MOTORSTORM (Playstation 3)

If Mad Max ever felt the proclivity to race off-road dune buggies, then he probably would have been a master at Motorstorm, the first Playstation3 offering from Evolution Studios.
As one of the first games released for the seventh-generation Sony machine, Motorstorm was always going to be a popular seller (there were only a handful of games available for sale at its March release).
Despite this, Motorstorm is one of the most visually spectacular racing games on the market and even at such an early stage of the PS3 gaming evolution, it already demonstrates the amazing graphics capabilities of the machine.
Motorstorm is set some time in the future, one can only assume, in a location more reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic wasteland - thus the Mad Max reference (specifically the really bad one with Tina Turner).
Your weapons of choice aren’t laser rifles or rocket launchers, instead mud pluggers, rally car hybrids, colossal trucks, jeeps, crossbred SUVs and ATVs and motorbikes.
Sadly in Motorstorm, and probably the game’s only disappointment, there are just two modes of play - single player and online racing.
While that may suit some, the restrictions of the single player `campaign’ can be a source of frustration, particularly in a game that sets such high visual and gameplay standards.
You can’t modify any of the vehicles, and even then the number available to choose from in each category is limited to just three or four.
That said, there is a reasonably wide range of different vehicles at your disposal, as listed earlier.
The premise of the game is simple.
You choose your track (more open up to the player as you work through the game), choose your set of wheels, and go racing.
Every track on Motorstorm has a number of different and varied paths available.
Include in that a wide range of jumps, diverse terrain (all of which have an impact on your speed and handling, depending on type of vehicle selected) - all mixed with a chaotic sense of mayhem and destruction.
The secret to success in Motorstorm is finding out through trial and error, which path around any given track is most suited to each vehicle.
And while there are just eight tracks available across the entire game, they are long and individual races can take anywhere up to 10 minutes to complete, and with a number of different class races on each track, even the best driver isn’t going to finish the single player section of Motorstorm in a short period of time.
One of the more enjoyable areas of Motorstorm is the ability to run your competitors off the track, off a ravine, into a cliff or boulder, or into one of the many obstacles and chunks of debris lying around the track.
That is, as long as you’re on the giving end, not receiving.
Each vehicle can take copious amounts of minor damage before they become a nightmare to control, but the subsequent destruction sequences are both breathtaking and gut-wrenching.
All vehicles also have a boost ability, a reasonable-length burst of nitrous that whips your given ride into a frenzy of velocity.
But be warned, hang on the nitro button too long and your vehicle will become a lethal fireball of destruction.
The graphics of Motorstorm, as mentioned, are a sight to behold.
Background visuals are well above average, but actual track and car graphics are incredibly detailed and one of the highlights of the game.
The soundtrack is similarly impressive.
The vehicles sound like what you’d expect them to sound like in real life. You can feel the explosions and collisions, when played through a theatre system, and the backing music is some of the best you’ll find on any game anywhere, with songs from Nirvana, Wolfmother, Queen and Slipknot.
The vehicles themselves are also a pleasure to drive, and give the feel of a good mixture between simulated and arcade racing.
With an impressive online capability (the ability to compete against up to 12 other online players at any one time), Motorstorm, while it has some minor gripes, is a wonderful, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable racing experience.

RATINGS
Graphics: 9
Sounds: 9
Gameplay: 8
OVERALL: 85%

FORZA MOTORSPORT 2 (Xbox 360)

