MotorStorm takes the traditional off-road racing score and turns it into a rock concert on wheels. Evolution Studios pumps out the adrenaline exclusively on the PS3. It’s about keeping the pedal to the medal in a wash of mud and petro, all along thriving to stay alive long enough to cross the finish line. There’s a storm brewing in Motor Storm.

MotorStorm comes out swinging without hesitation. As soon as your disc loads and you get into the main section of the game, the pedal is glued to the floor. MotorStorm is pure arcade racer acceptably remixed and retuned to the next generation of gaming. The Playstation 3 has exclusive rights to this little baby and if it can be helped they would be wise to hold on to this property. MotorStorm might not be the next coming of racing games, but for what it is, it’s done right.

There has been a certain level of hype around MotorStorm from its CG trailer that was shown during last years E3, and critics and fans wondering how the real game would play out. Hopes are high, and now that MotorStorm has been unveiled, I believe it’s a success. The final version might not be as detailed as the CG trailer, but let’s give Evolution Studios a nod because this is the best looking PS3 to date. Graphically, MotorStorm is a step above the other developers at this current time. It might be the fast action, the mud, or the brutal crashes, or the close detail in the vehicles, either way it adds up nicely.

MotorStorm doesn’t waste time giving you action because you’re pushed right into the front lines without a moment of relaxation. The gameplay is delightfully aggressive in design and in the opponent A.I. The races normally run between 2-10 minutes which get longer the more your progress. There are a large number of vehicle types that each has their strengths and weaknesses. Some races are class specific, but the real fun is in open class races. Nothing is more fun, and visually pleasing then seeing Motorbikes racing against Buggies, and large off roading trucks. If you need a mental picture, think of the movie Mad Max when the cars are racing through the desert, all junkafied and ready to rock. Vehicles variety and aggression are another two aspects that help build up its winning formula.

Now that you might be enticed, for vehicles you have Motorcycles that are lightweight, agile and thin. Bikes are my choice if available, but even though they are highly manoeuvrable and lightweight they can take a beating easily. The other class is the quad bikes, ATVs. The ATVs are similar to the Motorcycles in status except they are a less agile and a little more stable. Next MotorStorm has buggies including one mad from an old VW bug. The buggies are fast and stable on rough terrain. The buggy is probably the most even vehicle out of the lot. Moving up in size we have Racing Trucks. These modified pickups are heavy mean machines that can cover good ground with a considerable amount of protection. The downside to these trucks is the acceleration which plagues any vehicle larger then the buggy. Rally Cars are next and probably the most logical entry. These rally cars are fast, relatively light and a good choice for smoother terrains. The downside to these four wheel racers is that they have a hard time on certain terrain. Next is the Mudplugger which are big tires are meant for tearing through the thickest mud and in MotorStorm this is a nice assets. The mudpluggers look cool in an army cantina way, but they can loose a bit of speed compared to the other vehicles. Nothing is as slow as the last category of vehicles, and that is the Big Rigs. The big daddies as I call them. The rigs are powerful and unstoppable, but in the obvious downside they are as agile as a rock and can accelerate at speeds slower than snails. I wouldn’t suggest using the big rigs unless you plan on driving through your completion.

So we have the vehicles set, lets have a look at the courses in MotorStorm. MotorStorm has eight varieties that keep it fresh with different paths to take during the race. No race will be the same and with the amount of options these eight tracks keep it interesting enough. Each track might have multiple terrain types like The Grizzly or just an extra hard rocky terrain in the Tenderizer. You will be constantly avoiding debris on track, other racers, and watching yourself so you don’t fly off a cliff. Each track is unique and present different challenges. I would like to see more tracks in the future, but for what MotorStorm offers they did a great job their design.
The wild aggressive races in MotorStorm wouldn’t be complete without a kicking soundtrack, and Sony has put their bucks up and grabbed a beautiful selection of rocking tracks. Some of the featured artists in Motor Storm include Nirvana, Monster Magnet, Pitchshifter, Wolfmother, Slipknot and more. Let me tell you racing along while Slipknots “Before I Forget” crushes from the speakers is a rush. In total their are 21 songs which will get you buy, if we have another MotorStorm, I hope this can be expanded bringing more metal and hardcore tunes into the mix.

Before I finish off the review I have to add that even though MotorStorm is an awesome racing game it’s still a little lacking in different game modes, a more personal career mode, and customization options. These are all things that hopefully will come into play if they make another MotorStorm game. It would have been great to see to build a garage full of these cars and build a fix them for races. A little more personal touch, a little more customization and even some extra game modes would have helped. Other games that have a similar tint as MotorStorm like Burnout, or Flatout offer up the same smash em up racing style, but along with the race they off some fun and entertaining game modes besides racing to keep your interest. That being said, MotorStorm still rocks, but it could have rocked a little harder.

Sony has found another premier franchise in MotorStorm. Like Twisted Metal I can see this action based racer spawning several follow ups keeping gamers in tune with the mud bath. The visuals are one of the best seen in the next generation of gaming, showcasing the potential of the PS3s' capabilities. MotorStorm will please any racing fan with its aggressive hard pounding action and variety. MotorStorm surpassed my expectations and will be one game in my collection that I will be constantly revisiting. If you own a PS3 then you need to pick up MotorStorm, Sony’s first “must have” exclusive title.