The off-road racing genre has been well represented this year, with three games in particular standing out as strong competitors: Sony’s MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Disney’s Pure and THQ’s Baja: Edge of Control. Sure, there are some other off-roaders floating around out there as well, like that crummy Ford game Mike reviewed and some other Baja game by Activision, but neither of those are in the same league as these three and thusly don’t deserve to be considered in this discussion.

I was able to squeeze in a full review of Pure earlier in the fall (read it here), but in light of the stack of reviewables the subsequent holiday crunch has left me with and other delays I’ve decided to go ahead and forgo individual reviews on MotorStorm and Baja and instead compare/contrast the three all at once in order to help you pick out the racer that’s right for you.

Gameplay

Gameplay is the biggest difference between the three — each excels at catering to a different audience — so let me start with that comparison first.

Pure is this year’s extreme sports take on off-road racing, and thusly it is more forgiving with its mechanics and more arcade-like in style – as I said in my review, it is basically SSX on ATVs. Racing in Pure is limited to vehicles of the four-wheeler persuasion – unlike the other two games which have far more vehicle variety — but in comparison does offer the deepest and most satisfying vehicle customization options, delivers the fastest sense of speed of the three, and is the lone competitor with a trick system – and what a spectacular, over-the-top trick system it is! Track designs are another plus, showcasing open terrain with multiple pathways and hidden shortcuts.

Completely on the other end of the spectrum, Baja: Edge of Control is the sim-style off-roader in this competition. The physics and driving mechanics are the most realistic, which also means the controls are much more demanding, as every bump on the track is a potential wreck in the making if you don’t learn how to consistently micro-manage your steering as your wheels shift over the loose dirt and bumpy terrain. Because of its stiffer difficulty and steeper learning curve, Baja unfortunately isn’t as accessible as the other two games. But don’t let that frighten you away. If you put the time in you will be rewarded with a deeply satisfying experience. After struggling through my first couple races I was about ready to write Baja off as a crummy follow up to MX vs. ATV: Untamed, but I stuck with it and am so glad that I did. Through perseverance, I’ve found winning races in Baja every bit as rewarding as any racing game I’ve played all year.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift falls somewhere in the middle of the other two. It clearly has the sensibilities of an arcade racer, but its play mechanics are still somewhat based in realism, and I really appreciate that. It plays faster than Baja, but isn’t quite as speedy as Pure. The physics are plenty realistic, but also mildly exaggerated to ensure pick-up-and-play accessibility. The track designs are Pacific Rift’s greatest asset, even more diverse and thoughtfully laid out than even Pure. What I really dig about the tracks is how well balanced they are in tandem with the game’s vehicles. Each vehicle in the game handles differently and has its own strengths and weaknesses, and these factors are taken into account on the tracks to ensure that the playing field is even. When riding a dirt bike or any other smaller vehicle, brush, mud and water will slow you down so you’re best chance to win is to find a high-ground route to the finish line. While at the wheel of a racing truck, big rig or the awesome new monster truck class, however, you can muscle through deep waters and muddy terrain with ease, but have limited ability to squeeze through the narrower routes or drift through tight turns.

Pacific Rift also has a visceral intensity about it that the other two games don’t quite have stemming from its more exciting crashes (though they are tamer than the original MotorStorm, oddly enough), more aggressive opponent AI, and mild combat element that allows you to punch/boost ram other riders.

Interestingly enough, as differently as all three games play, I found that they all had the same two drawbacks. The track deformation and vehicle damage modeling is pretty weak across the board. In Baja, vehicle handling and performance is at least impacted by crashes, and during the career mode you even get monetary bonuses for keeping sponsor decals on your ride intact, but that’s as deep as any of these games go with crash damage. The lack of noticeable track deformation is more disappointing for me though. After seeing how deformation technology could dynamically impact every lap in a race in Sega Rally Revo, I expect the same thing from other off-road racers from now on. All three of these games show signs of track wear and tear, but it’s a graphical effect and nothing more. That’s a major letdown!

