MotorStorm Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 5 January, 2007

Quick! Get inside!

Version tested: PlayStation 3

We've been told all sorts of things about MotorStorm. To begin with it was simple: cars, bikes, buggies and trucks will drive around big tracks set in Monument Valley.

Then there was all that stuff about persistent terrain detail: tyres cutting through mud would leave appreciable dents and grooves that buffeted your suspension on subsequent laps, while hoardings would splinter and smash under the weight of an unseated motorcyclist hurtling against them, and leave troubling debris.

There was talk of AI opposition reacting badly to engagement, nudging you into a ravine when the opportunity next arose. And of course there was that trailer at E3 two years ago, which aimed to convince us all that as well as about 48 million transistors, Industrial Light & Magic lurked within the RSX graphics chip, the run-over from their birthing of the next generation of videogame visuals splashing the walls of desire with automotive ejaculate.

And you know, some of it's true. The persistent terrain detail works as advertised, the AI doesn't like to be mistreated, and as much as it'll pain some of you to read it, MotorStorm does look amazing. At times the brownest game since Quake, the detail's still incredible, with every flavour of special effect dancing merry hell around the frame buffer.

'MotorStorm' Screenshot laugh

Getting to the point where they can look back and laugh: one of the races is called 'Giant Enemy Crab'.

It's like a graphical rave - textures are photographic, if not always bump-mapped; the cars' glossy intricacies muddy and fray delightfully under the weight of incessant grinds, nicks and flecks; dust and mud-showers cloud your third- or first-person perspective; and the draw distance is phenomenal, with tracks like Rain God Mesa designed to emphasise this with huge crescent roads along mountainsides, or massive jumps, while Rockhopper goes even further, clear as day for further than, in real life, my eyes can reliably see anyway.

It's also probably the only videogame aesthetic that sits comfortably within the aural cocoon of Nirvana's Breed, among other raucous accompaniment. Indeed, that CG trailer may not have been literal, but it was evocative - of a game that leaves you enjoying rather than bemoaning somebody else's definition of cool.

But anyway, none of that's a reason I particularly like MotorStorm. Those are just neat little bonuses.

I like it because it's the first racing game in ages to realise that you don't need 487 tracks; you just need a few really good ones. I like it because it's the first racing game in ages to realise that you don't need 487 cars; you just need a few really good ones. I like it because it's the first racing game in ages to realise that you don't need endless modifications, inversions, reversals, reversions, diversions, or excursions to other genres; you just need a simple, straightforward series of excellent races.

And I like it because it's the first racing game in ages that actually got why SSX was good.

I'd half forgotten about SSX, but Evolution hasn't. So much bears comparison. The tracks, of which there are surprisingly few, are immense, taking several minutes to lap, and they're multifaceted. The handling, which varies depending on your mode of conveyance, is never less than perfectly in tune with the adjustments you make with the analogue stick (or, if you can be bothered to master it, the tilt control).

'MotorStorm' Screenshot tracks

The relatively small number of tracks shouldn't put you off. For one, racing them in different lighting conditions makes a big difference.

This is no game of driving to the end of the road and going left. It's about constant adjustment as you're buffeted by the terrain, angling your buggy, car or whatever to cushion your landing whenever you're rocked free of the ground. It's about using the handbrake and the boost buttons as much as the clutch, because traction's at a premium and momentum's often your biggest foe. Every race has the endless need to compensate of a rally game, along with the depth of choice and epic scope familiar to fans of the first two, long-form SSX games.

Across a race's three laps, you'll probably struggle to remain in first position, but the challenge isn't directly attributable to tough opponents; more it's a matter of driving yourself well and finding the right route. If you fall behind, pulling yourself level may involve navigating the perillous and often aerial path to a better route - finding a cliff mantle from the trail of mud you're wallowing in, or navigating a narrow gully - and doing so is risky but immensely rewarding, like dancing between hails of rock-shaped bullets into the arms of a winning lottery ticket. It's the racing genre's closest thrill to the violent ballet of a martial arts sequence, and something only a few games have ever done well, SSX being one.

