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MotorStorm is the frontrunner for SONY’s
PLAYSTATION3 bandwagon. Alongside
Resistance: Fall Of Man, MotorStorm is the offering
with which the Japanese
 Publisher wishes to promote the power of
their new system, and hammer-home the message that the PLAYSTATION3
is the world’s fastest, most powerful videogames console.
Developed by Evolution Studios, the title has picked-up further
intrigue with every outing; including its’ seemingly half-baked
Japanese launch arrival.
The game itself is a confusion of Racing genre
attributes that truly does mark the arrival of a bold, original
idea. Racing on dirt tracks in one of a variety of vehicles types –
ranging from bikes to trucks – the player is presented with a dozen
opportunities for out-smarting opponents via the use of alternate
routes, vehicle weight, jumps and boosting.
To begin with, the title provides a considerable
challenge. Each vehicle type handles distinctively, and so each will
take a significant amount of time to adapt to. Lighter vehicles are
recommended to take higher routes, avoiding the deformable sludge
below, whereas heavier vehicles will maintain their grip on the
freshly-carved mud. As one of the title’s Unique Selling Points –
and one which has been pushed-to-the-nines – the Deformable Terrain
does work as promised; adding great effect to the level of detail
presented in the title.
Once a basic-feel for the play has been established –
including discerning use of the available Boost – the title flows
more purposefully; as with its’ intent it draws close comparisons to
previous PlayStation launch endeavours, namely the
WipEout
franchise. While SONY have always relied heavily on Third-Parties to
bulk-out their
 launch day offerings – with
Virtua Fighter 5,
Full Auto 2: Battlelines and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In
Sight piloting the PLAYSTATION3 exclusivity scene, for now at
least – the initial-spin has always been generated by a specific
title. Contrary to popular belief – and, for that matter, industry
belief until some months ago – this mantle doesn’t fall to
Resistance: Fall Of Man, as it does feel at home with
MotorStorm. A visceral scene of petrol, mud and carnage create a
sound and, at times, beautiful collaboration of Current-Generation
power and forward-thinking gameplay.
However, there are limitations. The Single-Player
Campaign is the only tangible concentrate for solo-play, and whilst
it’s by no means short, there is relatively little intrigue
available after completion. Criticism weighed-heavy on MotorStorm’s
back after having launched in Japan with no Multi-Player offering to
speak of, and no online functionality. Time has transpired that
allowed the studio to incorporate these features for the title’s
European disc-based launch, as opposed to offering downloadable
updates as with the Japanese release. However, due to this
restriction, it often feels as though any Multi-Player presentations
– both offline and online – feel tacked-on, lacking coherency with
the genetic make-up of a title so desperate to be noticed not for
it’s ingenuity, but for it’s courage.
MotorStorm feels at home on the PLAYSTATION3, and
has carved quite a niche for itself. Not only does it truly
represent the coming of a new generation of home consoles –
something which any title representing the Xbox360 at launch
failed to accomplish – but also, it pushes the graphical attributes
of each competing system in this generation into totally separate
distinctions. While throughout development, MotorStorm was
given a significant nod as to rivalling the Xbox360’s best, at
launch, the clarity of the visuals, the detail and
 the distance
drawn is simply mind-blowing; even after having experienced the best
the Xbox360 has to offer at current. While there’s no question the
Xbox360 will easily be able to push these qualities and similarly
astound in-time; it’s already begun to fall behind.
The title’s Soundtrack also excels. While many of the
available Tracks won’t be to everyone’s tastes, they do suit the
progression of play rather well. Distinctive offerings from SONY’s
back-catalogue include Nirvana, Queens Of The Stone Age, Slipknot,
Primal Scream and Kings Of Leon; all in-line with the scraping and
squelching of metal-on-metal, and rubber-on-mud.
MotorStorm appears as a finely-tuned,
PlayStation-borne machine, adept to attracting attention from its’
first wheel-spin to the crossing of its’ Finishing Line. Errors and
glitches are frequent, yet forgivable, and the lack of speed in
comparison to Wii’s
ExciteTruck soon becomes forgettable.
Accomplishing all of its’ primary objectives, whilst carving its’
name in silky-smooth, thick, brown sludge,
MotorStorm has
pure balls, and enough brain just to carry-out its’ mission.
Resourceful, imaginative, innovative and entertaining till the last.
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