Gameplay Winner: Three-way draw (too close to call)

Graphics/Audio

Of the three, Baja comes up short in the audiovisual department. The vehicles look great and sound great for the most part too, however the environments lack the massive scale and intricate detail of those in the other two games. Texture quality on the terrain is somewhat blurry and bland, and in comparison the backdrops seem kind of empty and lifeless.

Pure and Pacific Rift, on the other hand, are full of life. Pacific Storm’s new tropical setting is just gorgeous, and the backdrops of towering waterfalls, erupting volcanoes, dense rain forests and pristine ocean views are a sight to behold. Pure’s environments are similarly scaled and just as beautiful to take in, especially when you’re skying through the air pulling off a larger-than-life trick at vertigo-inducing heights. MotorStorm is maybe a bit more detailed in terms of texture quality, lighting, and the interactive vegetation and water, but picking out these differences is like splitting hairs.

My nod for best audio quality, however, has to go to Pure by a narrow margin. Both titles support custom soundtracks (Pure does on the 360 at least, not sure if it does on PC or PS3), but by default the Pure soundtrack is much more exciting and better suited to compliment the gameplay. Pacific Rift sounds great too, don’t get me wrong, but at times I found that the music tended to drown out the in-game sounds too much.

Graphics/Audio Winner: Tie between MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and Pure

Longevity

Up to now the competition has been pretty tight, but MotorStorm: Pacific Rift pulls ahead of the pack when it comes to replay value. It has the perfect balance of solo play modes, gameplay that’s deep and varied enough to keep from growing stale, and sublime multiplayer for both online and offline players (and yes, that does mean the game has split-screen play, a feature many folks complained about the first game not having).

Pure is a blast of a game, but has the shortest of the career modes and offers no local multiplayer component whatsoever. Baja rivals Pacific Storm in terms of career mode length, but doesn’t have the same level of track and event type diversity to keep the experience fresh from start to finish. Pure and Baja do both offer exciting online multiplayer though; a much-needed feature for Pure especially given how quickly you can blaze through the single-player content.

Longevity Winner: MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

Final Conclusion

It gives me great pleasure to report that all three games discussed in this guide are worth buying, each one for different reasons and for different audiences. MotorStorm is exclusive to PS3, so obviously that limits its audience from the jump. Baja: Edge of Control is available on both PS3 and Xbox 360, and while I’ve only played it on 360 I’ve heard that the PS3 version isn’t as technically sound and is thusly the lesser of the two platform choices. As the simulation racer of the trio, Baja isn’t as widely accessible either, so that’s a major point to consider when deciding whether or not to get it or not. And then there is Pure, a thrilling, trick-based extreme sports racer that’s a bit light on content but heavy on entertainment value. Pure also happens to be the only game available to PC gamers, so there’s only one choice here for the PC crowd (thankfully it’s a good one!).

In a perfect world with economic times not nearly as rough as they are right now, I’d highly recommend rushing out and picking up all three of these fine racers. If you have the cash to spare and enjoy racing games, you’ll love these three titles, no doubt about it. Each one offers something unique and excels at its craft. But in the end, only one game manages to put together a racing experience that’s complete from top to bottom, and for that reason I have to give it the nod. That one game is MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.

Overall Winner: MotorStorm: Pacific Rift!

Pure perfectly balances breakneck, edge-of-your-seat speed, smooth, effortless controls and driving physics that manage to deliver sound realism when grounded yet are absurdly unrealistic (in a good way) when airborne. It is so much more than some shallow arcade off-road racer too. Thanks to a well balanced trick and boost system, the game has a subtle layer of strategy you may find surprising. Within each race you have to constantly decide when to go for big air and a crazy string of tricks to power up your boost and when to forgo risk, stick to a lower altitude and use your earned boost to speed by the competition at the most opportune moments. How much boost you have stored up also relates back to the types of tricks you’re able to perform. The trick system is tiered, you see. As you fill up the boost meter you gain access to more advanced tricks (including spectacular special tricks at full capacity), but as you use boost power and the meter drops below certain levels your ability to pull off the flashier tricks diminishes.