Burnout managed it at times too, and there are superficial comparisons to be drawn here also. MotorStorm's furious terrain is always pecking at you, trying to bite your wheels off, and your vehicle is visibly tatty after a while even if performance is unimpaired. But make solid contact with anything or roll significantly, and you'll likely explode in a slow-motion, head-beneath-the-water moment of depressing failure. Often it's an exclamation point to pre-empt the tirade of abuse you'll rain on the game's "unfairness" (although you'll know it's not actually unfair), but it can also be quite a showpiece - played with a friend, I realised that pausing the game and wiggling the right stick allowed you to spin the camera around and marvel at the scene. Pointless but fancy.

Respawning, you're robbed of speed but reimbursed with cool: as in, your temperature meter is reduced to zero, so you can boost again. Boost plays a huge role, with a likeable flame effect, but its real joy is risking a last burst just as it's about to push you beyond the red into detonation: literally exploding over the finish line to nick first at the end of a 15-minute race is uniquely satisfying. Well, it would be if SSX didn't have a similar thing.

'MotorStorm' Screenshot vast

For another, each is vast, with a multitude of routes to master.

But this doesn't feel particularly derivative and comparisons with other games are only drawn to persuade. You shouldn't be put off by the relative paucity of tracks and modes, either, nor the slower general pace; MotorStorm's brand of physical, technical racing is still exceptional in a number of respects (not least of which is that it's a PlayStation 3 game I've felt like playing when the working day's disappeared).

There are some niggles, like the occasional explosion when you graze a transition between dirt and rock that veers toward inexplicable, and there'll be concern over its directness, I expect (online is being withheld for the Western launch in March, with not even split-screen available in Japan), but the fact I've not felt the need to topload that detail with boundless negativity ought to be telling. Ditto the occasional dip in frame-rate, most typically associated with bunching over the start-line, and largely irrelevant in a game where the real fun is not speed, but control.

So yeah, we've been told lots about MotorStorm. So let's be excited about the fact that it still manages to feel incredibly fresh, immediate and exotic, in spite of its notoriety. Bolstered for its European release, it ought to be a classic, but right now it's simply excellent. Plus I got to use the word 'ejaculate', which was a New Year's Resolution [fired! - Ed].

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (108) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MORZTAN #1 5 years ago

    First! Love the Crab comment :D

  • [maven] #2 5 years ago

    The scale goes up to 11 now? :p

    edit: Why is this score labelled as "average of 2 reviews" in the database and why aren't the PS3 reviews marked as import reviews?
    Edited by 3 at 05/01/07 @ 08:25

  • symmetry #3 5 years ago

    Got to be the only PS3 game I want to play. Not worth it though.

  • morriss #4 5 years ago

    Gottacatchemall

  • spidermanalf #5 5 years ago

    I do miss the SSX games, Freakstyle and Shox were great, just the rubber band AI was a bit naff!

  • ccfb #6 5 years ago

    "Often it's an exclamation point"

    Point? As in mark?

  • penhalion #7 5 years ago

    I'll ask the ol' japanese friend for his opinion as the demo conveyed nothing like this in the gameplay and I'm doubtful the game has changed that much since the demo.

  • Super_Zee #8 5 years ago

    The only game that that really, really makes me wish I had the cash to get a PS3...

  • woodnotes #9 5 years ago

    Looks cool! I love games like this :)

  • BM #10 5 years ago

    Top stuff, sounds good

  • captainrentboy #11 5 years ago

    Looks rather good,still it's not £425 good :/

  • UncleLou #12 5 years ago

    The only PS3 launch game I am interested in, although what I've read on a few forums was mostly that it's good, but hasn't enough content, and hence gets boring within a few hours. Hm.

  • Calo #13 5 years ago

    Another 2 like these and A PS3 is mine!

  • mazzl #14 5 years ago

    for a "launch" game this is actually pretty good, ok, it's in development quite long but still. well done!

  • gth #15 5 years ago

    "...although what I've read on a few forums was mostly that it's good, but hasn't enough content, and hence gets boring within a few hours. Hm."

