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World Championship Off Road Racing 360

Format:
360

Genre:
Racing

Further reading:
Racing

Buy/Support:
Support Andy, click to buy via us...

After Motor Storm PS3 showed the way forward for off road racing games - deforming tracks and disparate vehicles, many developers looked to follow suite. Whereas Pure PS3 managed to improve on many features, World Championship Off Road Racing delivers a pale imitation.

It's one of those type of game genres...

Racing although sometimes seen as a sporting sub category, are a well established video game genre in their own right.

They can feature a variety of driving styles ranging from the fantastical arcade racing focusing on thrills and spills, to the super realistic simulations that recreate every aspect of real life driving.

But why is it any better than the others...

World Championship Off Road Racing provides an exciting looking package with its wide range of vehicles, impressive branding and a variety of game modes. Beyond this headline list though, it is hard to identify what makes the game unique.

Had this been released before Motor Storm or Pure it would have been more able to own this space in the gaming landscape. However, in their wake World Championship Off Road Racing struggles to be anything but a poor imitation. This would not be such a problem if both Motorstorm and Pure were only on the PS3, but with Pure being available on the 360 as well it has a lot of work to do.

Stop action crashes, track deformation, water, mud, vehicle collisions and competitor drivers are found in Off Road Racing. Unfortunately each and every one is a tame version of the rash brash stylings of both Pure and Motorstorm.

So what experience should I play this game for...

Players will be attracted to the game's branding and strong visual style. And the game is not without its momentary highs for the more forgiving gamer. As you swing from gravel to tarmac and the road noise drops, you get a real sense of the connection between car and tarmac. Using this to inch seconds of lap times can certainly be entertaining - albeit in the face of not a few distracting factors.

And when can I take a break...

As with other racing games World Championship Off Road Racing can be picked up pretty quickly. As such you can play short sessions, extending them to help your progression with unlocking vehicles and courses in the single player.

This is a great game for who...

Young players are less likely to be critical of the lack of a real physics model, or road surface deformation, and simply enjoy the game for what it is. Although not as super young driver friendly as Wipeout HD PS3 or Sega Rally PS3, with their driving assistance, a bit of help now and then with the steering and Kids of most ages should be able to enjoy.

Intermediates and experts are likely to want a bit more substance to their off road driving experience and are probably better serviced by games like Motorstorm on PS3 or Pure on 360.

Written by Andy Robertson

You can support Andy by buying World Championship Off Road Racing



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Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer column.

"Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

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