MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

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MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
European box art for Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
Developer(s)	Evolution Studios
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Distributor(s)	SCEE, SCEA
Series	MotorStorm
Engine	MotorStorm Engine (modified)
Native resolution	720p
Version	1.03 (as of 30/6 Europe)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Release date(s)	NA 28 October 2008[1] EU 7 November 2008[2]
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, 4-player split-screen, 12-player online multiplayer[3][4]
Rating(s)	ESRB: T PEGI: 16+
Media	Blu-ray Disc
Input methods	Gamepad

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is a racing video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) for the PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to MotorStorm and will be followed by MotorStorm Arctic Edge, and uses a modified engine. It was announced by Sony after their acquisition of Evolution Studios and it was released on 28 October 2008 in North America.^[1] The game has sold over one million copies as of 9 December 2008.^[5]

[edit] Development

The first target render teaser trailer of the game was released on 12 March 2008 and showed pre-rendered cut scene featuring destructible environments and realistic character modelling along with the song "Tarantula" by Pendulum who appeared in the first game also with "Slam". The monster truck ploughs through a biker and then runs down a yellow buggy, whilst the black monster truck (a van, perhaps) crashes through an old building, causing it to collapse and trap a rally car. An ATV uses the wreckage as a ramp, and a biker ducks through a collapsed platform, while the other one crashes into it.

The "screenshot" feature allows players to take a picture during racing which can then be exported to the PlayStation 3's XMB

On 29 January 2009 a patch for MotorStorm: Pacific Rift was released in error within the European region. At the same time, the official MotorStorm website was updated stating that the patch had been released and detailed the fixes it contained. A few hours later, the patch was withdrawn from the European servers and the official website returned to saying the patch would be released soon.

Sony later issued a statement on the MotorStorm website confirming that the patch had indeed been erroneously released and then withdrawn, and advised users who had installed the patch not to remove it due to the patch modifying save game files.^[6]

In the Update version 1.02, there are new features in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, known as "Microbadges" and "Signature Collections". With "Microbadges" players can display their badges during online races; up to 5 available badges can be added to the slot. Several badges are hidden, with no description on how to earn it. The second new feature "Signature Collection", will earn players new skins for every vehicle which is also in the first MotorStorm game for each 10 "microbadges" earned. When players have achieved all the "Microbadges" and "Signature Collection", they will earn hidden rewards.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Demo

A demonstration version of the game was made available in Europe and North America on 11 September 2008. In Europe the demo was made available to randomly selected users.^[7] Access to the North American demo required users to purchase episode 4 of Qore^[8]. It was available to all users on the PlayStation Store on 16 October 2008.

The demo consists of a single-player race and a 2-player split-screen race on Rain God Spires. A total of 8 vehicles are available in the demo: a bike, a monster truck, two buggys, two racing trucks (one of which can be selected in both modes) and two rally cars.

A new demo was launched on the 12 February 2009 and was called Motorstorm: Pacific Rift demo 2.0. This featured a different track and a different buggy. This demo also allowed the user to play in split-screen.

[edit] PlayStation Home

With the version 1.03 patch that was released on July 1, 2009, users of PlayStation Home, the PlayStation 3's community-based service, can now game launch MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. Game launching is a feature that lets users set up a multiplayer game in home and then launch into the game directly from Home. At E3 2007, MotorStorm was featured to be one of the games to include game launching but did not.^[9]

[edit] Gameplay

The game moves away from the desert environments of the original title and relocates itself in "a lush island environment, full of interactive vegetation"; and also includes monster trucks and four-player split-screen capability. Monster trucks are able to ride over cars (except big rigs), break most vegetation, and destroy structures. Bikes also have new capabilities so they can bunny hop and the driver can duck. Custom music tracks using a player's own music stored on their PS3 hard drive are available^[10] as are trophies (to unlock more Drivers and Vehicles) and camera angles are improved for crashes; vehicle damage is also improved.

[edit] Tracks

Screenshot from Motorstorm: Pacific Rift showing a Mudplugger

The 16 tracks contain "thick mud, tangled undergrowth, swift flowing rivers, choking volcanic clouds and searing lava pools". They are set around volcanic mountain sides, beaches, jungle, caves, and a run-down sugar factory.

Another new feature in Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is the presence of water in the form of rivers and pools. Water also cools down cars engines, which presents a whole line of new tactics; vehicles will slow down as they go through deep water, with buoyancy featuring for vehicles that venture into water too deep for that vehicle type.^[3] Vegetation will fight back against the smaller vehicles and only the bigger vehicles will be able to go through it.^{[citation needed]}

Two expansion packs are scheduled for release in July 2009 and add a total of six new tracks. The Speed expansion adds three tracks it also adds three new track variants and new paint jobs. The Adrenaline pack also adds three new tracks but five new track variants, four new vehicles and six new characters.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Vehicles

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift features all 7 vehicle classes from the original game (Bikes, ATVs, Buggies, Rally Cars, Racing trucks, Mud Pluggers and Big Rigs) as well as a new class, Monster Trucks. Monster Trucks are relatively fast and capable of crushing opponents and vegetation, however because they are so big and high up, their centre of gravity isn't that low, making them very easy to overturn. They will not be able to run over Big Rigs because Big Rigs are the second toughest vehicle in its class (thanks to its very high strength, and its difficulties of being crushed to the side) and they are the only ones who can battle against the Monster Trucks.

All 51 vehicles featured in the original MotorStorm appear in the new game (with the exception of the Patriot 85 which was only available for the PAL version) as well as a whole new array of vehicles. This includes vehicles downloaded as part of game packs such as Revenge Weekend and Devil's Weekend.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Soundtrack

The game features 46 licensed music tracks, nine of which are exclusive to the game. This is in contrast to the original game which had 21 music tracks. Notable artists featured on the Motorstorm: Pacific Rift soundtrack include Megadeth, Nirvana, Queens Of The Stone Age, David Bowie, Death From Above 1979, Pendulum, Fatboy Slim and Slipknot, as well as upcoming unsigned bands like March^[11] and The Planets^[12]. Notably, the song used in the TV trailer of the game is by Gogol Bordello^[13].

[edit] Reception

This section requires expansion.

The game has been generally well-received by critics, with an average review score of 81% on Metacritic.^[18].

IGN gave the game 8.3, praising strong graphical component, and calling the game "a worthy follow-up to one of the PS3's early must-have titles."^[17]

[edit] See also

• MotorStorm
• MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
• Evolution Studios

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Evolution Studios Blog - MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
• Official MotorStorm: Pacific Rift website