    Online is your friend!

  • Xerx3s #16 5 years ago

    Gottacatchasmell

    fixed.

  • rashes #17 5 years ago

    I'm very interested to see what the online component of this is going to be like. I imagine the scenery deformation might add alot of complexity to the netcode?
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 08:59

  • Guff-Pipe #18 5 years ago

    If a launch game can look technically this good, it bodes well for the future I guess.

  • Steroyd #19 5 years ago

    yay
    Sounds fun in it's simplicity.

    I wonder if they're still going to do MT's for this game.

  • Kraftwurm #20 5 years ago

    Reminds me of Smuggler's Run.
    Which is good!

  • SeesThroughAll #21 5 years ago

    First PS3 game to be given a fair review by Tom. This score reflects most peoples' impression: not that brilliant, but nevertheless great fun.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 09:19

  • Eighthours #22 5 years ago

    And of course there was that trailer at E3 two years ago, which aimed to convince us all that as well as about 48 million transistors, Industrial Light & Magic lurked within the RSX graphics chip, the run-over from their birthing of the next generation of videogame visuals splashing the walls of desire with automotive ejaculate.

    Well, it convinced you guys, as I recall. Er... only you guys, as I recall. ;)

    and as much as it'll pain some of you to read it, MotorStorm does look amazing

    Please stop the baiting in EG articles, guys. It's sooo Nov/Dec 2006.

  • NthSimulachum #23 5 years ago

    So.As...good...as....g*KABLAMMO*

  • kangarootoo #24 5 years ago

    Sounds like it might capture some of the hectic multiplayer fun found in the old Micro Machines and Mario Kart games (including the "hey, you cheeky bastard" comments that follow being nudged into some obstacle).

  • Psychotext #25 5 years ago

    Umm... what's with the "screenshots". Do you guys still not own any sort of capture device?

  • ishigo #26 5 years ago

    shame it runs at about 20fps then, eh?

  • tonynibbles #27 5 years ago

    Been playing that demo sooo much. It's awesome.

    My Jap copy arrives next week, despite it lacking the online mode, still can't wait.

  • asphaltcowboy #28 5 years ago

    Cool, one to get then :)

  • BrokenSymmetry #29 5 years ago

    So what version of this game was reviewed here? The review doesn't really tell. Was this a Japanese import, or a pre-release western version? Usually import reviews on EG are clearly marked as such...

  • Steroyd #30 5 years ago

    yeah OPM recently got a demo of Okami also with FFXII I might just hold off a PS3 until erm... I finish those games or heavenly sword comes out.

    Sucks about the June Rogue Galaxy release date.

  • AcidSnake #31 5 years ago

    Looks really nice, now for burnout to shine again and I'll be a happy camper...

  • groovychainsaw #32 5 years ago

    Yeah, thought this would be good, exactly my sort of thing. Maybe when the PS3 comes down in price by a couple of hundred pounds and gets some other games...

  • TripSkyway #33 5 years ago

    It's a great game with a progression system that failed to engage me. I'm still playing the it, but I never feel like I'm moving on, just winning another race. Individual tickets seem to have no personality, and it can feel a bit dry between races.

    In race though it's great fun, and looks very good.

    Hope it gets a little bit of attention before the Euro launch.

  • Skooch #34 5 years ago

    I've played Motorstorm and gotta say it looks great and it's pretty fun. I did find that my biggest problem though (other than trying to keep the truck on the track!) was the third person perspective when cornering. It seemed to swing sideways so you end up looking at the side of the vehicle rather than the back, which means it becomes very hard to see the cliff edge as the darned car/truck is filling up the screen, it also meant that I often over/under steered as I couldn't really see the corner I was taking. I wasn't the only person in my group who thought this, here's hoping the first person perspective (which I didn't try) is better...

  • BrokenSymmetry #35 5 years ago

    How many tracks and cars are there actually in the game? The review just says "surprisingly few". Why not be more specific?

  • Dizzy #36 5 years ago

    >it's the first racing game in ages that actually got why SSX was good

    Oops.. I stopped reading there.

