Motorstorm 2 : wtf

[dcharlie]

How come this is , like, good?

i bought it because i'm a dirty spendthrift and i needed to moan about something Sony related, but both MS2 and LBP seem to be both legitimately good.

LBP - okay, not that much of a surprise. But Motorstorm 2? wtf.

I think i might set fire to myself in protest. I feel unclean. I've taken 4 showers already and even the bleach bath isn't stopping me from feeling dirty.

[TVC15]

The first Motorstorm was broken, but not fundamentally so.

I liked the first one, although there were definite big problems.  It was basically a launch game, so it was easy to be forgiving.

[TVC15]

At the risk of sounding like a gay newb, I thought the AI was too tough.  Is the sequel better in this regard?

[duckman2000]

MotorStorm was a pretty kick ass arcade racing game, made much less kick ass by load times, a general lack of courses, weird A.I. and night races without headlights. I haven't tried 2 beyond the demo, but assuming they fixed most of the above, there's really no reason it shouldn't be a good game.

Incidentally, I just read an excerpt from some review that claimed something to the effect of "the game does what it does well, but the genre has evolved," and that just seems like another mythical standard as I can't see anything else like Motorstorm on the market. Quite a bit of these imaginary standards go around in reviews these days.

[TVC15]

Well, it's been a while since I touched Motorstorm, but I remember it not having a lot of modes or anything.  I recall it being an extremely barebones package.  Perhaps that is what they are getting at?

I will likely get Motorstorm 2 after the new year.  I'm not a huge racing game fan (although I have an itch that needs to be scratched) and there's far too much coming out.

[cool breeze]

Motorstorm 2 fixes all the problems that Motorstorm 1 had, just in a new environment.  I picked it up, I haven't played it too much considering it came out the same day as Fallout 3, but what I did play was great.  I played the first Motorstorm a lot and felt that was the first game for my PS3 that made me happy to be an early adopter (I liked Resistance, but it is just an average console shooter).

And I wonder if Sony will ever put out an updated Motorstorm 2 demo considering how bad the demo is compared to the final game.

[AdmiralViscen]

I dunno, I played the demo and the only vehicle that was fun to drive was the bike.

[abrader]

The game is amazing fun.

Tried it online yet?

[ManaByte]

Did they fix the two hour load times?

[Bebpo]

I thought the first Motorstorm had a good driving engine, good graphics, and decent crash physics explosions.  The problems I had with the game were:

--Terrible AI
--Long ass loading
--Having to wait to get back on track after crash
--Lack of modes, things to do other than "next ticket"
--NO SAVEABLE REPLAYS:  The majority of the amazing crashes you cause happen behind you and you don't even see them.  Without a replay function to go back and examine them the crashes were wasted.
--Lack of tracks

Now I played the MS2 demo and they fixed "having to wait to get back on track after crash", but there was no indication the others were fixed.  Also in the demo the graphics sucked.

How is the full game in those respects DC?

[Brehvolution]

The graphics in the MS1 demo were shitty compared to the actual game. I'm glad to hear MS2 is good. I can't get it anytime soon though because of how I prioritized my purchases.

[Mupepe]

I never got past the demo of the first (which was super fucking fun to me actually) because over a year after the game came out, it was still SIXTY FUCKING DOLLARS.

[Tieno]

Haven't played the 2nd one, but you could see at its core Motorstorm was a fantastic game with exhilarating arcade race gameplay. The foundation was there and it was incredibly awesome.

[Purple Filth]

Some stuff on their online portion of the game and how they improved on the 1st game's

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/11/03/motorstorm-monday-pacific-rift-online-play-basics/

So MotorStorm Pacific Rift has been out for a week now, and you’ve driven the AI into submission around the testing tracks of the island, and your kid sister kicks your @$$ in split screen. So what next. Well how about a bit of online play? There’s a few different ways of experiencing Pacific Rift online, here’s the low down and some tips -


      Matchmaking
      We wanted to ensure that players could find another game quickly, but also that once they got into a game they didn’t have to rely on the host to get the race started. There are two options when matchmaking: Ranked or Casual. Ranked pitches you against players of a similar skill level whilst Casual will put you up against anyone and everyone. Matchmaking will, quite simply, group players together who are looking for a game, pick a Ticket for them (a race setup) and get them into a race as quickly as possible. And don’t worry, if you don’t like the Ticket that is randomly chosen for you - it’s possible to veto it (if you get a majority vote).

