MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
Encyclopedia
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (MotorStorm II in Japan) is a racing video game by Evolution Studios
and published by Sony Computer Entertainment
for the PlayStation 3
. It is the sequel to MotorStorm
and is followed by MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
for the PS2/PSP, and MotorStorm: Apocalypse
. It was announced by Sony after their acquisition of Evolution Studios and it was released on 28 October 2008 in North America. The game has sold over one million copies as of 9 December 2008.
MotorStorm: 3D Rift is a 3D mini re-release of Pacific Rift, containing 10 tracks as well as a selection of off-road vehicles from Pacific Rift. It is only single-player and has no trophies. The game was released on the PlayStation Network on 24 August 2010.
.
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 A few hours later, the patch was withdrawn from the European servers and the official website returned to saying the patch would be released soon.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issued a statement on the MotorStorm website confirming that the patch had indeed been erroneously released and then withdrawn, and advised users who had installed the patch not to remove it due to the patch modifying save game files.
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.
. 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.
A new demo was released on the 9 June 2010 in a collection of a few games. This demo is in 3D.
, the PlayStation 3's community-based service, can now fully 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.
On 16 August 2009, a themed MotorStorm: Pacific Rift game space was released for the European and North American versions of PlayStation Home. This space was called the "MotorStorm Sphere" and was only available for a limited time. The space was removed on 9 October 2009 and will be fully launched later this year. Its main feature was the MotorStorm Jukebox that had thirteen songs for users to choose from. The space also featured a video screen advertising the game as well as seating. In Europe's version, when users first accessed the space, the users received MotorStorm Festival Jeans for their avatar. This space, for its short time, was used as a game launching hub for users to meet up and game launch MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. There was also MotorStorm themed biker suits released for users to purchase for their avatars in Home's shopping complex.
On 10 December 2009, a MotorStorm: Pacific Rift themed personal apartment was released for the European and North American versions of Home. This apartment is called the "MotorStorm: Pacific Rift camp" and can be purchased from the Home Estates store in Homes' shopping complex.
s 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 as are trophies (to unlock more Drivers and Vehicles) and camera angles are improved for crashes; vehicle damage is also improved. Users can now select drivers from the Garage menu, thus not having to rely on picking the vehicles, depending on the Driver's gender. "Speed" events are firstly introduced in the game, which consists numerous checkpoints in each tracks that users must pass through to achieve extra times before the timer runs out. Any class that isn't the ATV or Bikes can ram their vehicles left or right. The ATV and Bike ram by their driver throwing punches at the other drivers.
The 16 original tracks are set around volcanic mountainsides, beaches, jungle, caves and a run-down sugar factory. The original tracks are Kanaloa Bay, Sugar Rush, Mudslide, Cascade Falls, Beachcomber, Colossus Canyon, Caldera Ridge, Badlands, The Edge, Paradise Beach, The Rift, Scorched, Razorback, Rain God Spires, Wildfire and Riptide.
Another new feature in Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is the presence of water in the form of rivers, pools and waterfalls. Water also cools down car's 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.
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. Now there are five track variants, which contains a red partially burnt card, under the name "Volcanic". Variations of the same tracks is now turned into a post-apocalyptic
volcanic activity, such as lava bombs that are present throughout the race and driving through it will instantly wreck any vehicle that comes through it. Small lava bombs can heat up the boost temperature in an instant, even when the boost temperature is completely low, if driven through it. If the vehicle's boost temperature becomes very hot and the player drives through a small lava bomb, the vehicle could explode.
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.
, Nirvana
, Queens of the Stone Age
, David Bowie
, Death from Above 1979
, Pendulum
, Fatboy Slim, Hervé
, Qemists and Slipknot
, as well as upcoming unsigned bands like March and The Planets. Notably, the song used in the TV trailer of the game is by Gogol Bordello
. Users can play their own music tracks via the PlayStation 3's XMB
.
and 82.78% on GameRankings. IGN gave the game 8.9, praising strong graphical component, and calling the game "a worthy follow-up to one of the PS3's early must-have titles."
GameSpot
praised the number of well designed tracks in the game as well as its multiplayer element both online and offline though it criticized the inconsistent handling of the vehicles. 1UP.com
praised the level of improvement the game achieved in comparison to the original game, notably the game's new "awe-inspiring" landscape as well as the improved aggressive A.I. competitors, it also praised the game's seamless transitions through various in-game environments such as jungles and beaches rather than just the monotonous desert of the first game.
Evolution Studios
Evolution Studios Ltd. is a British video game developer. The company was founded in 1999 by Martin Kenwright and Ian Hetherington , following the purchase of DID's publisher Ocean Software by Infogrames...
and published by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. It is the sequel to MotorStorm
MotorStorm
MotorStorm is a 2006 racing video game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. First announced at E3 2005, the game was released in Japan on 14 December 2006 and the rest of the world in March 2007....
and is followed by MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge is the third entry in the MotorStorm series of video games, developed by Bigbig Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable...
for the PS2/PSP, and MotorStorm: Apocalypse
MotorStorm: Apocalypse
MotorStorm: Apocalypse is a 2011 racing 3D video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the fourth game in the series and the third for the PlayStation 3...
. It was announced by Sony after their acquisition of Evolution Studios and it was released on 28 October 2008 in North America. The game has sold over one million copies as of 9 December 2008.