Forza fans in Australia have been subject to inhumane torture as we watched the rest of the smug world bathe in itsown glory — posting lap times, photos, livery designs and doing business in the online auction house buying and selling their own custom vehicles — as if the constant delay in release date wasn’t painful enough!
Earlier this month we were set free from our tormentors and given the chance for retribution with the Australian release of Forza Motorsport 2 for the 360.
When Forza came to the original Xbox it was far and above the biggest and most popular racing sim on the platform.
It created a fierce rivalry between Sony’s Gran Turismo 4 on the PS2 and, despite GT’s numerous sequels and domination of the racing niche on consoles, Forza was still able to elbow its way in when it revolutionised car racing on the Xbox.
This was mostly due to the fact that Forza catered for a wide range of motor racing fans, from the tuner freak through to your hardcore realistic simulation nut, by offering big variations in difficulty.
On one end of the scale drivers can push their skill to the limit by tackling Forza’s advanced real world physics and turn off all electronic driving aids, (this means no traction control, no stability management, no ABS and manual gearbox).
For gamers after an easier, more simple driving experience, all assists can be left on together with the option to switch to cosmetic damage only, no fuel and tyre wear, easy AI opponents and even a suggested line which guides you around the track and indicates where to brake and accelerate.
Jumping into the new game, full simulation mode is where Forza 2 first flies its colours. Despite having fantastic driving physics, the cars in Forza 1 had a somewhat generic feel, while immediately in 2 you notice a vast improvement with each vehicle possessing a distinct feel on the road and behaving how you imagine they would in real life.
The main thrust of Forza 2 is online gaming where you can compete in races all around the world and, as mentioned, trade vehicles and post pics taken with the new photo mode.
For those without an Xbox LIVE account, a solid career mode is still on offer, together with arcade races, time attack and free run modes.
The career mode hasn’t changed much, but one new introduction is vehicle reputation.
As you win races with individual cars they gain rep and in return sponsored discounts are offered in the upgrade shop.
As in Forza 1, race earnings can be spent on flash new rides and on upgrades for your cars. The upgrade shop has improved markedly, with a massive range of fully licensed aftermarket parts all with a comprehensive description of what you’re buying and what they do.
Alongside the parts is the paintshop which has had a solid make over as well.
It’s difficult to think of any substantial complaints about Forza 2 and the only one worth a remark would be the lack of tracks with only a dozen on offer, although shortened variations and reverse courses are included as well.
The graphics are beautiful and, despite lacking some close-up detail in the track environment, Forza 2 runs at a slick 60 frames a second, creating an awesome sense of speed.
The 300-plus cars are meticulously modelled and look fantastic on and off the track.
Any gamer who has even a fleeting interest in car racing must have Forza Motorsport 2 — no other game offers such an in-depth racing experience.

WE RATE IT
Graphics: 9
Sounds: 8.5
Gameplay: 9.5
OVERALL: 92

FLATOUT ULTIMATE CARNAGE (Xbox 360)

Numerous arcade racing games are available acrossall platforms today and most of them tend to blend in with the crowd.

Flatout Ultimate Carnage, however, stands bright and tall, which makes it a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable destruction racer. The third installment in the Flatout series combines arcade racing with a real world physics engine to fantastic effect.

Cars are made up of 40-plus deformable parts and each track has more than 8000 destructible objects— more than any other 360 game.

Both vehicles and objects take visual damage with real-time environment mapping plus dynamic shadow maps for every 3D object on the track, and improved particle effects like dust, smoke and water splashes to create stunning and smooth visuals.

Flatout’s frame rate is also impeccable and rarely suffers. Included in the mix and unique to Flatout are the hilarious ragdoll characters which, with big enough impacts, are catapulted through the windscreen. The ragdoll is also used in side games like high jump, stoneskipping, ring of fire, field goal . . . I think you get the idea.

Vehicle andr agdoll driver are put to the test with side-splitting action. Your run of the mill single-player modes like career, single race, time trials and destruction derby are all included as well as local and online multiplayer.

Choose any one of 48 cars to tear up 39 tracks, all the while debris and cars fly in all directions creating random events that will have you laughing out loud.

Due to hit stores August 1, interms of replayability and downright hilarious action you can’t look past Flatout.

WE RATE IT:

Graphics 9.4

Gameplay 9.5

Sound 8

OVERALL 8.9