      If you can’t find a matchmaking game (Ranked or Casual) when you search the reason simply is that no-one else is currently searching for another ranked game. The system relies upon there being other people looking to play, so as the servers get busier it’ll get easier to find games, so don’t be disheartened if you can’t find a game first time around, the more people looking for games, the more games there will be.

      Custom
      On top of the matchmaking it is still also possible to create a game of your own and let others join (privacy is optional). This session will stay up as long as there is a single person present and you can configure the race at any time in the lobby to create your own experience. Custom games do not contribute towards your ranking, but they still track your statistics.

      Ranks
      Competitive play is important online, as the best races are most often the closest. So by implementing a ranking system which grades players based upon how many players they have beat and been beaten by, it allows us in conjunction with the matchmaking to gather players of the same or similar ranking together to provide the fairest and most exciting possible racing experience. There is also a Ranked leaderboard which lists every player, showing who really is the best MotorStorm player in the world.

      Groups
      Playing online is always more fun with friends, and we wanted to make it as easy as possible to do so. We’ve done this through Groups; these are quite simply a way of keeping friends together. They are initiated by sending a friend an invite; when they accept they become part of your Group, and wherever you go they then go with you, until they decide to leave (or if you choose to kick them from your group). Groups can be up 12 players, but when playing Ranked it is only possible with groups of 4 or less (to avoid cheating).

      General
      On top of these 3 major improvements, we also made online play global, so that wherever you are in the world you can play against anyone else who happens to be online. There is now the ability to check and compare other player’s statistics, side by side, and not just online statistics, either: this includes all the offline ones, too. We’ve improved the voice chat - not just in terms of general quality, but also the number of players that can talk simultaneously: in the lobby up to 8 players can talk at once, and during an event it’s 4 - that’s twice as many as in the original MotorStorm!

[pilonv1]

did you try Pure? Im interested to see how it stacks up against that

[WrikaWrek]

I really liked the 1st one, but it came with the system, not paying 70 euros for the sequel.

[cool breeze]

did you try Pure? Im interested to see how it stacks up against that

Pure is awesome, but they play differently.  If someone forced me to make a shitty analogy, then:  Pure is to Motorstorm like SSX is to Amped (not the 360).

[Purple Filth]

--Online

i haven't been able to have a SINGLE online game yet - no one in japan has it, and i seem to fail everytime i try to connect to the (selectable) US or Euro servers :/

I hear that whoever hosts the game has their custom soundtrack track streamed to the other players? that's pretty cool if true. Oh and i had an annoyed/lol moment with the custom soundtracks - i couldn't find out how to play them - i assumed some sort of "Custom" folder needed in my Music section of the PS3....

but NO, you actually do it from the XMB and pick the track you want :O :O :O like on a REAL CONSOLE :O :O :O



played more last night, and yeah, i love it - only annoyance left is the online.

That seems to be false due to the person thinking the track played was from his custom list, but the song was actually in the soundtrack for the game.

I think it was a David Bowie song.

[Van Cruncheon]

did you try Pure? Im interested to see how it stacks up against that

Pure is awesome, but they play differently.  If someone forced me to make a shitty analogy, then:  Pure is to Motorstorm like SSX is to Amped (not the 360).

this, really

[Bebpo]

Hmm, sounds fun.  Will grab it down the line.

Over the last 2 months I got Sega Rally, Grid, and Pure for $20-30 each so I'm all set for racing games for a while.  They tend to price drop reaaaaaal fast ^^;  Although like someone said above Motorstorm never seemed to drop, so who knows if MS2 will.

[pilonv1]

sony better send me a free copy then, im not paying for this

[dark1x]

did you try Pure? Im interested to see how it stacks up against that

Pure isn't a bad game, but it's really nothing like Motorstorm.  Comparisons were drawn only as a result of the similar themes.  In reality, Pure is kind of like a limited SSX set on tracks.  I thought it would have been a lot better if they let you tear up an entire mountain ala SSX3, but no, they stick you on fairly simple tracks.  The terrain just isn't all that interesting and the trick system has you focusing too much on those tricks (it's almost like a meta game).  Interaction with the AI isn't really any fun either.  That makes it sound bad, I suppose, but really, it can be decent fun.  Really,

not counted how many tracks there is but there seems to be more... or at least more variety perhaps? Will have to check. The other thing was - with MS i would be like "oh god , not THIS track again" where as this time a couple of tracks have came back up and it's "oh cool! This track again! awesome"

There are actually 16 individual tracks and each track can take place at different times of day.  Pretty solid amount. 

I also like the fact that you can, at minimum, select from a couple different vehicles for each ticket (with most races allowing 3-5 vehicle types).  Also, in single race mode, you can actually setup the roster of AI opponents yourself (if you want to race on a bike against a whole bunch of monster trucks, you can).

