MotorStorm: Apocalypse

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Although the Motorstorm series is not one of those first names that come to mind when thinking of the PlayStation 3 catalog like there Uncharted, God of War, Metal Gear Solid ... the saga of Evolution Studios holds a privileged memory among many console owners, especially among the first to buy it. Although they spent some unnoticed among the general public (only surpassed one million units) added as a new modality to four players split-screen when they first incorporated online multiplayer, along with new vehicles like the Monster Truck and lateral movements such as the charge and impact of the scenario in our engine cooling water or lava engines to make them red.

With very large open circuits, a great variety of vehicles and a pleasant flight, Motorstorm has quickly become one of the most interesting exclusives for Sony consoles. Since then, there was Pacific Rift , but also a competitor named Split / Second . It must be admitted that Evolution Studios guys will end up making the pilots for childish and unbalanced suicide bombers of MotorStorm who are unaware of the danger around them. And finally, it is not worse because an arcade racing game does not need to be consistent to be good! In Pacific Rift, the enraged had decided to defy the elements (just that ...) in environments as varied as perilous. This time they have found nothing better than to continue their motorized city pranks!

We must begin by saying that despite being a game that breathes power and many of the features of the series, has also made some changes more or less dramatic but possibly necessary for further progress in the original concept without wearing the formula. One of the first differences from previous installments is there is no longer a video introduction by computer-generated or recorded from real image as the first Motorstorm, with a deep voice that tells the last folly of this racing festival. Now there's a comic style animated sequence, and used by several games, perhaps the Metal Gear Solid on the PSP are the most popular, which has an important role because Apocalypse is a campaign mode story with an argument consisting of three different views of the two days of competition.

These three actors are pilots who represent levels of difficulty, beginning of course for the novice. The story sequences are very abundant, not so much in life, are just small gags or dialogue, but in number, interspersed between the races. After passing more than a dozen races in fifth place or better, pass the next character, which needs to reach at least the third, and then take the role of the veteran, a new step in the difficulty. When we got the top spot with any of these three drivers also unlock more difficult events, the festival expert that ensures the ultimate challenge to improve our times in the toughest conditions.

Thus in the main mode, where Motorstorm is a racing series begins with a callow youth. It's a good way to ease the difficulty of the series and gain control or get to know some circuits and vehicles, as we will by default one of them. In a race as soon we can play with a motorcycle in the next with a 4x4 forced to learn well the handling of each vehicle and its features, which are still so different from each other as always. Well play around this difficulty in the worst case we will repeat several times a race, but never in a frustrating, even eighth in the final round can be traced, and also, in this first go round did not assures victory, and therefore, ensuring total attention to the last meter in front of goal.

In Apocalypse, add five new types of machines up to a total of thirteen: the supercar, superbike motorcycles, the MUCL car, and the chopper. Perhaps at first glance some classes are too similar, as the various types of motorcycle, but all have some small adjustment to control or turbo to suit the tastes of each player. Motorstorm remember that the volume and weight of vehicles affects the ability to literally crush rivals, and for example, a truck can overwhelm a car. On the other hand, less size, more speed and better handling for curves, something to be grateful to dodge the many obstacles the stage. The turbo is also somewhat different between classes, and heating and cooling time varies depending on engine type.

In the series, the use of nitrous or turbos operates almost unlimited. We say almost because it depends on heating and takes seconds to return to fully functional levels, if you hold down the turbo button off limits, there will come a time when exploded in the air. As in Pacific Rift, fire and water influence, and go through flames suddenly increases the temperature, but breaking drums of water, pass over pools or fountains cooled the engine and therefore the use of nitro is longer. Control is very simple, there is a movement for real magic, not all vehicles, light-and side impact to drive out weaker rivals.

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In addition, pressing a button when a major event slows down the action to see what happens, it may be interesting to see what new path is open or closed, is completely optional to avoid breaking the flow, clear that if we activate it, see almost like a collating sequence in the same game a skyscraper collapses or blows up a bus.

The explosions and collapses modify the path but, Can they change the outcome of a race? No, there are few events designed to damage directly and surprise the unwary players. Most also be submitted in advance, are intended to alter the route or add obstacles and ramps, but not throw a rock on the player. This was a smart move to avoid needlessly annoy the pilot and thus eliminate an unfair when you had all of their face.

Motorstorm: Apocalypse, like predecessors, has many alternative paths in their journey as appropriate to each type of vehicle. Maybe some players think that bringing the competition to a city has reduced the options and shortcuts over freedom of the natural settings, but nothing is further from the truth. Apocalypse enhances the sense of chaos and movement, through the courts now has more elements and obstacles, while alternative routes exceed the old Motorstorm. It is easier than in many sections there are three or four roads to choose, also depending on the vehicle will be easier to go for one or another-such as at ground level, a highway or higher, jumping a ramp, for a roof of low buildings. This applies to most circuits, and also depending on the path you choose most rivals, choose one or the other. There are ways more obstacles but at the shorter, waterlogged soil or water.

The sense of unpredictability in Apocalypse is also greater than ever. That a road is closed in the second round because it has a huge silo collapsed or otherwise display a new option by the collapse does make vital decisions in a split second. But the circuit design is much less guidance than ever, and why, in theory, nature offered tracks away from the hand of man, the sense of chaos now is such that it is often not so obvious direction to take . It is difficult to generalize because the game features 40 tracks, but we can say that this philosophy as anarchic series has been promoted much in the Docklands area, with unusually short linear path. Address some flares and red flares signal the road to take, and without exaggeration, without them it would be easy to lose track.

