ModNation Racers has emerged as one of the most innovative and exciting releases this year and a definite rival to the ever-brilliant Mario Kart series.
I was a little cynical when getting to grips with the game. It could have easily been a simple and colourful racer than needs little skill to finish and its selling point of designing cars and tracks could have been weak and a cheap-selling point.
But United Front Games (UFG) and Sony have really put the work into this one.
However, firstly, the important factor, ignoring the special features, is that it races really well. Handling, computer intelligence and online gaming all work superbly too.
Its uniqueness and attempted beating point of Mario Kart is the design aspect. I’m not one for spending a long period of time working on specifications and detail. But ModNation makes it really easy and amazingly addictive.
There is a host of option where you basically design every feature of your racer and his vehicle. And I really mean everything. Track designing is actually fun too. It can involve just driving around on a blank canvas outlining a circuit and within minutes you are racing on it.
You can even download other users creations from around the gaming world and don’t fret because again, it is not as complicated as it seems.
Sony’s “Play, Create, Share” series now looks a good move, usually they produce a great idea but do not follow through on it.
They deserve credit for this title because the company has got it spot on with how much emphasis you put on those attributes. The single-play surprisingly has a good plot behind it. With this kind of title gamers just normally want to fire ahead with the racing but it does offer some entertainment.
You will consume plenty of time attempting to finish it as there are a lot of incentives to go back and replay the races even if you complete the basic goal at first attempt, which is a crucial aspect to the longevity of single-player racing. Multi-player, at home and online, is a real thrill as well.
There is a good online community, from actual racing to comparing your kart and tracks with users around the world.
The big question is, where does it rank compared to Mario Kart Wii? I think Sony is onto a winner here. As usual it will come down to opinion and a lot of gamers will be swayed by the tried and trusted Mario Kart characters and racing style.
But ModNation Racers has really produced something different while possessing all the brilliant gameplay the Nintendo series has.
Your move my Italian friend.
Rory Houston
