Tokyo Game Show 2006: PlayStation 3 roundup

And now, the big one: MotorStorm. Hidden among the waves of sequels was this monster post-apocalyptic racing sim that harks back to RatBag's 1998 hit, Powerslide. And it wasn't just me that thought so -- sitting alongside Formula One Championship and Gran Turismo HD, MotorStorm attracted a bigger crowd than both of them put together.

It can best be described as an anarchic rally title featuring pickups, dirt bikes, trucks and everything in between. Graphically, it has some serious processing going on, where every tyre leaves a mark and deforms the road underneath. So not only is every race different, but no two laps are the same. It may not matter too much to the two tonne truck rumbling around the corner, but if you're on the trail bike, you'll need to find another path.

The AI is also impressive, with each rider being aware of the terrain, its own vehicle, and who or what is around it. Got a bunch trucks taking the low road and cutting up the dirt? You can expect the AI dirt bike to stay well clear, even picking a longer path if the odds are better. Naturally, this kind of thing is pushing processing to the limit, and the build we saw struggled to keep the frames up. According to Evolution Studios, the performance issues will be sorted out by launch -- definitely one worth waiting for.



Finally, the sequels. There's not much I can say, except that if you're a fan of Metal Gear Solid, Devil May Cry, Virtua Fighter, and Final Fantasy, then you'll be happy. For some, it's more of the same, but far better looking. For others, this stack of sequels is heaven on earth.



As a whole, this is a cracking showcase of what we can expect from the PS3. If these are the launch titles, then we can't wait to see what's coming up in the next 12 months when the devs fully wrap their heads around the PS3's powerhouse architecture.

It all makes the Australian launch delay all the more painful, but we'll happily forgive Sony if it gives us the same 20 percent price drop they're getting in Japan. In the meantime, stay tuned for more coverage in an upcoming issue of Atomic.