Motorstorm screens

Right analog does this, Sixaxis does nothing unless you enable it for steering in the menu (this is in the demo at least).

 

I am importing this sucker from play Asia.

Suppose to be out Dec. 7.

No online but I can live with that for now.

I need more Motorstorm action. Just a fun as hell game and looks sweet to boot.

 

@ Dot50Cal: Seeing as you've played the latest version of the game, do you feel (as a gamer) that Evolution Studios has satisfied any desires that their original CG target render (as shown @ E3'05) might have initiated in you? Not only from a graphical POV, but also the rush and excitement generated in the original CG, and that crazy racing atmosphere. I know the final version ain't available yet, but just curious as to how you feel after playing the demo on your own PS3. (bastard!)

Cheers

 

I own that demo too and my answer would be yes. BUT (and a big but) if online play is just as crazy as the demo and (and this is a bigger and) Sony allows us to invite people from our XMB friend's list instead of like Resistence then I will be a very happy camper.

 

Looks good etc etc - but - always 100% same animation on the rider when jumping, and 100% same "looking back" animation with apparently random intervals, sometimes there's max 1 sec between them which is obviously far too little.

 

But also?

How soon we forget...

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/614/614797/motorstorm-20060117013042007.jpg

As much as I am willing to give the game a lot of credit, even mentioning the CGI in the same breath as the PS3 version (sprite based shrubs for crying out loud!) is just... no. Emphatic no.

The sooner move away from the crazy idea that we can mention the graphics of the game in the same sentance as the CGI, and appreciate the good stuff that is actually there, the better. Does it capture the concept? Yes. Does it capture some of the craziness? Yes. Is it fun? Yes. (I played for a good while last night and on my second race got 2nd, nearly first, with the big truck, woot!) But where all the areas the game shines and stands out, render quality is not one of them. The art and design are very good but I wouldn't even compare it to some other racers in regards to IQ. Ironically the motion blur in other racers peeps tend to gripe about is one of the saving graces in this game in regards to IQ.

Also, on a related note, I think Evolution has done a great job creating a game and not just a tech demo. Without getting into a long debate about it, I am not convinced Motorstorm is "innovative" in regards to technology&gameplay dynamics (more, bigger, better, as one would expect) but they do a great job of pulling together a lot of proven elements and take a style of racing game (point a to point b with aggressive off road racing) and really develop the idea into a great package that executes well and is very enjoyable. Dirt and terrain that has variable traction are not new (obviously done to more percision and enjoyment in Motorstorm), but the sum of the parts in Motorstorm are all designed well and nothing seems too tacked on "just to toss it in". Probably not a popular opinion, but I am more of the camp that many games require more focus on polish and evolutionary changes in design with the prerequisit improvements in quality and that being "innovative" to be different and abondoning the heritage and tried and true formulas gamers like--hence why they have persisted--is a poor way to measure success or innovation. Motorstorm excells and is "innovative" because it has a ton of quality and great design and art that make for a fresh and enjoyable experience. The actual mechanics, surprisingly, is just racing off road in a typical fashion. I won't be surprised to see a couple Eurogamer like reviews that completely miss the point. GT and Forza are other racers that I forsee getting bit by the same bug. Reviewers need to realize that some racers are just that -- racing games -- and the point isn't just to be different or new, but to take a prescribed focus and refine it to a science and toss as much quality at it as possible. Things like "deformable" terrain and cabin views (like PGR3 with inertia and course bumps affecting camera position and movement) are purely evolutionary, but the end result is a very, very satisfying product. And this is where reviewers I think miss the point (they play too many games and the new/unique is often very appealing) and sometimes are critical where the general consumer that may play 10-20 games a generation is completely satisfied.

Of course Motorstorm has a ton of dirt and cars -- a combination any visceral man can love -- but I won't be surprised by the typical criticism on forums and even from a few in the press. Ultimately I think it misses the point. From playing a long while last night (2nd place my second race + exploding across the finish line) and watching for a while as well I am really happy with the results in the game. A lot of little gripes (see my preview) but the experience is top notch. If it was on the PC I would walk out of the store with it even if I had to dump down the graphics. I love the concept and Evolution has executed very well. Motorstorm 2 should be great.

