MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
Encyclopedia
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (MotorStorm Raging Ice in Japan) 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
. It was released on the PlayStation Portable on 18 September 2009 in Europe, 29 September 2009 in North America, on the PlayStation 2 in October 2009 and on 1 November 2009 in Japan. Unlike previous games in the series, the game was developed by Bigbig Studios
and it's the first game in the series not to be released on the PlayStation 3
.
The game once again moves away from the desert environments of the original title and the lush island environment of the sequel and relocates itself to the harsh Arctic climate of Alaska on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Gameplay is similar to that of previous titles in the series such as Nitrous Boosts, environmental hazards and destructible environments. Unlike the previous titles in the series, the game will only feature up to a maximum of ten racers in each race.
New hazards include avalanche
s, which can be triggered by vehicle explosion or blowing the vehicle's horn, which causes a large amount of snow to rumble down the track and will strike away opponents, including the player, no matter the vehicles' strengths. Icy bridges can also be dangerous for heavy vehicles. While small vehicles can get over ice bridges, heavier vehicles can cause them to disintegrate and break, making the short-cut impossible to cross.
There will also be differences between PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 edition of the game in order to make use of each systems specific capabilities. Such as the PlayStation Portable version featuring a Photo Mode, custom soundtracks and online play which features 6-player online multiplayer. On the other hand, the PlayStation 2 version will feature a split-screen multiplayer mode like the one present in the previous game, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
. The Time Attack game mode will only record the player's timings from the leaderboard in the PlayStation Portable version of the game though the mode itself has been confirmed for both consoles.
There are eight unique vehicle classes in the game:
New additions include the return of the "cooldown" technique by driving through deep snow, and vehicles can be customized with body kit
s, liveries, spoilers, exhausts and sponsor stickers, though its performance cannot be enhanced.
. A new hazard, known as the avalanche
, can be triggered by blowing the vehicles' horns, or by explosions from vehicles. The avalanche will then strike away opponents, along with the player, if not evaded in time. The amount of snow also increases as the player drives up the mountain which would cause the surface to become more slippery for players.
who had previously developed the past two titles but instead by Bigbig Studios. Prior to that rumours of a PlayStation Portable edition of the previously PlayStation 3 Exclusive Motorstorm had been swirling due to a tip by a staff member of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in November 2008.
The first gameplay video was unveiled on 29 April 2009 showcasing the new gameplay mechanics of the game while an official trailer was released on 3 June 2009 which include a computer generated cinematic of the game. A second official trailer was released during Gamescom
2009 in Germany showcasing more gameplay as well as new content.
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....
series of video games, developed by Bigbig Studios
Bigbig Studios
The company was founded in 2001 by a core team of four former Codemasters employees. The company was set up with the help of parent company Evolution Studios. Located in Leamington Spa in the UK. It gained popularity due to its first game Pursuit Force which became a bestseller.Bigbig Studios and...
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 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. It was released on the PlayStation Portable on 18 September 2009 in Europe, 29 September 2009 in North America, on the PlayStation 2 in October 2009 and on 1 November 2009 in Japan. Unlike previous games in the series, the game was developed by Bigbig Studios
Bigbig Studios
The company was founded in 2001 by a core team of four former Codemasters employees. The company was set up with the help of parent company Evolution Studios. Located in Leamington Spa in the UK. It gained popularity due to its first game Pursuit Force which became a bestseller.Bigbig Studios and...
and it's the first game in the series not to be released on 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...
.
Gameplay
New hazards include avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
s, which can be triggered by vehicle explosion or blowing the vehicle's horn, which causes a large amount of snow to rumble down the track and will strike away opponents, including the player, no matter the vehicles' strengths. Icy bridges can also be dangerous for heavy vehicles. While small vehicles can get over ice bridges, heavier vehicles can cause them to disintegrate and break, making the short-cut impossible to cross.
There will also be differences between PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 edition of the game in order to make use of each systems specific capabilities. Such as the PlayStation Portable version featuring a Photo Mode, custom soundtracks and online play which features 6-player online multiplayer. On the other hand, the PlayStation 2 version will feature a split-screen multiplayer mode like the one present in the previous game, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift 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...
. The Time Attack game mode will only record the player's timings from the leaderboard in the PlayStation Portable version of the game though the mode itself has been confirmed for both consoles.
Game modes
The main gameplay mode of the game is known as the Wreckreation Mode which consists of various game modes such as,- Free Play, is the classic racing mode in most racing games where players select a track followed by a track and race with computer controlled opponents.
- Time-Attack, is where players are timed as to how long they take to navigate through the curves and turns one lap at the time, on later laps the ghost of the best recorded time by the player can be seen racing alongside the player on the course which allows the player to try and beat his previous set record.
Vehicles
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge will feature a total of 24 vehicles from 8 vehicle classes, most of which are specially designed to suit the Arctic climate. The classes of the Racing Truck, Mud Plugger and the more recent Monster Truck in previous games have since been replaced by the Snowmobile, Snowplugger and the Snowplow due to the Arctic environment. Each vehicle is all fully customisable with examples such as liveries, spoilers, exhaust, and sponsor stickers.There are eight unique vehicle classes in the game:
- Bikes
- Snow machine
- ATV
- Buggy
- Rally Car
- Snowplugger
- Big Rig
- Snowcats
New additions include the return of the "cooldown" technique by driving through deep snow, and vehicles can be customized with body kit
Body kit
A body kit or bodykit is a collection of exterior modifications to a car, typically composed of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers,paint jobs, and sometimes front and rear side guards and roof scoops. There are many companies that offer alternatives to the original factory appearance of...
s, liveries, spoilers, exhausts and sponsor stickers, though its performance cannot be enhanced.
Tracks
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge features a total of 12 tracks in the game, such as Wolfpack Mountain, Eagle Falls, Widow Maker, Log Jam, Gold Rush, and Vertigo. Icy bridges are seen during races in each track, and these will pose as a hazard for drivers below. While small vehicles can easily navigate through, larger and heavy vehicles can easily disintegrate the bridge, thus causing the opponents or the player to tumble down the track, and will either become wrecked or receive some damage and drive off, if one of the heavy vehicles drives through while the other one behind falls down as the bridge gives way. Vehicles will have the ability to cool down the boost by driving through deep snow or under waterfalls, the same technique used for driving through the water in MotorStorm: Pacific RiftMotorStorm: Pacific Rift
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift 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...
. A new hazard, known as the avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
, can be triggered by blowing the vehicles' horns, or by explosions from vehicles. The avalanche will then strike away opponents, along with the player, if not evaded in time. The amount of snow also increases as the player drives up the mountain which would cause the surface to become more slippery for players.
Development
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 was first officially announced on 24 February 2009 by Sony Computer Entertainment and would not be developed by Evolution StudiosEvolution 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...
who had previously developed the past two titles but instead by Bigbig Studios. Prior to that rumours of a PlayStation Portable edition of the previously PlayStation 3 Exclusive Motorstorm had been swirling due to a tip by a staff member of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in November 2008.
The first gameplay video was unveiled on 29 April 2009 showcasing the new gameplay mechanics of the game while an official trailer was released on 3 June 2009 which include a computer generated cinematic of the game. A second official trailer was released during Gamescom
Gamescom
gamescom is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is organised by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware...
2009 in Germany showcasing more gameplay as well as new content.