  • JediMasterMalik #37 5 years ago

    I think there's 9 tracks.

    I'm assuming we'll be getting another review of the European version, the online component should add alot to the game.

    Still, sounds great, a definite launch buy imo.

  • morriss #38 5 years ago

    It does sound rather good.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #39 5 years ago

    edit: Why is this score labelled as "average of 2 reviews" in the database and why aren't the PS3 reviews marked as import reviews?

    Sorry about that, was an error on my part!

  • Psychotext #40 5 years ago

    Oh, and I'm still excited for this but the Japanese version isn't worth an 8 because it's lacking a lot of features (such as online play). Look forward eagerly to the finished version.

  • Rusta #41 5 years ago

    I've played the demo, and I'm sorry but it is a boring simple game, yeah sometimes it looks good, but going round and round rocks after 20 mins it kind of loses it's appeal

    Now for £10 it would be worth it

    If the full european version is better then that is a positive
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 10:36

  • prettyboytim #42 5 years ago

    I've been playing the demo the last few days, and I really like it. Very enjoyable racing.

  • jimbob101 #43 5 years ago

    The only PS3 launch game I am interested in, although what I've read on a few forums was mostly that it's good, but hasn't enough content, and hence gets boring within a few hours. Hm.

    I wonder if they would of moaned about Sega Rally's 4 tracks. If the tracks are well designed it doesn't matter.

    Edit: Another set of screenshots that don't show how the game is played.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 10:41

  • SBfistfun #44 5 years ago

    MehStorm

  • JayPee #45 5 years ago

    Does it live upto it's hype from 'that' E3 video.

    If not I feel it should be marked down a bit.

  • bladeaku #46 5 years ago

    Played it and loved it,visuals are as good if not better than anything on the 360 to date,from the burning man style festival on the title screen you will be hooked.
    Crowds get around a stage where a band is playing the whole thing is like a festival.
    The only problem is the jap game doesnt even have a split screen multiplayer thats a bit lame for a racing game.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 10:57

  • Gurgeh #47 5 years ago

    Looks good and it's fun. However I'm sceptical about the long term appeal of any game that relies on multiplayer for longevity:

    1) we don't know how good the netcode is
    2) we don't know how many people will be playing this game online a week or a month after release. People tend to follow the "next big thing" and if there's nothing to keep them playing this (few tracks or cars) I sense they will move on.

  • arty #48 5 years ago

    Looks nice, sounds a bit dull though.

  • skillian #49 5 years ago

    rauper (I think) said a little while ago that they would be doing proper screenshots soon, but they're clearly still clearly being ripped straight from the press pack.

    The pics could also do with a few extra pixels - EG used to have lovely high-res screenshots.

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #50 5 years ago

    We are going to, yep! Taken a bit longer than we hoped after the first batch were slagged off for not looking that good :)

  • LittleVoice #51 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • kangarootoo #52 5 years ago

    @JayPee

    "Does it live upto it's hype from 'that' E3 video.

    If not I feel it should be marked down a bit."

    Not quite sure I understand the logic of that. What about people who haven't seen the movie?

  • JediMasterMalik #53 5 years ago

    And what about people who realised it was never claimed to be what the game looked like? It's always been a target render, and it gets damn close enough not to be marked down for it, imo.

  • JHuxley #54 5 years ago

    @Ja_Long: That's just a copyright notice. This is a target render: [link url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/03/p s3-lie-watch-evidence-updated.html
    ]http://ww w.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/03/ps...[/link]

    Doesn't look quite as good, but as JediMasterMalik said, it gets close enough to still be impressive.

  • JediMasterMalik #55 5 years ago

    Online pic at IGN

    http://uk .ps3.ign.com/articles/753/75326...

  • UncleLou #56 5 years ago

    I thought it was a joke, but the game really has "Giant Enemy Crab" and "Massive Damage" racing events. :D

  • Zero Beat #57 5 years ago

    Looking forward to the 'proper' Euro and US release! I'm glad Evolution were allowed to break out into an original open-track racer.