As a pointer: The game is floaty, but if you take the big truck instead of the off road green car you will have a lot more weight. I can see how they have balanced the game now having played a number of vehicles, and while I see the logic and balance it still irritates me. BUT having the option for vehicles that stick more to the road, as the heavy truck does, gave a much better experience and one I desired. It was also fun getting "kills" on the track and really controlling corners. Top speed wasn't all there, but racing is about the corners If only allows for 16 or so racers and has enough variety in tracks (50+ events, but I wonder how many diverse, unique tracks and settings) this could be one of those games you play a lot online. It has a great balance of accessibility as well as a decent initial learning curve and it is as fun to race as it is to watch. Definately not stale and an exciting ride. It is Off Road from the old days reborn. And that is a compliment seeing as I played a tooon of Off Road! PS3 owners, even non-racing fans, need to give this a try. 10/10 Fun Factor.

 

@ mckmas8808: Sorry dude, didn't know you had it too. Thanx for that. This game is shaping up pretty well, and if the impressions are to be believed (yours & Dot') then this game is gonna be a blast!

Ok. I worded that wrong, because I didn't mean to give the impression that I felt Motorstorm lived up to it's CG showing in the graphics department. My bad.

Thanx for your impressions anyways. Didn't know you'd played it as well.

The biggest part of the original CG for me was the chaotic, unforgiving competition that was taking place on the race track. I found that more appealing than the graphics, although it did look very pretty. Hope others will be able to look past to graphics comparison, and see the game for what it really is...

 

I never really put much stock into early trailers especially when they are confirmed CG. If anything the game impressed me more than I thought. I didnt think it would come this close to the target render so early in the PS3 lifecycle.

 

NP No lecture intended, more thoughtful rambling on my gaming experience. I love the game so far, loved the concept in 2005, and think Evolution has executed well. I also think it is a good commentary on the industry and how a developer can take proven formulas and concepts and enhance them for next gen while not being the prototypical "innovative" game in some sense. I think the evolutionary quality of the title is innovative as it breeds an experience via the sum of the parts that was not available last gen, even though much of the mechanics and basic concepts are quite old.

More my mental pontificating out loud on the forum. I have high hopes for this title and think it and Heavenly Sword (another game that looks very refined) are what many hardcore gamers really want to see this gen. Great starts by Evolution and NT.

 

Speaking of last gen, compare it to atv offroad fury 4
that one has a real fp camera!

 

The only thing that lets it down in my eye's is the fact that vehicles go though the bushs, surely they could of had them react physically to the vehicles?

 

Do you have any idea of the catastrophic consequences that would bring!? They would explode!!! (Sounds funnier when thinking this in mad scientist voice)

I know... im sorry...., i just couldn't resist!

 

The bushes or the cars? When I was playing the slightest collision with anything but another racer would cause my vehicle to burst into a thousand pieces.

 

Is the game that unrealistic?

 

Not that sensitive. It depends on what you hit... Sometimes, I hear people say, "You're still alive ?" after banging against the rock surfaces. Use the break

...but when you hit hard enough, you blow up.

 

It's worse than that. After getting caught in a collision that blows the car into a trillion pieces and would certainly leave the driver dead, the car reappears in the track and you keep playing!!!!

How unrealistic is that?!

 

What? The only time I blow up is why I hit a massive rock or flip upside down. I have scrapes and collisions with cars traveling parallel and nothing like that happens. You sure your playing the game?

 

It seems some people forget Burnout 3.

 

What?! With the same driver? That's not realistic!

 

Kikizo has a large 4-page preview of the near-final (or final?) Japanese build of Motorstorm. It's almost shockingly rich in praise.

http://games.kikizo.com/news/200611/101_p4.asp

Read the link for much more