[AdmiralViscen]

Do you guys enjoy driving the heavier vehicles? Was I missing something?

[ferrarimanf355]

Well, it's been a while since I touched Motorstorm, but I remember it not having a lot of modes or anything.  I recall it being an extremely barebones package.  Perhaps that is what they are getting at?

I will likely get Motorstorm 2 after the new year.  I'm not a huge racing game fan (although I have an itch that needs to be scratched) and there's far too much coming out.

MIDNIGHT CLUB BITCHES.

[pancakesandsex]

Motorstorm basically fills the 10+ year void that was left by the absence of jet moto.  It's not 1:1, but it is very reminiscent.  The handling is what reminds me of it most, since it's so bouncy and the way the physics react to things when you land feels similar.

[Sho Nuff]

Well, it's been a while since I touched Motorstorm, but I remember it not having a lot of modes or anything.  I recall it being an extremely barebones package.  Perhaps that is what they are getting at?

I will likely get Motorstorm 2 after the new year.  I'm not a huge racing game fan (although I have an itch that needs to be scratched) and there's far too much coming out.

MIDNIGHT CLUB BITCHES.

The new Midnight Club PSP is fantastico

[Purple Filth]

Well, it's been a while since I touched Motorstorm, but I remember it not having a lot of modes or anything.  I recall it being an extremely barebones package.  Perhaps that is what they are getting at?

I will likely get Motorstorm 2 after the new year.  I'm not a huge racing game fan (although I have an itch that needs to be scratched) and there's far too much coming out.

MIDNIGHT CLUB BITCHES.

The new Midnight Club PSP is fantastico

How are the load times for that

Midnight Club 3 times were terrible.

[bork]

No problem off a memory stick.     I always heard MC3 had dramatically-reduced load times when ripped but I never did try it.  Apparently MC LA Remix is also different from the console versions, too.  Based more off MC2 and Tokyo is in the game too.

Getting back on topic, what's going on here?  Little Big Planet, Motorstorm 2, and Resistance 2 all at the same time?  And they're GOOD?!  PS3 getting games?!   

[cool breeze]

Well, it's been a while since I touched Motorstorm, but I remember it not having a lot of modes or anything.  I recall it being an extremely barebones package.  Perhaps that is what they are getting at?

I will likely get Motorstorm 2 after the new year.  I'm not a huge racing game fan (although I have an itch that needs to be scratched) and there's far too much coming out.

MIDNIGHT CLUB BITCHES.

The new Midnight Club PSP is fantastico

I still need to pick that up.

No problem off a memory stick.     I always heard MC3 had dramatically-reduced load times when ripped but I never did try it.  Apparently MC LA Remix is also different from the console versions, too.  Based more off MC2 and Tokyo is in the game too.

Getting back on topic, what's going on here?  Little Big Planet, Motorstorm 2, and Resistance 2 all at the same time?  And they're GOOD?!  PS3 getting games?!   

Valkyria and Naruto (don't hate!) too.  The shocking thing is that they are all at the same time, so half of them will bomb.

[duckman2000]

This game  and  and then 

Motorstorm 2 

[MrAngryFace]

I guess I need to get motorstorm 2 then

[cool breeze]

My only real complaint about this game are the custom soundtracks not being game specific and instead using the PS3 interface.  You don't get any cool effects like the air blowing and the music fading as you go off a huge hill or the d-pad music controls.

[duckman2000]

Agreed. But then the first Motorstorm conditioned me to be happy with anything they'd throw me in terms of custom soundtracks. G-anx + Motorstorm 

[duckman2000]

Has anyone else run into visual glitches? I don't know the technical term, but some textures stretch in thin lines across the screen. Really fucked up a race.

[duckman2000]

Yeah, I thought so too. It's only happened on one course (first one). I haven't seen any reports of this from anyone else, so is it possible that it could have something to do with my system?

[duckman2000]

Beachcomber
MotorStorm 2

[bork]

 

Amazing how a final product can sway opinions.  Before release, it was all "Motorstorm 2 stinks, GET PURE!"  And now no one talks about Pure and MS2 gets all this praise.

[dark1x]

Amazing how a final product can sway opinions.  Before release, it was all "Motorstorm 2 stinks, GET PURE!"  And now no one talks about Pure and MS2 gets all this praise.

