Although it doesn't reach the absurd visual heights promised by its original "target video" trailer from last year's E3 expo, Sony's MotorStorm certainly doesn't disappoint. Subtle details such as realistically deformed terrain (deep tire tracks carved in the ground actually affect handling), billowing dust trails, and wonderfully disorienting motion blur lend the game a distinctive next-gen look unlike any racer on the market. Even when compared to the blazingly fast Ridge Racer 7 and eerily pristine Gran Turismo HD, this racer stands out -- it's a chaotic, violent take on the popular ATV Off-Road concept that takes the genre to wild new extremes. To truly appreciate the graphics, switch from the default third-person camera to the vomit-inducing cockpit view. Here, every bump, jump, and smash-up creates a fantastic sense of disorientation.
And these races tend to get awfully physical -- with seven unique vehicle classes all racing simultaneously (and 15 opponents on the track), it's common to see a car, dunebuggy, and dirtbike all vying for the lead. Each type has its distinct advantages, offering surprisingly different gameplay styles. The larger vehicles can physically overpower smaller ones: shoving unsuspecting bikers off of treacherous cliffs never gets old. On the flipside, though, the game's complex courses (all set in the parched desert of Monument Valley) pack plenty of time-saving shortcuts, so it's easy for an agile biker to take advantage of some killer shortcuts and tricky race lines that beefier rides could never navigate. Considering all the different vehicle types, the slightly exaggerated handling works remarkably well -- it's a bit arcadey, but with over-the-top track designs littered with massive jumps and deep chasms, it's a good fit. Unfortunately, developer Evolution Studios wasn't able to implement any use for the PS3's motion-sensing Sixaxis controller. Bummer -- you're already careening around tight corners and trying to avoid plunging to your death...it seems like an obvious fit for this new tech.
Ultimately, even if it's not the jaw-dropping showpiece it once seemed, MotorStorm feels awfully damn fun and addictive. It's pick-up-and-play easy, with enough variety to keep even casual race fans coming back. And although we didn't get a chance to sample the game's online play, the visceral, physical nature of the game should translate really nicely to a competitive environment. Well, until every little snot who's lucky enough to land a PS3 this Xmas starts verbally abusing you after ramming you into a ravine.
