Motorstorm – Hands On Impessions

First thing’s first, the game does not look like these screens. I know there was lots of debate as to whether the video shown at last year’s E3 was real time or not and I think we can put that argument out to rest. Try to imagine running these screens through a sandpaper bath, rough up the edges, add some aliasing and lower the polygon complexity in the environments and you probably have a better idea of where Motorstorm’s at right now in the visual department. That said it’s not all doom and gloom, the great part is that the game’s fun, tons of fun!

  

 

Find out just how much fun this PS3 launch title is after the jump

First thing’s first, the game does not look like these screens. I know there was lots of debate as to whether the video shown at last year’s E3 was real time or not and I think we can put that argument out to rest. Try to imagine running these screens through a sandpaper bath, rough up the edges, add some aliasing and lower the polygon complexity in the environments and you probably have a better idea of where Motorstorm’s at right now in the visual department. That said it’s not all doom and gloom, the great part is that the game’s fun, tons of fun!

       

In my post E3 round up I mentioned the fact that Motorstorm reminded my an awful lot of a spiritual successor to Excite Bike and Rally Cross, I still think so, the death defying stunts and unbelievable physics really make this game play just as crazy as the initial trailer looked. As a matter of fact I find myself really wishing I could have just one more go at the controls… shame I’ll have to wait till November.

The booth attendant mentioned that the game was only 50% complete and that there was quite a bit work to be done but they were aiming to meet launch. Judging by what I saw I’d say they have a pretty good chance of reaching or at least getting pretty darn close to the target video. The actual vehicles seemed very highly detailed, you could see all the nuts and bolts and crashing into canyon walls was a good way to rip them open like tin cans. Environments were somewhat low poly, and the image quality was generally rough, bu as I said it’s early days yet. In the demo I played you took control of a dune buggy and it was extremely satisfying to catch up to a fella on a motorcycle and send him flying through the air, tumbling head over heels till his ragdoll body  smacked into the sloshy mud (sadistic isn’t it?) Of course the favor would quickly be returned when one of the larger trucks smashed into you from behind, sending your fragile buggy into a ridiculously violent barrel roll that saw chunks of metal go flying into the hot air.

     

It was also really cool to circle the track numerous times, creating little rivets with your tire tracks that reminded you of the best route and gave you optimal speed as you didn’t have to power through fresh mud. The demo included twenty AI controlled vehicles tearing round the track at breakneck speed, taking shortcuts and alternate routes and avenging whatever punishment you were able to deal them with lethal efficiency. One thing’s for certain, this game’s going to be an absolute blast in multiplayer, the booth attendant mentioned that they were looking at getting nineteen players online in each match. It’s going to be utter mayhem. Motorstorm’s definitely near the top of my PS3 most wanted list. This and Warhawk…*drool*