MotorStorm: 3D Rift is a 3D mini re-release of Pacific Rift, containing 10 tracks as well as a selection of off-road vehicles from Pacific Rift. It is only single-player and has no trophies. The game was released on the PlayStation Network on 24 August 2010.
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 PendulumPendulum (band)
Pendulum is an Australian drum and bass and electronic rock band founded in 2002 in Perth by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul Harding.Swire and McGrillen were members of the rock band known as Xygen. After hearing Konflict's "Messiah" at a club, they were inspired to enter into the drum and...
.
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.
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.
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. Access to the North American demo required users to purchase episode 4 of QoreQore (PlayStation Network)
Qore is a subscription-based interactive online magazine for the PlayStation Network and replaces the Jampack series of disks offered by PlayStation Underground. Currently only available in North America, the service offers high definition videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage...
. It was available to all users on the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
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.
A new demo was released on the 9 June 2010 in a collection of a few games. This demo is in 3D.
PlayStation Home
With the version 1.03 patch that was released on 1 July 2009, users of PlayStation HomePlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social gaming network developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network . It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar under PlayStation Network. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN...
, the PlayStation 3's community-based service, can now fully 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.
On 16 August 2009, a themed MotorStorm: Pacific Rift game space was released for the European and North American versions of PlayStation Home. This space was called the "MotorStorm Sphere" and was only available for a limited time. The space was removed on 9 October 2009 and will be fully launched later this year. Its main feature was the MotorStorm Jukebox that had thirteen songs for users to choose from. The space also featured a video screen advertising the game as well as seating. In Europe's version, when users first accessed the space, the users received MotorStorm Festival Jeans for their avatar. This space, for its short time, was used as a game launching hub for users to meet up and game launch MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. There was also MotorStorm themed biker suits released for users to purchase for their avatars in Home's shopping complex.
On 10 December 2009, a MotorStorm: Pacific Rift themed personal apartment was released for the European and North American versions of Home. This apartment is called the "MotorStorm: Pacific Rift camp" and can be purchased from the Home Estates store in Homes' shopping complex.
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 truckMonster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
s 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 as are trophies (to unlock more Drivers and Vehicles) and camera angles are improved for crashes; vehicle damage is also improved. Users can now select drivers from the Garage menu, thus not having to rely on picking the vehicles, depending on the Driver's gender. "Speed" events are firstly introduced in the game, which consists numerous checkpoints in each tracks that users must pass through to achieve extra times before the timer runs out. Any class that isn't the ATV or Bikes can ram their vehicles left or right. The ATV and Bike ram by their driver throwing punches at the other drivers.
Tracks
Another new feature in Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is the presence of water in the form of rivers, pools and waterfalls. Water also cools down car's 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.
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. Now there are five track variants, which contains a red partially burnt card, under the name "Volcanic". Variations of the same tracks is now turned into a post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
volcanic activity, such as lava bombs that are present throughout the race and driving through it will instantly wreck any vehicle that comes through it. Small lava bombs can heat up the boost temperature in an instant, even when the boost temperature is completely low, if driven through it. If the vehicle's boost temperature becomes very hot and the player drives through a small lava bomb, the vehicle could explode.
Vehicles
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift features all seven 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 is not low, making them very easy to overturn. They will be able to run over Big Rigs only if they are at a very low speed, however thanks to its very high strength, and its difficulties of being crushed to the side, they are the only ones who can battle against the Monster Trucks.All 51 vehicles featured in the original MotorStorm
MotorStorm
MotorStorm is a 2006 racing video game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. First announced at E3 2005, the game was released in Japan on 14 December 2006 and the rest of the world in March 2007....
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.
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 MegadethMegadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979 are a Toronto-based Canadian dance-punk/noise rock duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.-History:...
, Pendulum
Pendulum (band)
Pendulum is an Australian drum and bass and electronic rock band founded in 2002 in Perth by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul Harding.Swire and McGrillen were members of the rock band known as Xygen. After hearing Konflict's "Messiah" at a club, they were inspired to enter into the drum and...
, Fatboy Slim, Hervé
Hervé (DJ)
Joshua Harvey, otherwise known as Hervé, is a DJ/producer from the UK. Hervé is known for rave-orientated productions and DJ sets.Along with Sinden and Kid Sister, his track "Beeper" reached number 1 on the dance chart in April 2008....
, Qemists and Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, as well as upcoming unsigned bands like March and The Planets. Notably, the song used in the TV trailer of the game is by Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring.Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music...
. Users can play their own music tracks via the PlayStation 3's XMB
XrossMediaBar
The XrossMediaBar is a graphical user interface developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The interface features icons that are spread horizontally across the screen. Navigation moves the icons, instead of a cursor. These icons are used as categories to organize the options available to the user...
.
Reception
The game has been generally well-received by critics, with an average review score of 82 out of 100 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
and 82.78% on GameRankings. IGN gave the game 8.9, praising strong graphical component, and calling the game "a worthy follow-up to one of the PS3's early must-have titles."
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
praised the number of well designed tracks in the game as well as its multiplayer element both online and offline though it criticized the inconsistent handling of the vehicles. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
praised the level of improvement the game achieved in comparison to the original game, notably the game's new "awe-inspiring" landscape as well as the improved aggressive A.I. competitors, it also praised the game's seamless transitions through various in-game environments such as jungles and beaches rather than just the monotonous desert of the first game.