Hands-On with MotorStorm 3D Rift (Well on 2D...)

MotorStorm 3D Rift is a surprise package that showed up on the Playstation Store this week for ten dollars and I happened to buy it because its been a while since I owned a racing game even though this one sort of does not count, but I have been needing a racing fix lately as this fills the void for now. Yes, the title does say 3D Rift and yet I don't have a 3DTV, so there goes half of the game pretty much as this game can be also played normally in 2D. This ten dollar package is basically MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Lite with ten tracks and ten events. There is no multiplayer options as it is just you against the computer AI as this is another showcase Sony wants to use for their push towards 3D gaming. The ten race events are normal races with the vehicles they give you at the offset meaning there is a lack of choice, but then again that is what you get as a paid warmup for the full game or the upcoming MotorStorm: Apocalypse. I never owned a MotorStorm game yet, but this is indeed a better taste than the demos because the opposing AI will race dirty and aggressive to the point they will take you out. I tend to like racers with this approach because it makes victory much more sweeter even though it takes numerous attempts because the AI will screw things up with you any way possible along with the terrain of the courses if you're not careful. The first half of 3D Rift is not that bad difficulty wise, but the opponents will step up their game in the second half as the perfect run is pretty much required to win first place. Graphically, MotorStorm 3D Rift in 2D looks like Pacific Rift for the most part and since I don't have a 3DTV, I can't say what the 3D is like. I still do love the crashing animations especially on the bike where the human just ragdolls like crazy making you laugh. As for the sound in which you can't change the settings, the cars are more loud than the music which is okay, but it depends if you feel like hearing the soundtrack the game has. If you don't have Pacific Rift, then MotorStorm 3D Rift is worth it if you're also interested in the upcoming Apocalypse. Of course, it is better to have this around if you have a 3D television as a showcase to those who are curious about 3D. After playing this for a bit, it makes me respect this franchise more for what it offers compared to the rest of the arcade racers out there with its dirty and aggressive style.