This tiered trick system is remarkably deep with over 80 different aerial maneuvers to experiment with and a combo multiplier that rewards your skill at quickly linking together successive tricks.

The track designs Disney’s Black Rock Studio were able to create are another standout feature to the Pure experience. From the timberlands of Wyoming to the tropics of Thailand to the frigid glaciers of New Zealand, Pure’s 30-plus track environments take you all across the globe to real-life locales rendered with such pristine detail and beauty you’ll probably have to wipe drool off your chin at least once a race. Seriously, the expansive vistas you’ll see while towering high above the below will make your jaw drop to the floor in awe. These tracks are so much more than the typical “drive around in a circle” tracks you’re used to in racing games as well. Multiple routes and hidden pathways are in mass supply, ensuring that every race and every lap is different from the last.

Pure’s mode lineup is fairly predictable for a racing game. You’ve got your World Tour single-player campaign, single races, time trials and that sort of thing, with three individual event types including Race (standard 3-lap race to the finish line), Sprint (short 5-lap race on small, close-quarters tracks), and Freestyle (trick event to beat out the competition with the highest score). 50 events in all, the World Tour isn’t particularly long or complex, but the difficulty is balanced nicely to gradually increase with each stage without ever getting too hard or too easy. As you complete events you’ll also unlock new parts to use in creating and customizing your own garage full of personalized ATVs. At any time you can assemble a new ATV from the ground up, starting with the frame and engine before getting to all the minor details like paint schemes, handlebars, body shape, tires, bumpers and so forth. The customization options are unbelievably robust, enabling you to get under the hood and build the four-wheeler of your dreams in great detail.

With the World Tour only of moderate length, online play becomes the key feature for extended replay value. Many of you will likely be disappointed that Pure contains absolutely no local multiplayer content whatsoever (no split-screen, no nothing), but for me (someone who hates sacrificing viewing real estate for split-screen play) online play renders any form of local play obsolete, especially when it’s as good as this. It doesn’t get much better than blazing around a track bumper-to-bumper with 15 other racers all battling it out to reach the finish line first.

Racing games in general don’t get much better than this either. A publisher largely known for budget kiddie fodder and licensed TV/movie games, Disney really pulled a rabbit out of its hat with this one, folks. Pure is pure fun. It’s a terrible pun, I know, but it couldn’t be any truer. If I had to vote right now Pure would get my nod as racing game of the year.

Pros:
+ Spectacular track designs
+ Deep, intuitive trick and boost system
+ Precision controls
+ Stunning environments and detailed ATV models
+ Awesome ATV customization options
+ Intense online play
+ Bumpin’ soundtrack

Cons:
– No split-screen multiplayer
– World Tour mode could’ve been deeper

Game Info:
Platform: Reviewed on Xbox 360, also available for PC and PS3.
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Developer: Black Rock Studio
Release Date: 9/23/08
Genre: Action Sports/Racing
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Players: 1-16 (2-16 online; no local multiplayer)

Try the PURE demo yet? If not, what the hell are you waiting for!? It’s freakin’ awesome! Better hop on your PS3 or 360 and download it right away. The full game ships next week and I guarantee the demo will leave you chomping at the bit to rush out and pick up a copy. Another added incentive — for Xbox 360 users at least — is this narly assortment of achievements that’ll be up for grabs. Disney Interactive sent the entire achievements list over my way today and I’ve posted them up for your viewing below. Get a sneak peek at all 50 PURE achievements after the break.

PURE Achievements:

PURE pre-orderers have been enjoying the four-wheel, off-roading thrills of Disney Interactive’s upcoming ATV racer via their bonus demo discs for a couple weeks now, but come this Thursday, September 4th all PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to join in on the fun by downloading the demo from the PlayStation Network and/or Xbox Live Marketplace. The PSN/XBLM demo, presumably like the pre-order bonus demo, will let players sample a brief control tutorial and a three-lap race against 15 AI opponents on the Italy – Mount Garda track.