Pure isn't a bad game, but the focus is very different.  What kills Pure for me is the fact that they are going for SSX style gameplay without the quality of the tracks to match.  SSX was made by its massive, lengthy mountain runs while Pure shoves you into small circuits and tells you to do a few laps.  The environments look pretty but pretty much consist of smooth rolling hills the likes of which we've been seeing in games since Microsoft Motocross Madness.

[duckman2000]

Amazing how a final product can sway opinions.  Before release, it was all "Motorstorm 2 stinks, GET PURE!"  And now no one talks about Pure and MS2 gets all this praise.

That attitude was always ridiculous, though. Granted that I've only played the demo of Pure, but unless it has been grossly misrepresented by people who have played it, it's really nothing like MotorStorm 2. I honestly can't think of anything that is like MotorStorm 2. The game isn't flawless, but it's one hell of a ride and an improvement to Motorstorm in just about every way that counts.

Oh yeah, and

Professional critics

Imaginary genre progression and mythical standards

[pilonv1]

This is a really good game, but it annoys me in such little ways that I get the shits with it. Like how easy it is to mount a smaller vehicle and lose all control. And the initial vehicles all feel quite floaty, even that big ass tanker.

Also the fact a lot of the racing lines narrow and if you're just off it you're fucked. Like a bridge that has side rails, or if you put one wheel off a bridge you tumble. I'm sure this makes for awesome racing in multiplayer, but the AI is still cheap as fuck.

Not that Pure is any different in that regard, I just find the handling a bit weightier and feel more in control

[cool breeze]

Without sounding too much like PR here, I really do think that Motorstorm PR is the most thrilling/exhilarating racing game since Burnout 3, and actually maybe more so; especially when you are using a smaller fast vehicle.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Yeah I gotta admit that Motorstorm 2 is a fucking blast.  I went out today with the intent on getting Saints Row 2 or Dead Space for the 360 but both were out so I settled for Motorstorm 2 even though I was never a big fan of the first game.  Glad I did.  This is insanely fun.  I'm not exactly sure what they did but the game now seems incredibly well tuned and the tracks are much more enjoyable this time out.  Just a hell of a lot of fun.

PS3 GOTY right here.

[duckman2000]

Without sounding too much like PR here, I really do think that Motorstorm PR is the most thrilling/exhilarating racing game since Burnout 3, and actually maybe more so; especially when you are using a smaller fast vehicle.

Eh, it doesn't come close to Wipeout HD for me, but then I'm pretty unreasonably fanboyish about Wipeout. And, I guess Wipeout is techically designed around a pretty old formila. MotorStorm 2 is one hell of a ride though, and offers so much in a single lap that it's hard to beat. By far the biggest improvement is that they no longer force certain vehicles on you.

[demi]

Demo was shit. Looked like shit, played like shit. Thread deleted.

[cool breeze]

demo was a beta

seriously

[demi]

You don't BETA a racing game

[cool breeze]

stop using rational to justify what sony does

[Sysgen]

Demo was shit. Looked like shit, played like shit. Thread deleted.

Yea it was and I wasn't going to buy it because of the demo but did so anyway 2 weeks after release.  The game is really good and most importantly fun.

[AdmiralViscen]

Do the trucks turn in the final version?

[cool breeze]

Yeah, I go with buggy or bike most of the time.  Only one race so far forced me to use a truck and I'm not used to it.  Too slow and I usually avoid the other cars.

[duckman2000]

I like that there are vehicle options there, but I think I've picked the monster truck or bike all of three times total. Nice bonus, but I can't think of a good reason to ever pick those classes for a race.

[dammitmattt]

I feel the same way as you, dcharlie.  Gamefly dug deep into my queue to dig up Motorstorm 2 and I figured I'd give it a spin just to check it out before I sent it back, and lo and behold, they improved Motorstorm in every single way.  I can't exactly qualify why I like it so much better than the first game, but there are a number of small improvements that really add up:

• Moving from 3 laps to 2 laps (at least for the first few levels) really makes the difference for me between turning the game off in frustration or restarting a race
• Slightly shorter races
• More varied track locations (and more importantly) track designs
• Much shorter loading
• Less aggressive (and slower) AI
• The vehicles are almost all reasonably fun to use now

I've already put a lot more time into the sequel than I did into the original game and I look forward to playing it some more.  It's probably my favorite PS3 game of the holiday season.

[Rman]

Goddamn this game is good.

[dammitmattt]

Can any Motorstorm 2 sfags help me out there?  Any time I try to race online (ranked or casual), I get an error saying that I can't find a suitable race.  I know that the PS3 wifi adaptor is shit and my download speeds are the best for PSN stuff, but I can play Wipeout HD online with no problems.

Any suggestions?