With regard to the circuits are divided into twelve different areas or neighborhoods of the city with different themes, with three to four variations each, except the epilogues and prologues, which are run from point to point to the story. There are many tracks, one of the most spectacular is Skyline, on the rooftops of skyscrapers, but perhaps our favorite area is Boardwalk, on a coast with springs and amusement parks, which runs one of the main characters, is an intense tornado rain. Terminus put some green to its four tours through the parks, Docklands are maritime industrial areas, Inter State the broad highways of various heights, with Mainline railway stations, which we will derail and fly over our hood, "and more urban as Upper Bohemia, Downtown or the great bridge of Good Herb. Different illuminations, even circuits in the rain at night and give a surprising variety for a sequel that in principle could give less game than Pacific Rift. And that's not all, are already downloadable content confirmed a famous island set in a prison that, to the surprise of many in these times, be free.

What Motorstorm has made one of the best arcade games catalog is all the frenzy, speed and spectacle of their careers, and that in Apocalypse is assured. Although large ramps jumps the first two games are not as exaggerated, the power play winding circuits to make them more technical. If we look back, compared tracks from previous games were much straighter, almost more geared for combat between rival for precise handling. Now, so to speak, are most interesting tracks on their own, for time trial, with no need to fight opponents.

And what about customizing playable level? Evolution has chosen to follow the current trend in the multiplayer, especially in action titles with enhancers or "perks" to affect the handling, speed and combat. Characteristics, in triads, can be a reduction in time to revive after an accident, or a few seconds more than the maximum engine temperature before exploding. You have to decide which is more interested in our style of play, to facilitate encounters if we are the kings of foul play or recovery if we tend to hit too. To do this, you can save different configurations with name, easy to spot before a race, for example, forming a group of improvements that we like for a particular type of vehicle or circuit. According to win races, we will unlock more.

Adds a system-independent medals trophies play-by betting against certain targets and competitors in the multiplayer mode make this the most comprehensive in the series. The possibility of mixing local players online, as two to 14, with the strength of the split screen for two or four users, detail is lost compared to full screen, but it is quite satisfactory, further multiply the fun. Unfortunately we could not see the promised editor editor modes, Wreckreation to modify rules and victory conditions for both online and solo careers and we hope to be included in a forthcoming update.

The games can be of the race, but also persecution or elimination. No system of private rooms and invitations to friends. Furthermore, the destruction of the tracks will not always be the same in the online race, ensuring that events get caught unprepared. Motorstorm Online gambling has always been one of the strengths of the series and spades for a friend take the roof off a skyscraper can be anthology, is a modernized version of Monument Valley defeats in the first game. One of the best ways to spend an evening with multiplayer without having to wield a gun in the ninth intergalactic war.

As per the graphic level, we must distinguish between artistic and technical aspect. In the first, we must recognize that change by moving away from nature-at least in most circuits, cannot like both, it is true that urban settings are a bit hackneyed in games of speed, but also that there is no city ??such as Apocalypse. The vast majority of the games areas are filled with rubble but have sought the widest possible range within the subject matter, we believe, are accepted. Each district of the city, each track has a distinctive feature and distinctive, although it should be noted that with so many circuits is more difficult than ever to learn each curve with the same anticipation of deliveries with eight circuits, hence the improvisation is on the agenda for many more hours.

Now, technically Evolution has honed its graphics engine to deliver the most dynamic racing game possible. Not only is there great detail in the city, 16 vehicles and many effects on the image, notes the motion blur, quite pronounced, "is the constant activity of the background elements that make the city completely alive, either by destroying structures, fire, smoke, fire or bystanders running, which of course can be run over, but Motorstorm does not delight in it Carmageddon style. The imagination of the team allows us to see how a road or bridge that we thought solid crazing us likes wet paper on top. Without doubt, one of the most spectacular games to play and even to see as a mere spectator.

Apocalypse is compatible with 3D stereoscopic, like most current releases of Sony. Evolution is also one of the internal studies longest experiences with this technology and so the results may be of the most spectacular of a growing handful of titles with this option. Although the sacrifice in this way is something inevitable in the appearance of objects on the Stage, as I discussed in the prints, note that the developers have relied heavily on the third dimension mind from the start-comment that they has been working on this together Pacific Rift with the amount of floatables on screen, like sheets of paper, sparks, smoke, pieces of stone, rain ... even playing 2D shows that all these details have been strategically placed to give a greater sense of depth. A must if you own a late model display.

Rounding out the photo mode options, already present in the second game. Pause the game at any time; adjust the camera, blur, light, and exports to more flattering picture snapshot of your car or that memorable moment in which you have saved from slaughter by a miracle.

Conclusions

Motorstorm Apocalypse has introduced a handful of new features in the series without touching the main base and the move has gone well. It's drama pushed to the limit, the jumps between skyscraper windows coming ... more typical of an action movie than a game of speed, all with the stamp of Evolution, driving teachers since 2001 WRC for the PlayStation 2. The game offers more possibilities for publishing and variety of courses than ever, a deep online designed to last many months and make fun of Apocalypse perfect purchase for all racing fans. In summary, more complete and enjoyable than previous Motorstorm but all elevated to a level never seen in impressive film in this genre.