MotorStorm (PS3) Review
Posted by Andrew Mellick on 03.19.2007
Another off road racer? Another throw away PS3 game? Could this one actually be a must have?
The answer may surprise you.
Motorstorm
As the entire gaming world knows by know, the PS3 has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of quality games. The number of exclusives has been cut down to the point where people are simply waiting on MGS4.
Well, with Sony’s latest in house release, you may just be looking at another must have for the PS3.
In case you didn’t piece it together from the picture, Motorstorm is an intense off road racing game. The story is pretty basic, every year racing enthusiasts gather to pit their bikes, ATV’s, cars, trucks, and semi’s (yes you read that right) against one another in an effort to be crowned Motorstorm champion. But what makes this game any better than the piles of off road disasters out there? Well, let me tell you…
Graphics:
Graphically this is the best looking game I have ever seen. The sunlight beats down on the mud-soaked track, creating a slight glare off the other vehicles as you wait for the go sign. As you pour into the first turn, dirt and debris fly everywhere as cars slam into each other sending mud, rocks, doors, and tires flying everywhere. This sets the tone for the entire race.
Each course is a rollercoaster of jumps, valleys, tight squeezes, and open terrain. The vehicles react with amazing realism to each bump in the track. Also the wear and tear of an off road track shows up in all its abusive glory. Your vehicle will show the damage and dirt of a race worn warrior. The actual track itself will be affected as well. Grooves appear in tight turns where the majority of the cars have driven, thus creating muddy treads where driving is more difficult.
Perhaps the most visually stunning feature of this game is the crashes. The vehicles explode in magnificent glory as earth and debris scatter in the mayhem. These brutal accidents are all the more heightened by the slow motion affect that takes over with each crash. The rag doll physics are equally as impressive. Watching your fallen driver flipping sporadically in the air only to slam into the muddy track that waits down below is oddly satisfying. With graphics this pretty you could spend hours just slamming into the various hazards that fill each track.
This can’t end well
Gameplay:
This title follows the basic, beat a track get a new track principle. It’s pretty straight forward and while unimaginative as it may be, it gets the job done. I would have liked to seen a little more effort put into the tracks, which while beautiful, get a little repetitive.
The controls feel tight and give you exceptional handling, which is extremely important on the peril ridden tracks. Motorstorm also comes equipped with a sweet NO2 button to send your car into break neck speeds. It’s a long burst and it recharges quickly. But don’t get reckless, hold down that Nitro for too long and your vehicle overheats and explodes. It’s a nice touch but it can be devastating if you are mere feet from the finish line.
My main complaint with the game play is that the story feels uninspired and thrown together. Evolution Studios take great care in explaining the event, yet there are no racer profiles at all. No special endings or sense of accomplishment. If they wanted to stay true to the racing game formula fine, but then a create-a-racer option would have helped with that. However, these little things aren’t enough to detour from the game's frenetic pace and high octane action.
Sound:
Let’s start with the basics, the engines sound awesome! Evolution Studios put some real effort into making sure the engines have their own distinct sound. So when you are at the starting line you can hear the difference between the motorcycle on your left and the Semi on your right.
The soundtrack to this game is inspired and well done. Somebody actually took the time to put a little money down on copyrights and got some great songs. Nirvana, Slipknot, Queens of the Stone Age, Monster Magnet and more rock the tracks of Motorstorm.
One thing I especially enjoyed is the game isn’t afraid to be loud. The engines roar and the rock music blares as you fly for your life at break neck speeds. But if you happen to crash, everything goes quiet except for the sound of your exploding vehicle. It really goes a long way in giving each crash a greater magnitude.
Lasting Appeal:
This game features no split screen, which really puzzles me, because this is the third racing game I have reviewed for the PS3 and none of them have had the feature. This is somewhat disappointing. However, you can take your ride for a spin on the information super highway (get it). Yes, online you can race up to twelve competitors on any given track. What is truly impressive is the game shows virtually no signs of slowdown or frame rate skipping. It’s as smooth as the single player mode.
The game can get repetitive; the tracks are somewhat unimaginative as a whole. Sure they are visually stunning but it would have been nice to see different locales other than various canyons. Add to that the uninspired story line and the lack of any customizable characters and the Motorstorm can get a bit boring.
With amazing graphics and all different kinds of explosions to experiment with, Motorstorm does have a lot to offer in the way of lasting appeal. If you have the ability to play online, this game will easily kill a few hours for you.
Fun Factor:
This game is a pure adrenaline rush of fun. It’s a feast for the eyes and the ears. Granted the story and the lack of customizable options are disappointing, but there is still plenty here to keep you occupied.
The online play is especially exciting. The action is fast paced and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
If nothing else just pop this baby into your PS3, invite a few buddies over and watch their jaws drop at the breath taking crashes. Seriously, you could watch those forever. I can’t say enough about the graphics.
The 411:
If you’re looking for a next gen racer full of action and tons of eye candy, this title is for you.
It may not have all the added bells and whistles of some racing games, but that is part of its appeal. It’s a rugged unapologetic action packed racer.
Is it a must have for the PS3? This reviewer says yes. It’s a great title with lots to keep you occupied if you like explosions. Seriously, get some friends over and watch the fireballs fly. They will not be disappointed. What Motorstorm lacks in depth it more than makes up for in high octane action.
Graphics
10.0
There is nothing more I can say about the graphics. They are absolutely astonishing.
Gameplay
7.5
It has high speed frenetic action, but the lack of depth does make the game a bit repetitive.
Sound
8.5
Amazing clarity with loud booming engines and finally a good soundtrack.
Lasting Appeal
7.0
Online play is a lot of fun but overall the game gets dull.
Fun Factor
8.0
Jaw dropping graphics, high octane soundtrack, and engaging online play make this game a blast.
