You know we're really getting somewhere when next-gen consoles start to use their computational horsepower for more than eye candy. MotorStorm, while extremely easy on the eyes, uses complex in-game physics to make sure that every dusty, off-road lap is different from the next. Debris from wrecked vehicles and trashed scenery clutter the track, creating deadly new obstacles. Racers leave deep ruts in the mud with every pass, making the mire all the more treacherous. Beneath all the mayhem is a startlingly nuanced and balanced simulation. Big rigs share the track with agile motocross bikes, and in spite of the wild variance, both have an equal shot at the gold.
And yet there's still an absence of variety amid all these drivable dirt-churners and constantly morphing trails. The only way to play MotorStorm is to vie for first place. Genre-defining racers like Burnout 3 gave players the chance to compete to create the most massive pile-ups, and score by taking out opponents. By pinning all its aspirations to the checkered flag, MotorStorm feels like it still has one foot stuck in the last generation.