time-trial mode. In this mode, players are able to select a track and vehicle to race around and achieve the best time. When online, players can upload their best times to see where they rank in a global leaderboard. There is also the ability to download the “ghosts” of best laps of other players (including the creator) and race against them.

Outside of this free content, there are add-ons available for purchase. The the Coyote Revenge Weekend VIP Pass (named Revenge Weekend in America) adding three new tickets, with nine races (the Coyote Revenge track features five times). Five tracks total feature in the Coyote Weekend festival. The download also includes two new vehicles, a bike, an ATV and a bonus vehicle that can be accessed on successful completion of the races. Also available for purchase are several vehicle downloads, and a Devil’s Weekend pack that includes The Devil’s Crossing track, nine new races and four new vehicles.

Downloadable Content feature video.

As a conclusion let’s rate this game on its fun-basis.

FUN FACTOR – 7.5
Going the fastest won’t win you the race, but MotorStorm still delivers an intense offroad racing experience. Each race has you choose a particular vehicle type and often race against many of the other vehicles. Every graphically detailed track has many different ways of getting through it, each catering to a specific class of vehicle, thus leveling the playing field. Except in the higher difficulty levels where it seems the A.I. opponents can catch up too easily and crash into you a lot sending you flying off a cliff. However the complete picture looks fantastic with the events in the game occurring in real-time, such as the mud effects, tire marks, and crashes. Online play is fun, but a lack of different modes and a short career mode make for a good, not great, arcade racing game.

Graphics – 9.0
High graphic quality on the well designed tracks and vehicles, and great realism of the crashes. Switching your view to first-person will give you some amazing moments. Spectacular camera angels and visual effects are the game’s strong points.

Audio – 7.5
The soundtrack rocks. Sound effects like those of the engines and crashes are superb, especially with a dolby surround set.

Ingenuity – 9.0
You can have fun steering the vehicles with both the analog controls or the Sixaxis motion controls, once you get the hang of it both work well and thanks to the game’s physics feel real. The racing track is the real star in this game. Larger vehicles can create large holes or leave ruts that can easily upset smaller, lighter vehicles, and every vehicle responds differently to different track environments. Vehicles like big rigs and mudpluggers get excellent traction in mud, whereas lighter vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs will slip and slide. Don’t nitro boost too much or your engine will explode! Although this technique can be used to win out in a race close to the finish line.

Replay Value – 6.5
While you can get through the game’s eight tracks and unlock all the vehicles/skins in a few hours. The online downloadable content in the form of a new time-trail mode, vehicles and tracks is a great way to keep playing the game longer if you’re an offroad racing fan. Online play works smooth and even allows for smack-talk via a headset. Sadly you can’t play with every vehicle in every track offline, so you’ll have to go online to drive your favorite vehicle in different tracks. The lack of local split-screen multiplayer I find inexcusable, because not everyone connects their console online or is able to get it connected near the TV, and without the online downloads you’re not getting the full experience.