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It may be hard to believe, but the PlayStation 3’s all-time top-selling title is MotorStorm.  It’s no surprise, then, that Sony made sure to incorporate developer Evolution Studios into its stable of in-house developers some time ago, thus ensuring a sequel for the series.  At E3, we were lucky enough to sit in the ultra-swanky Sony Computer Entertainment America room and get a test drive of MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.  From what we’ve seen, the game is shaping up very nicely, with a lot of the first game’s issues having been successfully dealt with.

Before we were able to get our hands on the game, we got to see a very friendly (and VERY enthusiastic) Sony rep guide us through a single-player race.  While he played, he explained some of the game’s new features.  First off, Pacific Rift will include support for not only 16 players online, but four-player split screen action; something that the first game did not have but sorely needed.  In addition, there is a new class of vehicle in the monster truck.  As you might expect, this new vehicle is bigger and tougher than any other, but lack the speed of some of the smaller rides.  Its size lets it take advantage of another new feature; the ability to use your ride as a weapon, slamming opponents into obstacles and each other.  Our guide chose a motorcycle, however, to show off the new taunt animations, as well as its unmatched speed and acceleration.  Take a look:

As he raced through a jungle level, he explained that there are four types of tracks among the 16 available, based on Earth, air, water and fire elements.  On fire-themed boards, racers will need to avoid streams of lava from the active volcano that resides on the game’s lone island.  Getting too close will cause your boost to overheat.  Getting even closer will cause your vehicle to burst into flames.  On water boards, you’re able to use puddles and rivers to cool off your boost, and on air boards, you’ll find yourself launching off of huge jumps and racing along cliffs overlooking thousand foot drops.  The Earth level he raced on included tons of branching paths with thick vegetation blocking certain routes.  While bigger vehicles could simply break through these, his motorcycle had to deftly maneuver around them.  He finished his race (not close to first) and turned the game over to us.

The level we competed on was an air board, and was in fact, an “homage” to the Rain God Mesa level from the first game.  While we tore around the high-arcing corners, we saw the ground deform beneath us, changing the course slightly with each pass.  The course was beautiful, and its many alternate paths gave the feeling of racing through a real open environment where you’re truly choosing your own route.  The sense of speed the game provides is fantastic, and keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the point where your car inevitable explodes in a physics-fueled fireball.  After leading for two and a half laps, Mikeyraw managed to pass me at the last second, claiming the crown for “best ever at that game,” something I’m not likely to live down until at least October 28, when the game launches.

Anyone who enjoyed the first MotorStorm should be very excited about the upgrades coming to this new iteration.  It’s faster, prettier, bigger and better in just about every way, and should have no problem taking the top spot among PS3 racers.

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