Updated impressions.
Played again today, found some new stuff...
The Wii was hooked up to the tv with composite cables, not component, but it still looked good. The textures are actually better than I previously thought, found that out taking a good look at things while in slow mo...
The crashes are crazy, while the physics are quite cartoony, they are very detailed, it's great, when you crash, hundreds of paint chips fly everywhere, but when they hit something, they bounce off of it... individually.. also tons of small rocks and dirt fly from your tires, also individually bouncing off of obstacles. Trees explode into dozens of 3d chunks, which bounce off other cars and the terrain, small rocks fall from cliff structures when bumped Any worries about the Wii being light years behind as far as physics calculations are concerned can be put to rest.
Car damage is really REALLY detailed, it is really something to watch it happen in slow mo, especially a double whammy. Some parts and wreckage hang around for a surprisingly long time.
One level had a massive tornado in the background, you could see it way off in the distance... well, at least I thought it was the background, the tornado actually touches down around the middle of the track....
Now for some more gameplay tidbits.
everything is tracked. From the longest drift to the biggest air, I set new records for tons of stuff.
These levels are freaking massive, and the only cut off point is (invisible wall) is at the outside edge of the map, or to prevent the player from taking a rediculous shortcut. There are no multiple paths like other racers boast about, because you can freaking go anywhere, if you think you can weave through those trees, there is nothing stopping you. There are so many infinate ways to go through these levels, expect tons of you tube vids of just psychotic ways to go through these tracks. I still can't get over the waterfall jump.... crazy.
Strategy:
Water: Water is your best freind, as well as your worst enemy, shallow water, cools off your turbo instantly and lets you use it heat free as long as you are in it... Deep water floods you and you have to respawn... it is very VERY easy to tell the difference. Beware the dark water... some terrain changers turn treacherous foresty mountains into speedy marshes.
Stunts: What would an excite title be without stunts? So far I found out how to do a 360. You hold (1) and any d-pad button, and tilt the controller to gain momentum, and then tilt and hold for a 360, time your next tilt right and you can combo them.... and you will have TONS of air to get plenty of combos my max was four spins in a row. And spinning levels the car out, so if you know you are landing on a flat surface, a well placed spin will get you a landing boost every time.
Jump combos: perform turbo jumps one after another to earn stars for jump combos..... if you are going fast enough ANY little bump can get you enough air for a turbo jump, if you pull of a turbo jump you will be in the air long enough for a perfect landing, giving you speed for another turbo jump off a tiny bump... I think we have found the new snaking.
tons of trophys were awarded to me... some for getting so many tree run stars, some for truck smashes, I unlocked new cars, and the gold course set, which has gigantic levels with crazy effects like a burning forest getting put out by rain, and a giant tornado...
And the multi car crashes are just hilarious...
Oh crashing, there is a bit to that too, you can smash other cars, but they can also smash you... aside from the size of the car in question... speed is the main factor, if you are going faster than your opponent, you will send him tumbling, if they are going faster, you will be the one eating dirt, if you are around the same speed, you will just bump into each other, but you still get some stars. The best crash you can pull off is to land on the front end of another car after a large jump... this happens surprisingly often.
The gameplay is rock solid, the tracks are just plain impressive, every time you get huge air you will look at the ntire track laid out before you and go wow. there are plenty of tracks, with all the unlockables, I wouldn't be surprised to see quirky minigames make a comeback (soccer perhaps?). The physics are perfect, arcady but extremely detailed... Meaning you can pull off plenty of impossible stunts, but it is certainly not impossible to bite it... You can drive on just about any surface, if you angle yourself right, you can even drive off of walls for a bit.... And get turbo jumps when you leave the wall.... you can roll your car, but you will know it's coming....
This is a great game, it is definately worthy of it's two predecessors.
Wanneer komt exite truck uit voor de EU? klinkt toch alsof de wii zat power heeft.