[quote name='mdmola']Modnation Racer's seems to be a game that someone either really likes or just plainly dislikes. I have a feeling that the people not liking it never really bothered to give a game fair chance or they barel raced at all. More reviews and people in general know the creation aspect in this game is very simple and absolutely amazing. But, then there's the gameplay part, which is most important.
I feel personally feel that Modnation Racer's gameplay is great because it's very strategic and you have a lot of options and decisions to make while racing (unlike other kart racers). Also, the sense of speed is higher than any other kart racer I've played. It's MUCH faster than Mario Kart Wii AND Sonic All Star's (I have played them back to back, in MNR, you go so much more faster). The game also looks better visually, is way more chaotic/physical, and the game has better physics compared to MK Wii. In addition, you couldn't tell in the demo, but the courses in full game that people are making are insane. You can really make some incredibly fun courses as there are so many traps, various huge structures, tunnels, etc.
Anyways, continuing on with the gameplay the one area where it lacks is the weapon variety, but the weapons are still fun to use, sound great, and the whole upgrade system is great because it allows a risk/reward gameplay. If you don't use your weapon and you get hit, you can risk losing a level on the weapon or losing the weapon entirely. Also, you can do tricks and actually control how many spins you do to increase your meter. You can sideswipe opponents (which is f***ing fun as hell online/offline), which knocks them out and increases your meter. And lastly there's the drifting part of the game which is PERFECT.
It's sooooooooo easy to drift once you get the hang of it. If anyone can't get that down in this game after at least 10 races, they suck at racing games badly. The driving itself feels sensitive and will take time to learn, but once you get the hang of it (which shouldn't take more than an hour, it's feel good). Lastly, you have a kart racer here where you are rewarded for playing the game well by doing things that boost your meter and you get the ability to boost or use your shield (which takes up the shield). Basically, you are essentially in control of how successful you are - a lot more than other kart racers (I'm looking at you blue shell in mario kart). Overall the game is very fun, the online modes and the creativity are the best parts. Single player is fun and good for unlocking stuff, but the AI is really hard later like it's cheating. Still, if you play the game perfectly by nailing drifts on every turn, the max spins and getting the max air time on jumps, sideswiping opponents, activating traps on the course to own other racers, getting all the shortcuts, USING YOUR SHIELD AND MANAGING YOUR meter, using your boost at the right times, and using your level 3 items as mine like weapons (by holding square), you'll be a lot better off.
There's so much in this game and all it takes is for someone to learn all the controls, get good, and have fun.
So far we are seeing a disparity between the people who are willing to get better and people who put the demo down after 10 minutes because it doesn't feel like mario kart. That's absolutely pathetic. Also, I think there are just those to refuse any kart racer other than mario kart because they are so attached to the characters and the items that anything else can't be fun. Anyways, that can't be helped. In my opinion this is an excellent game, under rated by many and has incredible amounts of replay value.
Controls could be tighter, but once you get it down, it plays well. The drifting is perfect. The strategic gameplay makes the game more interesting and it's more balanced than Mario Kart Wii. The online play is very fun and the structure of it is great, some of the tracks make the game a lot more fun and hilarious with the variety of traps present. Even the shortcuts in these levels are insane. Lastly, you can pretty much download any character you want as people have been making everyone already (there will be copyright issues though in a week so get your characters now, haha).
Oh and yes, there is split screen online of 1-2 players. There is up to 4 player split screen offline, but when you are playing with 4 people, there's no AI racers and the visual quality takes a hit. When you do 3 players split screen, you can have up to 3 AI racers. 1-2 player splitscreen, you can have 10-11 AI, respectively.
The loading SUCKS, I've seen worse though. The developers are aware and they are working on optimizing the game to help everything load faster. The patch will be out sometime later and it will fix the loading issues.[/QUOTE]
Great review - I agree with you on pretty much everything! I love the strategy element to MNR with the shield vs. boost - it really makes a race require more thought; you can't just get by on reactions alone. And drifting just feels so... RIGHT. There's nothing better than watching your tires catch fire as you pull off a really sweet drift!
[quote name='WyldRyce']Having played all three,
ModNation Racers > Blur
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> S/S[/QUOTE]
Fixed!
I definitely like ModNation Racers a lot better than Blur, but even the mediocre Blur is FAR better than Split/Second - that game's a waste of $$$. MNR, however, is probably the best kart racer of this generation - yes, even beating Mario Kart Wii.
