MotorStorm Apocalypse

Some players prefer their racing games to be as realistic as possible – yet, for those who just want to watch the world burn and race with abandon, Motorstorm: Apocalypse is a dream come true. An unapologetic arcade racing experience, Apocalypse takes all the best elements from the Motorstorm formula and takes them to the next level. Bombastic setpieces and exciting races await you in this immensely entertaining (yet disappointingly barebones) racer.

It's the end of the World

In past Motorstorm titles, like Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, players would traverse to exotic locations to compete in wild, off-road races. Motorstorm: Apocalypse ups the ante with its setting: a post-apocalyptic city plagued with riots, earthquakes, and all sorts of crazy obstacles.

The levels in the game are highly interactive, with the layout of the track changing each lap. Racers can also activate contextual traps to their advantage, further modifying the layout of the racetrack. From skyscrapers to sewers and even battlefields: there are all kinds of insane tracks to explore in Motorstorm: Apocalypse. That said, repetition is a serious issue in the game: you will soon find yourself racing at the same level frequently, with your choice of vehicle being the only thing that changes.

Four or two wheels

As is tradition in the Motorstorm universe, players can choose from an impressive selection of 13 vehicle classes. Each type of vehicle has its strengths and weaknesses, forcing players to adapt not only to the hectic terrain but to the specific quirks of their vehicles as well.

Along with the classic dirt bikes, superbikes and choppers make their triumphant debut in the Motorstorm series. Unlike games that tried to incorporate bikes into their gameplay (like Burnout Paradise,) races in Motorstorm can mix different types of vehicles. This results in unpredictable races that don’t particularly favor any type of vehicle over the others. Supercars, superminis, and muscle cars are also new additions to the Motorstorm roster. These four-wheeled beasts are insanely fast but also hard to control; you’ll also have to pay close attention to their temperature gauges, as they overheat easier than their less powerful counterparts.

Drive with a purpose

For the first time in the series, Motorstorm: Apocalypse features a plot-driven single-player mode. The game’s events are seen from the perspective of three racers: The Rookie, The Pro, and The Veteran. As their names imply, these characters are also assigned a difficulty to their story modes.

The most chaotic Motorstorm Festival to date will have racers competing against each other and evading the frenzied people roaming the tracks. A group of survivors, known as The Crazies, will try to sabotage the Motorstorm Festival. As they do so, a private military company will engage them, meaning that racers will find themselves in the middle of the crossfire.

All of this hectic action is great to build up tension, and the game’s visuals elevate the scope of Motorstorm’s most chaotic tracks yet. That said, some tracks can get a little too on the crazy side, with some cheap traps being the difference between a perfect run and finishing up in last place.

Pros:

• Excellent visuals
• Responsive controls
• Fun gameplay

Cons:

• Lacks content
• Some occasional frame drops
• Some tracks can be unfairly tricky