 Review By: Jared Black |
Developer: | Evolution Studios |
| Publisher: | SCEA | |
| Genre: | Racing | |
| ESRB: | Teen | |
| # Of Players: | 1 (1-12 online) | |
| Online Play: | Yes | |
| Accessories: | PlayStation Network (online play, content DL), Headset Compatible, HDTV 720p | |
| Buy Now: |   |
Multiplayer is rather limited too, in that there’s no offline split-screen play. For a game that supports 12 players online at once, I don’t understand this decision at all. It’s the same problem that Formula One Championship Edition has, and whether this was simply cut due in development due to time restrictions or intentionally omitted by design to keep graphic quality at its peak, it’s still a baffling decision. MotorStorm especially is the type of game that’s just begging to be played by a group of guys sitting around a dorm room, and not just against faceless gamers (even if you know them in “real life”) hundreds of miles apart.
Speaking of online play, it’s a blast just as you’d expect. In addition to the previously mentioned settings, you can also choose the number of laps, time of day (several preset options like morning and dusk), whether catch-up (trailing players get a little boost to keep the race close) is on or off, and whether the race is a public or private one. Online races run very smooth, and I saw no lag or warping in my time online. The game also uses a ranking system you’ll advance in as you win races and/or complete them within 30 seconds of the winner finishing, with ranks like Zero, Veteran, Legend, and so forth. I wish the online ranking system would go a little further and count some points for 2nd and 3rd place finishes in addition to simply 1st (every time you don’t win a race, it counts as a loss, although you can still get credit for finishing), but on the whole it’s sufficient enough to keep you motivated to improve your rank.
Perhaps more importantly, Sony has already shown a commitment to the game's online mode, just releasing the first update for it on March 23rd. The new update adds a buddy list, so players concerned about who they’re playing online with can filter players to just their friends. The public or private option mentioned before was also added with this update. Although there’s no way yet to send out invitations to your friends, this is a good step in the right direction and hopefully a sign of what’s to come with the PlayStation Home service this Fall.
Now comes what’s quickly becoming my least-favorite part of reviewing PS3 racing games: the motion controls. After Ridge Racer 7 and Formula One Championship Edition both failed to utilize it properly (for very different reasons), MotorStorm is the first racer I’ve experienced on the PS3 to actually approach respectability with motion steering. While difficult to grasp at first, after a few minutes with it the motion steering starts to feel more natural. In fact, although it doesn’t offer quite the precision that steering with the left analog stick does, after you get used to it the game is very playable on virtually any track with virtually any vehicle. I doubt many people will use it when playing competitively online, since it’s not quite as precise (occasional hard turns give it fits, just like other PS3 racers), but offline it’s fun to play around with. So developers still have some work to do in this department, but Evolution Studios has given me hope that a fully playable motion-controlled racer on the PS3 can be done.
By now, I don’t need to tell you that MotorStorm is stunning, because you can easily see that in the screenshots included with this review. Dynamic lighting, realistic mud splatter, insanely detailed vehicle models, and all of that other next-gen goodness running smoothly at 30fps in 720p. What doesn’t show up in the screens however is that there are a few trackside objects that are distinctly low-res when viewed in slow motion, in particular flat 2D bushes that remind me of those seen on the PS2. The need for those to keep the action smooth is probably the reason why the promised support for 1080p at 60fps was cut, but the game still looks amazing and like a true next-gen title should regardless. Also worth mentioning is that, due to the setting, there isn’t a lot of variety in the environments to be found. The vehicles and items (junked out cars, various structures, etc.) found along each course mostly make up for that though, and you’ll spend enough time just staring at (and avoiding) those that it won't really matter.
MotorStorm’s visual panache goes beyond simple technical efficiency however, as the game has a real flair for the dramatic that few games in history can match. When your vehicle crashes, it does so with dozens of individual parts flying all over the racetrack, in slow motion of course so you can take a moment to admire the carnage. The larger parts then stay on the track, causing further chaos for other vehicles around you. You don’t have to crash to see damage though, as vehicles will become progressively trashed throughout each race with a high level of detail on the destruction, while mud and dirt also pile up on each vehicle’s exterior from lap to lap. Speaking of mud, it’s held in the highest esteem in MotorStorm, with a deep and sloppy feel to it on the ground, realistic splatter, and the glint of the sun bouncing off of it when viewed from just the right angle.
Bottom Line:
While MotorStorm is short on features, it’s long on style and fun. This is an incredibly visceral racing experience from beginning to end, and what’s here is enough to make it one of the best games on the system to date.
Sure, the inevitable MotorStorm 2 will most likely beef up the gameplay options and modes while refining the same frantic experience even further, but what we have now makes for a must-buy for all racing fans. Between this, Formula One, and Ridge Racer 7, the PS3 is quickly becoming the racing game fan's system of choice.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 8.8 |
Posted: 2007-03-25 12:12:29 PST