Am I first or am I second? No, your last! (Wave Race - Blue Storm (GC))

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Product:	Wave Race - Blue Storm (GC)
Date:	07/09/02 (37 review reads)
Rating:

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Turn left! That’s it! No, that’s too far! Turn back, turn back! NO! Don’t fall off! Now look – last place! OK, get back on! What? 3 seconds behind! Oh NO! Go! Turn that corner! What the hell? Too far! Turn back! Why d’ya fall off? What? 10 seconds behind?? I’ve only gone two corners!

Sound familiar? Well it would be to anyone playing Wave Race: Blue Storm on the most frustrating Jet Ski ride for the first time. And the second. Probably the third as well. Don’t forger the forth time too… (Etc. with many a witty pun.)

The problem with Wave Race: Blue Storm is its Jet Ski control system to new users. The idea of turning into corners is simple. Applying it to Wave Race: Blue Storm is a different story. It’s not under steer that’s the problem (like with many games) but oversteer. Every time you attempt a corner, it’s like doing a 540 and then wondering why you’re:

a) Last
b) Facing the wrong direction
c) Falling off

This is because of the Wave Race: Blue Storm learning curve. It seems so difficult at first that I stopped playing it for like a whole week and a half. The thing is that normal turning seems so slow – not tight enough so you use the L + R buttons to tighten the turn. The net effect is over-turning the corner. Though to master the turning requires time, skill and practice – something’s that my brother doesn’t have so he refuses to play the game. After the first few hours - that felt like an eternity - I finally got to grips with the control system, which now feels all right. This steep learning curve would, I expect, put people off from buying the game – even with its other features:

ºººThe Waterººº

The graphical water effects look too realistic – it’s like actually being there. The advertisement on television got it right. The waves vary and help/hinder the controls. Water splashes look
real - try and spot the dolphins - which really ups the ante in a game of this calibre.

ºººThe Gameplayººº

One player challenge, one player trick, practice and multiplayer mode are the only ones I’ve tried out at the minute, but all so far have offered a level of difficulty graded at the right frequencies. However, it can get frustrating, especially when you’re not used to the controls. Multiplayer’s a blast from any angle – highly recommended.

ºººGraphics and Soundººº

Like I said before, with the water, the graphics in the game can look too realistic – the water; the people; everything. You just have to wonder if Virtual Reality could make it any better.

The sound database is wide and varied – good - which can entice mood swings for certain parts of the game – you only have to remember that although controllers are durable, they CAN break.

ºººConclusionººº

Overall, a class of a game - with one of the most annoying control systems. Ever.

Summary: