There is no doubt that Evolution Studios has crafted one of the most
visually appealing experiences that PS3 owners will enjoy since the
system's launch. The game features persistent terrain details: tyres
ripping through mud will leave dents and ribs that will remain for the
duration of the race, while the collision of vehicles will leave
scattered debris. The game truly is a graphical array of photographic
textures; sublime cars sprayed with mud and skidding and grinding
through races, and the way mud splatters onto your first- or
third-person view all enhance the overall experience.
What is disappointing about MotorStorm is its shallow singleplayer
mode. Not only does it have very little volume, but it is paper thin.
The basic idea of the game is high octane racing on a total of 8 tracks
to beat your opponents. However's across a race's three laps, you'll
struggle to remain in first place the whole way through, but the
challenge is trying to find the balance of driving well and finding the
right route to take. If you find yourself at the back of the pack,
navigating among the perilous and often heightened path to a better
route may get you level. The move is risky but it is extremely
rewarding if it is done successfully.
MotorStorm also features an impressive soundtrack which is suited
perfectly for such a crazy racing game. The fast paced music helps to
really get you into the game in such a way that will have your heart
racing from the start to the finish of the race. The sound effects are
also top notch. Engines roar with such ferocity like they are right
beside you. The crashes and collisions also sound terrifyingly real and
you really feel the impact of two or more crashing cars.
What can be particularly frustrating about the game is the AI
unforgiving aggressive behaviour. Your opponents will bash you around
quite a bit and if you collide with something, the respawn feature will
rob you of speed which will allow opponents to pass you. This may not
be a problem for the majority of gamers, but for casual gamers it can
be very frustrating when you're in the lead.
Races are also a very frustrating experience at times. Vehicles can go
flying at even the slightest bump, particularly with lighter vehicles
which may plague you with failures and constant race restarts. You
shouldn't be put off by the relative simplicity of the tracks and
modes, nor the general slower pace as MotorStorm's use of physics and
technical racing is a spectacle to behold.
MotorStorm is also not a party game when friends are round, especially
since it doesn't have split-screen multiplayer. The game does have a
pretty good multiplayer mode though, with twelve players able to rave
at any one time. The multiplayer is an add-on to a short singleplayer,
but it is a fun experience to play with little lag and what seems to be
a fairly populous online community.
In conclusion MotorStorm's unpredictable nature is vivid in
single-player mode and the online gaming community is downright
vicious. Despite its lack of content, MotorStorm offers spectacular
visuals, sound and an experience that will thrill you to the very bone.
