MotorStorm: Apocalypse

"Survive, if possible."

Developer: Evolution Studios
Publisher: SCEA
Genre: Rally/ Off  Road Racing
Platform: PS3
Release Date: April 12, 2011



 

West Coast City: a district located in America and definitely the worst place to live. Victim of a series of natural disasters, all its inhabitants fled to other towns and abandon its buildings. All life that was there is now gone, turning the place into a ghost town into the hands of the nature. In other words, it’s the perfect place to set the next Motorstorm game.
 

This time, everything seems to be even more brutal. The game’s subtitle gives the clue itself - Apocalypse - and shows that the races will have even more adrenaline than the previous games. But it’s not just because of earthquakes and hurricanes that insist on changing the geography or the intense fight between the factions participating in the stage, but also the great news that developer Evolution Studios brought to spice up disputes: 3D.

 

According to the videos released so far, you can see that the look of all this chaos is really breathtaking. Besides keeping a danger looking incredibly realistic will make even the bravest players fear for the fate of its pilot. What about the feeling of being on a bridge while it is destroyed? The three-dimensional effect is just to make this experience even more immersive. Ever wondered how it must be desperate to see a steel cable let go of the structure and move toward your face? For this depth effect - coupled with the sensation of extreme speed - is the major focus of the proposed 3D by Evolution.

 

A demo of the game was released on March 8, exclusively on PlayStation Network in Europe. Even with only one circuit and two vehicles, the trial version is a clear view that Motorstorm: Apolcalypse will take the franchise to heights never before achieved. This is accomplished through the massive size of the landscape, which have many paths to follow as much as the obstacles. The track is extremely dynamic and a variety of objects interact on the screen simultaneously. Rocks, debris, wrecked vehicles, and even people appear all the time and, in most cases, represent challenges for players.

 

The developers also seem willing to please many different types of players. This desire is evident in the demo, when you can choose a control type. While some options are tailored for those who are used to racing games of the current generation, others favor other control schemes, reflecting the classics of the racing genre. This difference between user profiles is also reflected in both vehicle types available in the release. The Super Car is aimed at players who already have some experience in driving. Being heavier, the car has some difficulty in tighter turns and requires the player to control the brakes and the accelerator to not end up crashing.

 

The Super Bike is the total opposite. The bike is faster, is much easier to be ridden, and can go through very tight corners. The vehicle is also able to stay longer in the air over the jumps, giving the player a little more time to plan the actions to be taken next. Moreover, the rider is completely unprotected, making it extremely vulnerable. Thus, we must take better care of the road obstacles. Opponents on cars also take advantage of this weakness and try to squeeze the player between two vehicles, or throw them from the cliffs without pity.

 

Another interesting feature is the semi-infinite turbo, which can be used several times throughout the race. One should be wary, however, the heating level of the vehicle. If the nitro stay activated for too long, the car explodes, causing the opposite effect than desired.

 

Although Evolution Studios has focused much on the 3D effect, you can also see that extra effort to offer a multiplayer experience. You can choose the mode for up to four player local split-screen or 16, if you choose to go online.

 

MotorStorm: Apocalypse arrives on April 12, exclusively for the PlayStation 3.

Marco Cecilio, NoobFeed