GameHaven

Well, here it is. It took a while, but I finally decided to stop being lazy and type it up.

MotorStorm
Off-road Racer

I've never been a fan of traditional racing games like Gran Turismo and NASCAR, aways favoring combat racing, like Twisted Metal, or street racing, like Midnight Club. This is why MotorStorm appealed to me: multiple track paths, carnage, and speed, speed, speed. A recipe for success, right? Well, luckyily for PS3 owners, the answer is a resounding "YES!"

GAMEPLAY- 4.5/5
"Oh my god! That's insane!" Pretty much sums up the gameplay experience of MotorStorm. Combining an incredible sense of speed with perfect controls (except for the SIXAXIS- the motion sensing is WAY too sensisitive, making in inpractical to use at all) and excellent enemy AI. Warning: this game is tough. The AI will kick your butt. Which, of course, makes every win an accomplishment. You'lll be jumping up and down in joy every time you win. Also, the difficulty gets much harder as you move on. Sure, you may win a Tier 1 or Tier 2 race, but try a Tier 4! Unfortunately, there is an incredibly slim amount of tracks, which is a disappointment. However, by combing different vehicle classes for each track, the developers made it so each track doesn't get boring. Also, the online play is really fun, although some days there's no one online. (The first day I went online there was a grand total of 12 players...barely enough for one race) Overall, the gameplay is amazing.

GRAPHICS- 5/5
This game is simply beautiful. Incredibly detailed vehicles, detailed, constantly changing environments, and an incredible sense of speed make it one of the best tasting pieces of eye candy you will ever experience. The physics are another high point and it's almost more fun to watch the explosions than race. I have nothing to complain about in the visual department of this game- it is pure insanity.

REPLAY- 4.5/5
The replayability is immense in this game. Not only will the single-player keep you busy due to its increasing challenge, but the online multiplayer is also immense fun. You'll keep on playing, trying to unlock more tickets in single player and raise your rank online. It's hard to put this game down, thanks to how much fun the gameplay provides. The one knock I have against MotorStorm is that the challenge is sometimes too hard, turning you off and frustrating you- resulting in the game being turned off. If you can bear the challenge, the game will last you a long, long time.

SOUND- 5/5
The sound is amazing in this game- pulling you incredibly far into the game. The music fits the theme of the game perfectly. Music I would normally not like fits the game perfectly, and I found myself really liking it. The sound effects are perfect, and every bone-snapping crash sounds so brutal, you'll find yourself smiling in glee. Sheer insanity. Impossible not to love, especially when a competitor explodes in a flaming heap.

OVERALL- 4.5/5
For speed-freaks or racing fanatics, this game is impossible not to love. However, for people who can't stand the difficulty, this game is only worth a rental. Try before you buy, and if you like it, I'd highly recommend buying MotorStorm.