Pure Hands-on
- Posted July 22nd, 2008 at 00:40 EDT by
- 5,372 views
- 27 Comments
A lot of people aren’t going to want to hear this, but move over MotorStorm. I had the chance to get some hands-on time with Pure and I must say that I was quite impressed. I went into the Disney Interactive booth figuring I’d be greeted with some MotorStorm knockoff that lacked any substance or any real pull -- boy was I wrong. As many of you know, Pure is an off-road racer developed by the team that used to produce ATV Fury and other similar types of titles, which means that these guys know what it takes to create a successful off-road racer.
The environments featured in Pure can rival those of MotorStorm without much debate. The atmosphere is lush and very vibrant just like you’d expect from this style of game. One of the things that add to this atmosphere is the vertigo camera angle. This camera style goes into effect while the ATV is high in the air, sucking the user close up to the vehicle and then sliding the camera back as you re-approach the track. On top of this, the track is tiered with several levels of terrain you can take. So depending on when you’d like to use your speed boost, you’ll be able to reach higher levels of play or lay off a bit to go right under obstacles in your way.
Pure utilizes a trick style that forces the user to earn harder maneuvers as the race goes on. Your trick level is designated in the bottom right corner. If you crash, you’ll lose the chance to try more advanced tricks. Once your trick boost meter is filled to the brim, you’ll be able to pull off some very impressive special tricks that are sure to leave some jaws sufficiently dropped. I had the chance to see several of these special tricks and couldn’t believe the innovation and creative thought that went into their design. Add these moves to the standard set list of tricks (that you’d expect to see at the X Games) and you've got a whole lot of variety.
Pure also introduces a crazy amount of customization into the mix -- you’ll be able to create your very own off-road vehicle to your exact specifications. Apparently, there are 70,000 different possibilities which makes going online very unique as no two ATVs will be similar whatsoever. This doesn’t mean you’ll have different liveries or colors, but you’ll be able to adjust the vehicle right down to every little component. Obviously this adds a lot to the title as you’ll be able to customize “team-oriented” designs for online play. This way, you and your buddies can head into the 16-player online races looking like a true team.
The game also comes packed with a Freestyle Mode. You start with half a tank of gas and, in order to fill it, you must pull off tricks and/or rack up the multiplier points. It’s your standard points race with a bit of strategy mixed in. You’ll be expected to boost at the right moments to grab 2x icons, gas icons and so on. As for controls, they felt really tight. Pulling off tricks by holding down face buttons and utilizing the directional pad felt standard yet very responsive. Also, I’d like to mention that the AI played a lot more realistically than in MotorStorm. According to the developers, they didn’t want the computer gaining cheap wins where you’d lead all race and then in the last stretch, an AI-driven vehicle would dash in front of you for the win. Considering that exact situation was a huge gripe I had with the first MotorStorm, I was rather relieved to hear that it won't be a problem within Pure.
The hands-on ended somewhat quickly as Disney had a very packed booth with many people waiting in line behind me. In the end though, Pure certainly exceeded my original expectations and has quickly became a title to keep an eye on at the very least. I do realize a lot of you will write this title off because you’ve already put emotional attachment into MotorStorm, but you’ll only be separating yourselves from a promising title. Pure is slated to hit retail shelves on September 23.
Comments
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hush404 |
hush404- 12:49am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 1
Erm, I'm not sold. Looks alright, perhaps better than the stuff I've seen in the past but ... I love motorstorm for it's insane open style with all the diff vehicals. Just ATVs isn't my thing. I played a number of ATV only games and they excite me no more.
I'm hoping evolution has amped up the AI in MS2 as you mention Pure has implemented.
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Heavenly_King |
Heavenly King- 1:11am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 3
Hey marcus dont you think you should AT LEAST ASK FOR THE AVATAR??!
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Heavenly_King |
Heavenly King- 1:25am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 5
@stevo
What you are saying is simply impossible because I DID IT MYSELF (from a bigger picture). I have this avatar on gamespot, ign, 1up, gametrailers, and A LOT of other sites. HOW he will make a picture with the same zoom on Kobar´s face?!
Also I signed up on july last year (since then I have this picture); he did it in april this year. So Stevo stop talking nonsense please.
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APerez
- 1:37am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 7
LOL @ The previous convo! XD
Anyways when I saw the screenshots for this I thought it was Motorstorm 2 and they renamed it Pure for w/e reason. This game will NOT take any of my interest away from Motorstorm 2 gimme a break, you only use ATVs and bikes in this game, but in Motorstorm u have that as an extra option and can use cars and trucks and etc. This game will not be making my game list. -
Heavenly_King |
Heavenly King- 1:47am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 8
lol.
Motorstorm 2 is definetly a better game without a doubt.
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DemonOfRazgriz07 |
DemonOfRazgriz07- 2:10am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 9
meh, idk. it looks very well detailed, but i never got into the whole ATV Offroad Fury series much. i might give it a rent but i still think MotorStorm 2 will come out on top.
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StoneDogAiel
- 3:07am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 13
I never liked motostorm so im checking this game out. although i do think that i will like motostorm 2 as well.
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v8nnwilder
- 3:55am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 15
I must say this games DOES look good and like a lot of fun but the fact that you DON'T get to play with a bigger variety of cars is definately going to take away a lot of appeal for people. I might check it out but Motorstorm is my first option... Just want to get into that monstertruck the said is a new addition to Motorstorm2...
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BigDaveSchlicky
- 4:28am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 17
Krankor, I don't think you know what you are talking about bud - Sounds like you could be a M$ fangirl.
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Axe99
- 4:55am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 18
It looks like MS:PR and Pure are actually two very different styles of games - this looks much more trick-oriented (SSX meets ATV Offroad racing perhaps?), whereas Motorstorm leaves tricks by the wayside and replaces it with dollops of destruction - as jicaley says, there's likely room for both in the market - and more good games doesn't hurt us gamers at all, eh ;)?
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IndianaJones1936 |
IndianaJones1936- 8:07am BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 21
Cant believe Disney are making this game, seems a bit strange
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IONIXX |
IONIXX- 12:07pm BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 23
eeeeeh im not into the games that put pressure on u in was like this one does, like the fuel thing, and ONLY atv's and maybe bikes?, yeah ill pass thanks, besides, are you all forgetting motorstorm 2 has monster trucks? its exclusive? split screen? 16 player online? WAY better graphics and AI? buggies and racing trucks, rally cars mud pluggers big rigs and heaps of other features? i rest my case....
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TekkenLord |
HitMan00- 12:30pm BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 24
Nah this have nothing on motorstorm but stunts.
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Free_Agent
- 2:20pm BST - July 22nd, 2008
- 27
Yeah, this looks better than motorstorm, not only graphically(as thats quite obvious) but gameplay wise too. It's supposed to be more wide open than motorstorm, and that's the appeal for me.
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