ModNation Racers Could Become Your Favorite Racing Game

SolidSnake

May 27, 2010

ModNation Racers turned out just how I hoped it would. I had been very excited for ModNation Racers since the last E3. However, I didn't expect it to top my favorite racing game, MotorStorm. I should have had higher expectations.

ModNationThumb (4K) ModNation Racers reminds me of both Halo 3's custom mode and Little Big Planet. I say this because you can create your own ModNation Racer characters, karts, and maps. They can be as bland as imaginable, or as detailed as your mind can handle. You can also publish your creations online and allow others to download them. All they have to do is type in some key words and download your stuff. You can also search by user name. Best of all, if you are like me, and very devoted to a certain series (Metal Gear Solid for me), you can type in metal gear or solid snake in all three categories: Racers, Karts, and Tracks. You can download as many of those as you want, and set them up to be your primary racer. You can then use that racer in the story mode, online, and every other game mode in the game.

Every time you start ModNation Racers, you start in an area called the ModSpot. In the ModSpot, you can drive to any game mode you want. Also, you can see the top 3 Mods and Karts, as well as the top tracks. I tried to play online last night, but the game needs to find at least 3 other players to race, and it took 5 minutes just to find one racer, who would then leave. Rinse and repeat twice before I got bored and went back to the story mode (find others to play with in the Coop Board in the Forum). I'll worry about online in the full review that will be up next month.

Before we move on to the story mode, let me explain the only three cons I have found in the game thus far. First off, the load times are extremely long. You may start to think your playing on the PS2, Xbox, or GameCube, but you will soon realize that even those consoles were never so long. The second problem is that the AI's are a little too good. However, you can follow them to learn all of the shortcuts they take, and have the advantage in the next race. The third problem is that often times, you will have three weapon boxes collected for a full power weapon and will be in first place with no energy for a shield. You will then often get hit by a full power weapon, be knocked from first place to third or fourth (sometimes worse), and lose all of your weapon boxes. Those full power weapons are almost impossible to dodge.

As for the story mode, I must say I love it. I downloaded a Solid Snake Mod and a Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Kart to use in the story mode. They will still call your character Tag, as that is his name, but the appearance will have changed. That's for sure. Throughout the story mode, you learn of other characters: tough AI's, announcers for the races, and friends. It has short cut scenes that keep you up-to-date on the story. Although the story is somewhat simple, it is still there.

Well, that's all I've got. ModNation Racers is a great addition to the PlayStation library. I hope you all check back here on GoozerNation next month for the full review of ModNation Racers on the PlayStation 3!