Since the release of the PlayStation 3 launched back in November, there really hasn't been much in the way of software to stand out and grab people's attention. Sure, there have been a couple of decent releases like Resistance: Fall of Man, but nothing really "stellar". That's all about to change, thanks to MotorStorm, the collaborative effort of Sony and developer Evolution Studios. Ever since PS3 gamers first got a glimpse of the combat racer's fast paced gameplay and hi-def visuals, they've been salivating like Pavlov's dog at the mere mention of the title. Now that the game has finally hit store shelves, we get to see if the game really has that much horsepower under its hood, or if it's stalled at the starting line with a blown gasket.

To get an idea of what MotorStorm is all about, you've got to take one part Burnout and one part Road Rash, mix in a heaping helping of Baja style racing, and serve it all up with a healthy dose of destruction. The game easily earns the top spot on PS3 owners' "Must Have" lists, as well as at least an Honorable Mention in the general racing category across all platforms. MotorStorm is, simply put, a nitro fueled, balls to the wall racing experience that has to be seen to be believed.

MotorStorm lets players jump into the driver's seat of one of seven different off-road vehicles. These range from crotch-rocket MX motorbikes to big rig road hogs. Each vehicle comes with its own particular strengths and weaknesses, such as speed, durability, and handling. Obviously, powering a semi through a race will require a different strategy than zipping along in a dune buggy. One of the more interesting aspects of MotorStorm, though, is how the tracks are actually designed to take advantage of each vehicle. Every track sports a handful of alternate routes that cater to the strengths of certain cars. For example, a long straight track and sweeping curve will favor the rally cars, while more narrow crevasses in the canyons are perfect for the MX bikes' smaller profiles. And while big rigs are powerful enough to knock out anyone dumb enough to get in front of them, they're going to have a hard time cruising through anything but the most direct routes. In another twist, it's entirely possible that the route you took in lap one may not even exist in lap two, due to the fluid nature of MotorStorm's ever-changing landscape. It's more than enough to keep players on their toes and on the edge of their seats.

Since the early days of the PS3's development, Sony's been bragging about the graphics capabilities of its next-gen system. MotorStorm is the first game to truly deliver on that promise. Things cruise along at an impressive framerate, with only the occasional drop happening when the screen gets deluged with imagery. During the races, cars will kick up rocks, mud, and clouds of dust in a realistic manner. In the game's dashboard view, you'll actually catch yourself dodging onscreen elements. Then there are the crashes … oh the beautiful, beautiful crashes. When you crash in the game (and yes, you WILL crash … often), the game shifts to a slow motion camera as you watch your vehicle disintegrate into a million different and distinct pieces right before your very eyes. And while all the king's horses and all the king's men may not be able to put your original hoopty back together again, you'll quickly respawn in a spiffy new ride and jump right back into the fray.