MotorStorm Apocalypse Review - PS3

Motor Storm Apocalypse Wallpaper

My first few hours with MotorStorm Apocalypse (MA) were pure bliss. Sure, Split/Second impressed our shorts off us with its cinematic moments, but MA�s spectacular set-pieces are a whole new ball game. As a racer voluntarily taking part in a post apocalyptic racing festival, MA will push your driver to the limits challenging him with both hyper aggressive opponents and the forces of nature herself.

The game�s biggest hook, without a doubt, is its Apocalyptic setting that not only looks cool but factors into gameplay as well. Since you are racing in a city ravaged by earthquakes, cyclones and tornadoes, the forces of nature can kick in anytime and change � quite literally � the rules of the game. Buildings will fall around you, opening up new routes or doubling up as gigantic ramps, while a nearby cyclone can fling vehicles around all around the track creating a new shortcut that never existed in the previous lap. You can�t comprehend the chaos that unfolds during races unless you play it yourself.

Motor Storm Apocalypse Wallpaper

In addition to all sorts of natural disasters, you even have a very unruly bunch of civilians to deal with who�ll constantly litter the tracks, throw Molotov cocktails at you or even try and shoot you down. While you can run over most of them, you must make sure your car does not soak up too up damage as that could cause it to overheat. And like previous Motorstorm games, overheating your vehicle will cause it to explode. You can spawn back into the race with the press of a button but you�ll lose precious seconds and on the latter difficulties, this becomes a real pain in the back side.

Speaking of pains in the backside, special mention goes out to MA�s crushing difficulty that kicks in after a few hours of gameplay. The career is split up into three sections � Rookie, Pro and Veteran. Gamers who even have a bit of racing experience will cruise through Rookie but as soon as you enter Pro, the difficulty just ramps itself up significantly. Where you were once cruising to the finish line in first place, you�ll find it tough to even come in third. Races will be lost multiple times as even a single screw up could lead to defeat. Making matters worse is the super aggressive AI who are hell bent on annihilating your ride at all times.
(source)