  • Canadian_Mike #58 5 years ago

    I have mastered the tilt functionality for this game and actually think i prefer it overall. You just have to realize that only very slight tilting motions are needed.

    You'll find yourself fighting to do this a first, but now i just kinda hold the controller on my fingertips and gently lean in left/right. When you get spun out or all messed up in a corner you just gotta remember not to start twisting like crazy, just a gentle lean (or i just kinda orient the controller from a -- position to a | position to pull myself back around sharp, it's a little extreme but you know you're turning at the max for sure) and back on the gas/turbo.

    The real beauty is when you get air born, it's so easy a natural to just gently lean and tilt the controller forward/back left right to make your landings perfect and readjust after taking a bump in the air or taking a jump wrong.

    It's very nice and shouldn't be ignored.

    Sorry to run on a bit there.
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 15:15

  • JayPee #59 5 years ago

    Cos other games on other platforms have been (apparently) marked down for not living up to expectation/hype.

    I wa simply hoping the playing field was level.

  • JediMasterMalik #60 5 years ago

    But it wasn't hyped, at least no where close to the levels of Gears.

  • Zero Beat #61 5 years ago

    I got really comfortable with the touchscreen analogue control in Super Mario 64 DS (using the strap thumb-nub) which similarly has no 'centre' for you to automatically spring back to like tilt steering so I'm hopeful if I stick at it I'll get used to it and make the most of the wider range of motion.

  • in5ane #62 5 years ago

    I love MotorStorm, but the lack of online/options hurt it a little. I think this is worth an 8, and if the US version pulls off online well, it will deserve a 9.

  • Zero Beat #63 5 years ago

    There's nothing visually like this on Xbox 360 so it just seems like people are trying to discredit its unique good looks.

  • Zero Beat #64 5 years ago

    I should probably expand on that with there's no other game with simultaneously a huge draw distance, HDR lighting, motion blur and 15-odd other racers kicking up a load of particle effects around you or off into that far distance. There's nothing comparable to tell whether it'd be playably smooth, tear constantly or whatever.

  • Zero Beat #65 5 years ago

    Has WipEout actually been announced yet because 1UP mentioned something about SCEE sharing some of the MotorStorm technology between racing studios.

  • Zero Beat #66 5 years ago

    Boooo! You pair of huffters!

  • sanctusmortis #67 5 years ago

    Is it bad that my first thought was "bet this was reviewed by Tom" when I scrolled straight down to see the score? ^_^

    It sounds good. It's doing what I hoped it would: showing off what the next gen can do. Hopefully it'll give other companies a kick up the arse to do more new inventive stuff. I'm hoping that the PS3 will curtail the lazy 360 games coming out that add little more than HD to already established genres. After all, I have no intention of getting a PS3 (for the price, I could upgrade my PC to an awesome gaming rig, and I'd rather do that), and I have a 360...
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 16:57

  • Scimarad #68 5 years ago

    This definitely looks like a great deal of fun.

    "for the price, I could upgrade my PC to an awesome gaming rig, and I'd rather do that"

    For £430? You can't need that many components then!
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 17:33

  • Psychotext #69 5 years ago

    Scimarad: Most PCs just need graphics cards upgrades. £400+ gets you one hell of a graphics card. =D

  • JediMasterMalik #70 5 years ago

    Xiphos...

    ...lol

  • Scimarad #71 5 years ago

    Ahhh...

    I think my PC might need a tad more than a new graphics card;-)

  • #72 5 years ago

    What a bunch of moron readers that have voted 1/10 for Motorstorm.

    Just goes to say what kind of low lifes that roam these forums.

  • JediMasterMalik #73 5 years ago

    That is pretty pathetic. A thing only a true fanboy would do.

  • Foxclose #74 5 years ago

    Not a fair review. This is NOT the version we are gonna get in March. Why review the Japanese release??