You know, it’s weird. There hadn’t been much talk about PURE throughout its development, but then E3 came along and ever since it’s been the talk of this year’s crop of racing titles. Given the rapid boost in buzz, I have been very eager to try this game out, so downloading the demo is at the top of my to-do list for Thursday.

Until the demo arrives, tide yourself over on the packed gallery of 50+ screens posted after the break.

Disney Interactive and Black Rock Studio have announced the complete soundtrack for their upcoming four-wheeler action sports title, PURE.

“Music plays an integral part in action sports games and we wanted to provide the right background to complement the nonstop spectacular tricks and massive jumps in the game,” said Jason Avent, game director at Black Rock Studio. “We feel that the songs we’ve included on the soundtrack are ideal to round out the adrenaline rush players will get while playing PURE.”

PURE‘s soundtrack is 25 songs strong, including a varied mix of house, electronic, hip-hop and metal. Hit the jump for the complete track listing. PURE motors into retail in September for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

PURE Official Soundtrack:

The Answer – “Into the Gutter”
Fred Baker -“Genius Touch”
Jeff Beck -“Grease Monkey”
Calyx & Teebee -“Dual Processed” Featuring MC Verse
The Datsuns -” Maximum Heartbreak’ and ‘Sittin’ Pretty”
Diet Kong -“With Magic”
Adam Freeland -” Spin Machine”
The Futureheads -” Beginning of the Twist”
DJ Hyper -“We Control”
Midfield General -“On the Road”
The Music -“Strength in Numbers”
My Luminaries – “The Sound of Music”
Noise Control -“Cities of Dreams’ and ‘Mud Bath”
Pendulum -“Granite’ and ‘Showdown”
Pop Levi -“Wannamama”
Qemists -“Drop Audio’ and ‘Stomp Box”
The Radishes -“Good Machine”
Silvertone -“Try”
The Subways -“Rock and Roll Queen”
Tapeworm -“Getting Through”
The Whigs -“Need You Need You”
Zero DB -“Late in the Day’ and ‘Redline”
Wolfmother -” Woman”
We Are Scientists -“Inaction”
Blindside – “For the Nation”

Starting this week, Disney Interactive Studios’ pre-order campaign for offroad racing game PURE kicks off across North America. All customers who reserve the game for either PS3 or Xbox 360 through retailers like GameStop, Best Buy (U.S. and Canada), Blockbuster, Game Crazy and EB Games (Canada) will receive a physical demo disc containing a tutorial and one full track to race on. As Black Rock Studio announced earlier this month, the demo will also soon be digitally distributed via the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace. But for anyone running low on HDD space or lacking a high-speed connection, the disc-based demo is a great second option.

Snooping around the participating retailer websites, I also noticed a number of additional pre-order bonuses being offered with the demo. GameStop, for one, is offering free PURE baseball caps with their pre-orders, while Best Buy is giving away 6-month subscription coupons for GamePro magazine. Game Crazy is getting in on the pre-order fun, too, with a PURE chain wallet.

Disney Interactive and Black Rock Studio have launched the Black Rock Pit Board, a new message board dedicated to all things PURE, the studios’ upcoming PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 off-road racer. The first bit of news to be announced on the new message board comes from Lead Environment Designer, Ian Hudson who happily confirms that development has wrapped up and the game is scheduled to ship by September 26th. He also makes mention of plans for a playable demo to be released on PS3 and Xbox 360 by month’s end. So keep an eye out for the demo on Xbox Live and PSN in the weeks ahead, and remember to check in regularly on the Black Rock Pit Board for more PURE insider news and info.

Welcome from Black Rock [PURE Message Board]

Disney Interactive Studios has unveiled the final box art for its upcoming PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 off-road racer Pure. It’ll come in two global flavors. The box art pictured above and left, that’s the box you’ll be seeing on store shelves this fall if you live in North America, Asia, Latin America or Australia. If you live in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, however, you’ll be getting the box art pictured above and right.

Pure box art for North America, Asia, Latin America and Australia:

Pure box art for Europe, Middle East and Africa: