Joystiq [PlayStation]

Unsurprisingly, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift plays much like its predecessor. The build running at Sony's E3 booth was incredibly stable, feeling nearly ready for release at any time. Simply watching the trailers should give you a good idea of what to expect: it's just like MotorStorm, with branching paths through each track. However, the new jungle environments offer a bit more detail than the PS3 launch title. While there will be a few other things to think about while driving through the lush green, such as how flora and water will affect the cars, Pacific Rift is still instantly accessible.

Key to successful racing in Pacific Rift is to think about the environment and the vehicle you're in. Obviously, motorcycles will have great manueverability through the world, but it will be unable to break through dense clusters of green. Decisions must be made with split-second reflexes. Granted, had we more time with the game, we'd be able to start learning the tracks and the varied branches throughout. Choosing a random turn to be greeted with an unexpected jump certainly gave us a number of thrills.

Boosting is an even more vital part of the game as environmental factors will now affect your boost meter. As you hold down the turbo, your engine will begin to overheat. However, if you go into shallow water, you'll be able to cool down your engine, giving you a few more seconds of precious boost. However, if you encounter lava, the engine will heat up almost instantly. Figuring out the balance between boosting and choosing shortcuts adds an appreciable amount of depth to the franchise.