    So with online play this should be BETTER than Gears of War!
    Edited by 1 at 05/01/07 @ 18:58

  • Hypocee #75 5 years ago

    ...except that if the thing running on US kiosks is representative, then the game runs at half-speed with Moon Gravity, you need to use the boost so much that it's essentially a new "petrol" button, the physics glitch all over the place, it produces about 10-20fps, and something horrible's going on with the trackside textures. 1/10 is obviously fanboyism and far too much for something so...competent, but except for the absolutely glorious track, what I've played stank.

  • Foxclose #76 5 years ago

    @Hypocee

    well, i think you need play the final thing!

  • JediMasterMalik #77 5 years ago

    ...except that if the thing running on US kiosks is representative

    Thank god it isn't then.

    AFAIk it's like a completely different game. The kiosk demos are very old.

  • tiddles #78 5 years ago

    Hope this does really well... Evolution deserve some mainstream recognition after so many great entries in the WRC series.

  • Hypocee #79 5 years ago

    Here's hoping.

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #80 5 years ago

    So has Tom really been fired?

  • kangarootoo #81 5 years ago

    I played the demo of this later on today, and it really was very good. And I'm not really a racing game person.

    I stand by my suggested Micro Machines comparison made earlier. Hectic arcade racing "don't ever take your finger off accelerate" fun +3. Play it multiplayer or with spectators for best results.

  • bunnymc #82 5 years ago

    Can't wait.
    PS: i was paying of my PS3 couple months ( 50-100 AUS Dollars every two weeks) and i have to pay another 150 and thats it. What am i trying to say if u hand 1000 AUS dollars on release it is too much, but paying it of couple of months doesnt look like too much

  • Les #83 5 years ago

    "So with online play this should be BETTER than Gears of War!"

    Which doesn't say much as that game was typical American crap...

    HD is the worst thing ever to have happened to gaming. I'll not get the rush-job PS3 until developers have found a way to spend less than 95% of development time on ugly high res graphics let alone get the most uninspired next-gen console since the Jaguar. Thank god for the Wii!

  • MaxiSleep #84 5 years ago

    Les said

    "HD is the worst thing ever to have happened to gaming. I'll not get the rush-job PS3 until developers have found a way to spend less than 95% of development time on ugly high res graphics let alone get the most uninspired next-gen console since the Jaguar. Thank god for the Wii!"

    Les. Really. This make no sense whatever.

  • JediMasterMalik #85 5 years ago

    Les has become jaded with good graphics. Or maybe it's just an excuse to not be gaming anymore, since he doesn't even want a Wii.

    Les, why don't you start making games yourself instead?

  • Les #86 5 years ago

    disc: comment is not directed at MotorStorm directly (and maybe a bit out of place in this thread, sorry for that), in fact it might be one of the few next gen games so far that actually offers something hardly possible on previous machines (the mud). It's about next-gen gaming in general, which is only about graphics and nobody seems to care.

    MaxiSleep: Why? PS3 was rushed and the 360 doesn't offer anything the xbox didn't already have. At least the Wii offers some really new play mechanics compared to the GC and isn't obsessed with useless high res graphics.

  • CitizenGeek #87 5 years ago

    Les: PS3 was not rushed. It was originally slated for a Spring release, you'll remember. And PS3 new power will bring with it new gaming experiences. Wii will too, but you'll get a decent game per every 10 gimmick-riddled game.

  • Hypocee #88 5 years ago

    A project can be delayed and still rushed at the same time, if enough things go wrong.

  • Renes3 #89 5 years ago

    @Les
    You might be right at this moment, but wait and see when/if PS3 (and maybe the 360 too) can make some of their promises come true.
    I'm thinking of something like the EyeToy HD which COULD be spectaculair and that combined with SingStar and/or Guitar Hero III making your own real-time-live audition videoclip thing...

    Just imagine...

  • fost@rd #90 5 years ago

    this game looks decent. don@ own a ps3 but will pick one up when prices go down. hopefully it will get a run on the xbox 360 that would be a nice surprise

  • JediMasterMalik #91 5 years ago

    Not happening. It's published by Sony.

  • AOFanboi #92 5 years ago

    The people in the thread who dis the SSX and Burnout series have no Arcade in their souls. Fact.

