Evolution Studios have listened, Evolution Studios have provided. They have done exactly what the fans want, and the result? They have produced a game that offers unrivaled adrenaline and destruction packed racing this side of Burnout Paradise.
For newcomers to the Motorstorm series, Pacific Rift is simple. You put sixteen different vehicles of varying shapes and sizes together on varied tracks filled with death defying jumps, tight turns, and hazards in all shapes and sizes, and watch the action unfold as they attempt to win the race. It is a concept that produces an exhilarating, genuinely fun and exciting experience, and one that anyone who fancies a bit of unconventional 110% offroad racing should really take a look at.
Now, All seven (7) of the vehicles from the first game are here. All of the old favourites, Bikes, ATV, Buggy, Mad Plugger, Racing truck, Rally Car, and Big Rig. But now we have a new beast....The Monster Truck 
.
All the above vehicles react to the courses and other vehicles differently. So whilst riding the bike, you can stay high up and hit big jumps to avoid the bigger vehicles, although easier said than done. But as a Monster Truck, you'll want to stick to the lower, often muddier ground, and just crush any vehicles that get in your way.
As expected, all of these vehicles handle differently, But those looking for the boring Torque and Body-Kits of the more real simulation racing game, really should look elsewhere. This is strictly off-road arcade racing at its best. The handling may take some getting used to for those new to MotorStorm, and certainly the hazardous tracks combined with the awesome physics system can make for some very very frustrating moments, and maybe one or two smashed up PS3 Controllers 
. But If you just relax, and remember to find that best route, and be aggressive, you will be loving it in no time at all.
The gameplay in Pacific Rift is truly amazing. Each and every race brings thrills and standout moments depending on the class that you drive as. I've lost count of the number of times that I've avoided being crushed by a matter of inches whilst riding a bike, or taken a jump as a racing truck and landed on a smaller vehicle, obliterating them in the process. You really won't realize just how much you can panic in a racing game until you drive a Bike through the jungle, missing fallen tree's whilst going through the thick vegetation having just avoided being crushed by Monster Truck, only to see the Monster Truck drive straight through the tree's as if they not even there behind you to carry on chasing you 
.This is the sort of action MotorStorm has made its own.
But a great range of vehicles need great tracks to race on don't they. The original Motorstorm had eight tracks set in the desert, and as such it was not only criticized for not having enough tracks, but for not having enough variety.
Pacific Rift has double the number of tracks at sixteen (16), but also splits them into four elemental zones: Air, Water, Fire and Earth. Each of these zones offers a different type of experience.
Air courses, for example offer more jumps, where the only thing stopping you from enjoying the exhilarating views is the fact that you are traveling through the air at what seems like a jet plane speed. With all the course offering various different styles, and all with great layout and design,the game really has done no wrong.
There are so many routes in every course, and the physics engine ensures that any objects that are shifted and destroyed on one lap, remain like that for the next, how many games have we seen that try this and fail? 
. So the bigger vehicle can be ripping the track apart, and the smaller vehicles will work hard to avoid the hazardous larger vehicles which simply drive through throwing debris everywhere. This mean on the next lap the vehicles will have to travel through the destruction caused by the first lap, offering a new challenge as everything has changed, it really is awesome.
As in the original Motorstorm you can give yourself a boost to increase your speed, but use it too much and your vehicle will explode. Many courses take advantage of this, and whilst jumps over lava in the Fire zone can overheat your engine quick (heat does that you see), driving through shallow water in the Water zone will cool your engine down, allowing you to boost for longer. Also in the Fire zone, there are water sprinkler systems offering a quick boost/engine cool down. Using these could mean you go slightly out of your way and lose the race, or can work the other way round and give you the extra boost needed to zoom past the other players.
The single player 'career' mode, known as the Festival, will have you completing races in a traditional manner. However, things are never that straightforward in Motorstorm, and there are nearly always conditions attached to the races. Your choice of vehicle is usually limited, and some will have further conditions such as only allowing you to wreck your vehicle a limited number of times. Others make use of the new 'Eliminator' mode, where each lap and timer counts down, and the vehicle in last place is removed from the race until only one remains.
As you progress through the different races of the Festival, new races and events unlock, and these get progressively harder. By the time you reach the final level, you'll have to race nearly flawlessly to win. Personally I found the difficulty to be just about acceptable. It's very hard at the top end, but not impossible. That said, I'd imagine that more casual gamers would struggle to finish the career mode in its entirety. Thankfully if you do fit into this category, there is more on offer to keep you occupied.
There is a time trial, which does what the name suggests, you can set lap times without any other drivers getting in your face. You can race against the ghost of your previous best or the ghost of a developer's best time. This is a great way to help you learn the tracks. And once you've beaten them, you can go online and download ghosts from other players.
The biggest criticism aimed at the original game was that it didn't have split screen multiplayer. So Evolution Studios have listened again to the fans of the original, and Pacific Rift delivers in allowing up to four (4) racers to compete in the new split screen mode. The online mode has also had a facelift. You can now gather a party together and race in the same group through different courses or modes, you can race in casual matches for fun, or you can take on the hardcore players in the ranked matches. As in other games, you are given a ranking indicating your skill level, and when playing ranked races you will be put against other drivers that are your level.
The multiplayer modes in Pacific Rift really are a joy to play, and give the game an immense amount of replay value. It is difficult to get bored of the varied vehicles and awesome tracks when playing by yourself, but even more so when you're ramming your friends into walls and racing at immense speeds around cliffs with no edges (Yes I sh*t you not).
Also I have to give a quick mention to the sound track. Again, as in the first game, a mix of Rock/Metal songs grace the game, as you really couldn't use any other style of music for such a heart pounding tense racing game. Bands such as Nirvana, SlipKnot & Megadeth feature.
But not only that, you can also create your own playlist to use ingame from the mp3's saved on your PS3, another welcome addition
So to sum it all up now, otherwise I'd be going on forever, Motorstorm Pacific Rift is a great great GREAT arcade racing game, that really is second to none at this moment in time. I'm sure it will be beaten and bettered eventually, possibly by MotorStorm 3. So until that day, buy this game, and experience nothing you have ever experienced in an arcade racer before it.
Rock On !!!!!!
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