MotorStorm

MotorStorm is a magnificent display of what the PS3 can accomplish in terms of graphics and physics.

Want to destroy your friends in MotorStorm? Learn the shortcuts in the game!

Good thing his face is covered: Imagine the things you'd get stuck in your teeth!

Good thing his face is covered: Imagine the things you'd get stuck in your teeth!

Whether developer Evolution Studios has just cracked the seal on the PS3's potential or completely tapped the system for all it's worth, we don't know, and frankly we don't care because this is one of the best looking and performing console games yet. Watch a video review here.

A Finished Product

Unlike the non-online version that was released in Japan--to lukewarm reviews, natch--the North American version is superior, with improved graphics and online multiplayer. But what's most impressive is that the bump up in visual quality and the 12-player online matches result in no noticeable hit in terms of technical performance, which makes the U.S. version the one to write home about.

The little bit of plot featured in MotorStorm takes a backseat to the gameplay itself, and unlike other titles, this is actually a good thing. Aside from a hokey and brief introductory cinema, there's no plot direction at all--it's race, race, race, and really nothing more.

The game leads you through a series of race tickets which are comprised of four races; each ticket is further subdivided into four levels of difficulty. Completing races unlocks more races, tickets, and vehicles, and the game gets progressively harder as you finish events. Certain events will require you to finish in the number-one slot, so you will most likely have to repeat certain races.

Believe us when we say that this is considered a clean vehicle in MotorStorm

Believe us when we say that this is considered a clean vehicle in MotorStorm

Need for Speed

MotorStorm is about speed and smashing, but the game isn't the fastest around, nor does it cause the biggest pileups like, say, the Burnout series. What it does do is pair the speed and carnage together nicely. Don't think for a second that MotorStorm is all brawn and no brains, though: It takes a good deal of strategy to compete in the more difficult level 3 and 4 races.

I did wish that the game had more than eight tracks, but MotorStorm works around this restriction by offering different types of events on each track. For example, a track like Rock Hopper in a class 1 race with, say, bikes only might be rather easy to take the gold, but a class 3 race on the same track where you have to race ATVs against bikes and rally cars is much more difficult.

And that's why the game forces you to become familiar with the many paths and shortcuts of the game. These aren't the Midnight Club-like open-ended shortcuts though; MotorStorm races are confined to a general track area. But some of the tracks are huge, and the race-able space is often very wide. Each track has recommended paths, usually high and low, for each vehicle type. Bike and ATVs should generally stick to higher grounds and utilize jumps. Big rigs and mud pluggers (the game's best off-roading rigs) should mostly stay down in the dirty trenches where they ride best. But even though each vehicle has specific strengths and weaknesses regarding the terrain, you'll have to take risks to come out on top in the harder races.

These cars don't come with

These cars don't come with "ejector seats" but it sure looks like they do.

This is an auto insurance salesman's wet dream.

This is an auto insurance salesman's wet dream.

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Jeremynedd1987

Motorstorm has shown what the Playstation 3 could do. Motorstorm 2 is on the way also the game is gonna put Playstation 3 on the map

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