  • Ryze #93 5 years ago

    As far as the comments about the next gen being only about graphics, and HD being useless:

    When I played GTA 3, which was a milestone in gaming, back in 2001, it was enough to have me purchase a PS2 for, but after playing it for a while, I remember commenting that it's a game that would seriously benefit from running at a higher resolution. This was to help with the GAMEPLAY, as I sometimes found it difficult to make out objects in the distance approaching quickly as there is so much detail and speed in GTA 3, with it being based in inner-city streets.

    I expecct that this, and many other benefits will become apparent over the next few years. The move from interlace to progressive scan - again I can't be more glad that this is happening in the living room with games. If you don't care about this, then the retro consoles and the Wii cater for you perfectly.

    We've been upping resolution from 640 x 480 on our PCs for years - now it's happening on consoles. OK, of course the companies are going to use it as a marketing gimmick. The answer to that is to ignore this and look for the diffence between being informed, and being sold hype.

    Of course there's a big improvement when a game is running at 1280 x 720, over it running at 640 x 480 interlaced. As long as the gameplay is still smooth, it's a massive improvement. It's just that it's never explained in this manner AT ALL, by the hypemongers, so anyone that doesn't really know what HD is, might just think that their paying for a gimmick.

    As far as the next gen only being about graphics - again, I don't agree.

    As a gamer, I see the next generation of consoles as giving devs no excuse for not implementing certain features in games, such as multiplayer online, and voice chat.

    There might have been excuses in the past, over processing power, storage and broadband penetration, but they're gone now. If the gameplay would be enhanced by having online multiplayer, and the devs leave it out on the PS3 or X360 - then I won't buy the game. Especially not at the full price which is now back to N64 levels (one of the reasons I never wanted one). I'll be happy to continue playing some of the great games of the past and present consoles that line my shelves and in some cases are still unfinished as I avoid using cheats.

    From the next gen I expect to see integrated online services and social interaction in games. I know plenty of people who like to play the odd game, but many aren't bothered about or aren't skilled in playing some of my all time favourites, such as OutRun, Virtua Fighter, Daytona, Grand Theft Auto, Street Fighter 'II and Mortal Kombat 3.

    I want the next generation to address this by allowing me to compete with a wider audience. This site has brought all of us together to read about and discuss gaming - it's also great that a service like Xbox live lets us challenge each other.

    So, that's what my next gen is about. I'd like to have my next gen console running on a large prog scan display with a camera pointing at me, or us, if friends/family are round.

    I'd like to spend my time challenging and chatting with others who love and play my all time favourite games. I'd like to be able to video message my friends and family that use the service.

    I'd also like to be able to preview almost every game available in the form of a playable demo. I'd like to be able to purchase certain games on the service and download them straight away.

    I'd buy a Wii tomorrow if online multiplayer versions of Mario Kart, F-Zero, Sonic 2, Daytona USA, Nights and Virtua Fighter appeared. I'd like to be able to chat to fellow players of the games. I wouldn't mind the graphics being as basic as the originals, but without interlace, and in the games that would benefit from high res displays - the games would be great looking.

    That's the next gen. The motion sensing will also help an awful lot, but only once it has been established and perfected. I'm not into rush-job incomplete games, so I'll wait or get an X360.
    Edited by 2 at 07/01/07 @ 00:34

  • 8bitMofo #94 5 years ago

    reminds me of Wild, Wild Racing, which was a launch title for the PS2.

  • patchbox360 #95 5 years ago


    No rumble,so your just looking at crashes instead of feeling them. yuck

  • BabaBooey #96 5 years ago

    I really don't think HD is that bad of an evolution in console gaming, since PC has had the benefits of a higher resolution for years.
    The only thing that really bugs me about all this HD stuff, is that when a game on your PC stutters like crazy or has V-Sync problem, you just lower the resolution, disable some graphical details or upgrade your pc.

    With something like the XBox 360 however, 75% of the game on there have either a horrendous framerate or headache inducing V-Sync tearing. Yet there is not a single thing you can do to increase performance.
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/07 @ 11:59

  • drumbaby #97 5 years ago

    How's the online?

