Two racing games, two great titles. But which one should you choose?
Released on:
Split/Second Velocity: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Modnation Racers: Playstation 3, PSP
The games industry has evidently never believed in the age-old mantra that, “good things come to those who wait,” and if you want proof then you shouldn’t have to look much further than the obese release schedule for this Friday, bursting at the seams with a utter deluge of quality. Sadly, this sort of generosity can also cause many thorough headaches on our part. Which title should we choose? Well, for the gear-heads out there your options this week are dangerous and exhilarating action sprinter Split/Second Velocity, or the Mario Kart come LittleBig Planet romp Modnation Racers.
First, let’s start off with the basics: how do they handle? To cut a long story short, though Split/Second may initially feel more sluggish and weighty as you tear about the frequently explosive track, it is an undoubtedly tighter and more satisfying experience than it’s competitor. Next, Split/Second’s game modes will also keep the blood pumping long after the initial rush is over largely due to the sheer level of variety, ingenuity and imagination that they manage to bring to the table. Not only are we treated to the more traditional approach - e.g. circuits, time trials and that sort of thing - that you would expect from a serious, pedigree racing title, you can also look forward to enjoying some frenzied, original and highly entertaining escapades such as Elimination (where the last, tailing vehicle at the end of every countdown is blown up into smithereens) too, shaking things up with great and healthy lashings of adrenaline and flame. In short, Split/Second Velocity gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘white knuckle’ and repeatedly offers a hell of a lot more in the way of excitement than Modnation’s simplistic, all-too-familiar fare can.
This only becomes more evident with the inclusion of Split/Second’s trump card, the aptly named ‘Powerplay’; giving you the spectacular ability to destroy and bring down the environment around your fellow racers once you’ve earned enough charge, it really is breath-taking in the biggest sense (and not just because you’ll be throwing whole towers blocks down atop other vehicles or crashing massive airliners across the track to halt your rivals) and enthralling in the extreme, and although proceedings can occasionally become a little too easy with these God-like powers around, it’s still a great laugh anyway that is almost incomparable on today’s market.
Nevertheless, you’d be rather mistaken if you wrongly assumed that everything was quite in the bag yet.
The thing is, when we get to the actual matter of longevity and performance the scales start to tip backwards in the biggest way; despite Split/Second giving the glamorous and adrenaline-soaked impression that you’re driving through a high octane and endearingly impressive action movie during each and every race (right down to the oft stirring - but equally cheesy - score), it can also boast the rough average intelligence of said films, frequently coming over as gaudy, dumb and tacky as a result (with an increasingly grating preference for spectacle and brawn over common sense and wit), and it manages to lose handfuls of its’ enviable appeal once the initial novelty has worn off. Modnation Racers, on the other hand, is a completely different story.
With a tell-tale toon graphical style, good-natured humour beneath the surface and simplistic controls (along with simpler game-modes) to finish, it would be fairly understandable to assume that this is a mere children’s game; however, that is far from the truth. In actual fact, Modnation Racers harbours much more ambition, capability and staying power than it’s ‘grown-up’ playmate ever could through the use of original, distinct and charming tracks, recognisable and accessible control schemes and mechanics, an engaging campaign mode, armfuls of customisable options and - most importantly - a hugely entertaining ‘create and share’ system where you can forge any kind of driver, kart or course that you can think up, complete with whatever pitfall, trap or surprise that takes your fancy.
This ‘Creation Station’ really is the main attraction of a particularly hefty title already sporting lot to offer, and even if those with limited patience may not entirely buy it, the matter of the system being so balanced means that anyone can give it a go and get involved regardless of skill level or ability, while the system itself still has enough depth, myriad interesting features and gratifying engines to keep you glued to your TV for weeks on end, well after you’ve completed everything else. The fact that you can also download anyone else’s creations too (or upload your own at any time) means that you have a near endless game here, without the need for expensive add-ons and extras like most other current generation games. Though it may not have Mario Kart’s charm or LittleBig Planet’s versatility, Modnation Racers is such an enchanting mix that it simply insists you keep on playing, and in a world of PGRs, Gran Turismos, Need for Speeds and Forzas, this is a real breath of fresh air. Yes, it is true that there should be far more variety to the bread and butter game-modes of this title and it could be suggested that the load times are really rather hideous as well, but the proffered toolsets and options available from the outset lend this title a full and heartfelt forgiveness regardless of the flaws.
So, which one should you buy?
The Bottom Line
If you want a serious, thrill-a-minute game that will blow the doors off and go down a treat with your mates after a good night at the pub then Split/Second Velocity is the only one of the two to go for; if you want something for the whole family this Spring that will likely last you right through until Christmas and beyond, though, then Modnation Racers is the best choice for you. But who wins? Because of a great mix of blistering gameplay, varied game modes, online hilarity and a stunning set of visuals to match, I’m going to have to give Split/Second Velocity the prize this time around, but believe me when I say that it couldn’t be closer.
Winner - Split/Second Velocity
Split/Second Velocity Rating: 86%
(Brilliant)
Modnation Racers Rating: 84%
(Great)
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