Game Preview 5:MotorStorm

Publisher: Sony CEA
Platform available: PS3
Release date: Not announced. Maybe early next year?

MotorStorm is a PS3 racing game that looks promising, made even more impressive by the fact that the graphics are of HD quality. So expect to see very detailed images. Graphics aside, MotorStorm offers a bit more variety than your average racing game. Vehicle classes include dirt bikes, ATVs, buggies, to name a few, and totaling to 35 vehicles to choose from. As expected, each class has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, larger vehicles may look ferocious and are able to knock other smaller vehicles away, but they lack in speed. Smaller vehicles, on the other hand, are quicker, and from the screenshots I see, they are able to drift too. Do not expect the larger vehicles to be able to drift, though. The game will be set in Utah’s Monument Valley (which I still have no idea where it is) and the name of the game already suggests that MotorStorm is an off-road racer. There are a total of 12 tracks and each has its own shortcuts. Alright, I have to admit that shortcuts are cool. However, some tracks have gaps that can only be crossed over by smaller vehicles. As the vehicles progress into the race, mud builds up on their body and if they sustain damage, their performances will be affected as well. This makes the game more realistic. It is also believed that your vehicle will have a limited number of lives. A life is taken away whenever the vehicle, for example, falls off the cliff. While all these stuff sound interesting enough, the developer has not forgotten to include multiplayer.