  • YourMessageHere #98 5 years ago

    This review seems superuninformative to me. I gather the two following things from it:

    - it's bastard-hard and extremely unforgiving
    - if you're not seriously into racing, don't bother

    Are these accurate surmises?

  • JediMasterMalik #99 5 years ago

    no

  • Steroyd #100 5 years ago

    How's the online?

    EG played the Japaneese import (which they'e now shown on the top of the review) which has no multiplayer whatsoever including online, which is a feature (and night racing) which is going to be the EU and US versions.

    I wonder if EG is going to review Formula 1 Championship Japaneese import as well because Liverpool Studio's left out online for the EU and US versions as well which might impact impressions of the game overall.

    This review seems superuninformative to me. I gather the two following things from it:

    - it's bastard-hard and extremely unforgiving
    - if you're not seriously into racing, don't bother

    Are these accurate surmises?

    Nearly, basically;

    -The game has rubberband Ai to keeping the game chaotic and interesting making the racing of the Mario Kart esque.

    -If you're more into Driving simulaters like Forza and Grant Turismo than Arcady racers like Burnout and Need For Speed steer clear of this game.

    But yeah reading the overall Review it seems more hollow than your average EG review, must still be recovering from the New Year parties or something.

  • JediMasterMalik #101 5 years ago

    I think they probably just didn't want to put too much effort into an import review for a relatively (compared to games like FF) unimportant game.

    Or maybe you're right, they have hangovers. :p

  • JediMasterMalik #102 5 years ago

    Did you not see the word relative in my post? Or do you just not understand it?

  • JediMasterMalik #103 5 years ago

    Oh god, you're as bad as rotj, have you got a better suggestion fountain of knowledge.

  • dryden555 #104 5 years ago

    It would have been really helpful (essential even) to see some screens from how the game looks when actually driving. All of these screenshots are from outside the car and apparently during a replay.

    edit -- I see there are a few SONY licenced shots from just behind the car and one inside the car when you look at all the screenshots.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/07 @ 18:39

  • Les #105 5 years ago

    "I really don't think HD is that bad of an evolution in console gaming, since PC has had the benefits of a higher resolution for years."

    HD is only useful if you need to have lots of information on a single screen. High res PC monitors are first and foremost meant for PC use like web browsing and creating documents. PC games are using high res graphics mainly because low res graphics look terrible on a high res screen. And of course there are lots of PC game types (e.g. RTS, adventure) that require lots of information/details to be on screen at once. Console games in general don't fall in that category, so unless you really have to play your games on a huge tv set, HD is worthless.

    Game developers aren't even able to generate photo realistic low res graphics. Using the available resources of 'next-gen' consoles primarily to increase the resolution of the non-photo realistic graphics is stupid.

    CitizenGeek: PS3 was definitely rushed. The Spring date was never more than a distraction to keep people from buying a 360 (not really necessary IMO as there's still the PS2).

  • deepmenace #106 5 years ago

    les, you're a buffoon

    go back to digg.com

  • tiddles #107 5 years ago

    Played a bit of this today - cracking game, gets pretty challenging quite quickly and had that elusive "one more go" feeling - or at least it did when I had to hand the controller to one of the other people playing the game at the time... :)

    Made me want to get a PS3... just a little bit.

  • ZebesHylian #108 5 years ago

    Best review i have ever seen of a driving game, Describing the inner workings and mechanical immersion, gameplay to visuals and the feeling of a this game so briliantly. Whitch saves me a lot of money being the nonmatrialistic dreamer as i am , accumulating wealth slover than certain companies predict. What is making review so good excatly?. Becouse this game includes new level of mechanical details and trought that level design, whitch translates to this "different feel in gameplay" and these ere perfectly described in the review. With no confusion manifested in to my "hoping to make a right desision about should i care about motor storm just yet" when reading the review and not about the nontrivial matters whitch plague todays reviews so often. I might not know about ssx comparison becouse i never got in to that game so deeply but 10/10 points for the review for doing your job perfectly from my perspective :).
    Edited by 6 at 16/02/07 @ 01:02