"One of the premier names
in Nintendo racing ties to extend its legacy and
produces a visually stunning flagship release."
Time and time again...
The N64 produced a handful of memorable games.
The most noticeable have anything to do with the Mario-esque
type of game. This includes Mario 64, Zelda
and Super Smash Bros.. Few other titles such as Goldeneye
and Pokemon were similarly successful. Wave
Race for the N64 was a no-holds-barred fun
game that entranced the racing community for what seemed
an eternity.
No one was surprised to see Wave Race: Blue Storm
enter the initial lineup for the GameCube.
Boosting new tracks, riders and superior graphics; even
the most stickler of gamer became giddy at the thought
of a sequel.
While it is apparent that a huge effort was put into the
game, where the game accelerates in one are quickly
diminishes in others. Controlling your jet ski is quite
simple. The "big green" button accelerates and
the use of the shoulder buttons increase your turning
ratio. A new addition to the controls, is the use of the
awkward "Z" button, which gives you a
temporary boost that propels you forward at an increased
speed. The boost is recharged over time, in which you
can use again once filled. This truly adds to the fun,
and strategy within the game.
To make the game more challenging, Nintendo mixes up the
tracks in order to keep you guessing. While many racers
keep the same track layout and weather patterns; Wave
Race progressively changes track layouts and weather
conditions; thus keeping you on your toes at all times.
Nintendo also takes full advantage of the
"rumble" capabilities of their controller.
Each bump of a wave can be realistically felt, and is
truly "smart". Many times the
"rumble" or "shock" of a controller
is over emphasized, but WR:BS incorporates a
realistic feel and great sense of game intrigue.
Player haters unite... Wave Race: Blue Storm mixes the elements of pure
racing with stunt action to appease a wide variety of
gamers. The game is basically identical in gameplay as
its predecessor with additions that make it truly a
singular release. The modes are broken down into five
main areas. Championship is the bread-and-butter of the
game where you compete against an array of skilled
competitors. Each rider has unique attributes that
target things such as speed, tricks and stability.
Championship mode is your classic race to the finish in
three laps in order to move on to the next venue. In
order to open new tracks and succeed in Championship
mode; you must place within the top three to move on.
The stunt mode is a timed track where achieving high
scores can be obtained by passing through set circles
and pulling off various stunts. Unlike many other
"stunt" type games, WR:BS is easy
enough even for the most novice gamer. Using Mortal
Kombat type moves (half circles, up/down),
spectacular moves can be pulled off with the simplistic
joystick movements.
Beating high scores in stunt mode, will open new tracks
and allow you to compete on another platform. Time Trial
mode is just that. You are given a certain amount of
time to complete a race. This mode is quite challenging
and will be overlooked by younger gamers. Perfection is
near critical. One missed jump or buoy could sink your
chances for completion.
The free run mode is probably one of the best starting
points for most, where there are no time constraints and
you are allowed to roam the levels as you choose. This
is great to get a feel of the gameplay and to nail down
your controls. The multiplayer mode allows you to team
up with three other friends, and battle it out in an all
out race.
Also included is an in-depth tutorial mode. While many
will overlook this mode; the tutorial is extremely basic
and great for novice players. Starting off with basics
like turning and acceleration; it ends up teaching
tricks and more advance turns.
Weird science...
The guts of the game are surprisingly gentle, yet
amazingly complex. From the start, the fluidity of the
gameplay is remarkable, but underneath lays a highly
evolved matrix. All of the effects throughout the game
are dynamic and realistically portrayed. Aside from the
beauty of the water, the physics of the waves are
remarkable. The waves change according to its
surroundings, and literally everything is
effected by everything.
Waves closer to shore or an object are significantly
choppier, and waves in the open are more rounded and
easier to take. Weather effects play a dramatic role
within the game. A beautiful sunny day will produce
crystal clear waters with a horizon that never ends. On
the other hand a stormy day will generate harsher waves,
decreased visibility and wind that significantly affects
your jet ski. What really will shock you is the fact
that the weather actually changes. Weather
effects are nothing new to games, but where other have
failed; Wave Race succeeds. The race might start
off cloudy with drizzle, but end up at near tornado like
conditions.
To mix things up, the waves are varied in size and feel.
Ranging from a measly one foot to toppling heights near
10 feet. The physics really make this a miraculous game
in all senses of gameplay. Even though the game is
someone linear and limited; the physics and realistic
influences simply make this a joy to play.
This ain't your brothers Nintendo...
From the opening menu we are flooded with graphical
brilliance. From the "3DFX" like loading
screen to the jaw-dropping water effects, WR:BS
will squelch the harshest critique.
Without hesitation, I can claim this is the best
water effects that I have ever seen on any
platform; console or PC. Play the game once and just sit
still. Look around you. The water below you is
transparent and fluid, and things underwater are
realistically portrayed. They sway with the tide, and
lap up against your jet ski and lightly splash.
Reflections are equally impressive, as the sun glares
off the water and literally makes you drool.
The fog effects are brilliant, and the ambience of each
effect is wonderful. The spray of the Jet Ski as it
charges toward a ramp and the spray of the landing will
drip realistically off your screen in true camera
fashion. Ever bit of attention was matriculate portrayed
from every angle, and even the slightest effect adds to
the graphical depth from start to finish.
The graphical performance is rock-solid and stays at a
solid 30-FPS with no signs of hesitation. Even thought
the graphics are drop-dead gorgeous; there are a few
flaws. The character models are void of shadowing, and
have a low polygon count. The players are brightly
colored but are a sore thumb when compared to their
surroundings.
In multiplayer mode, although the game still runs solid,
some of the texture mapping is lost and distance is
somewhat lessened. While these negatives wouldn’t be
considered on most systems, the sickening-sweet graphics
from everything, seem too dumb-down the riders and
multiplayer facets.
On an audio level WR:BS is far superior to its
predecessor. Compiled of nearly 50 CD-quality tracks the
soundtrack is nothing short of brilliant. The diversity
of the music is equally fantastic. Sound effects are
good, but overpowered by the goodness of the soundtrack.
Voice-overs are well done but incredibly annoying. A few
hours into the game be ready to sack the announcer.
Trying to get a true arcade-type feel, it is way
overdone and increasingly irritating. On a good note,
the ambient sound effects are superb consisting of rain
pattering against the water and the storm effects during
a thunderstorm. The jet skis engine is quite
unrealistic, and could have been done better. Overall, a
memorable audio track, with decent sound effects.
"As much as I
loved the game, I hated it. What could have been is just
that... could have been. Is it recommended? No question
about it. This is a nice "first gen" title for
the GameCube and will be loved by many. The legacy of
Wave Race continues, and should provide you with a good
weeks worth of entertainment. A must buy? Not a chance.
Head over to RedOctane, and give it a five-day
renter."
7.1
