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Gamecube Wave Race: Blue Storm Developer: NST | Publisher: Nintendo
Rating: BEveryoneHero
Type: Racing Players: 1-4
Difficulty: Intermediate Released: 11-18-01

Clenched teeth and steady nerves. The eyes of the participants gazing steadfast over the lights. The double reds flash. The countdown begins: 3...2...1...

They're off!

Back again and better than ever are veterans of old; newcomers join the fray just itching to strut their stuff; and all of it is reminiscent of what came before. Wave Race is back with a full facelift, brand new bells and whistles, and a full crew of contenders vying for the championship gold. Question is: will you come along for the ride?

Anyone who's anyone will remember the first Wave Race. Developed by Nintendo and released on the N64, it showcased some of the most realistic water physics gamers had seen, in happy marriage with rock-solid gameplay and intense challenge. When Wave Race was demoed for the upcoming GameCube, lots of whispers went around. Would it be good as the first? Was a sequel even needed, seeing as how the original was as close to perfection as most racers get? Needless to say there was a lot of apprehension. The anxiety was compounded when word got out that American based Nintendo Software Technologies had the duty of development. With the release of the game and a month of aquatic based antics behind, I couldn't be more enthused about what NST turned out. Wave Race: Blue Storm brings back everything that made the first a hit and does the unthinkable - it improves the formula.

Right out of the gate, the most noticeable upgrade is the graphics. Powered by the "little console that could", Blue Storm graces your eyes with a start logo that awes. Plowing through various menus and options you find everything has a slick design and a very surreal atmosphere, thanks to the watery layer that runs through the screen. After marveling over the fonts and whatnot, and mulling over whether to hit the championship or run a time trial, you're greeted with the game itself. The wave physics were the big draw in the original, and the same rings true here: like father like son...or something. Basically, the water is a marvel to look at, outclassing anything done on previous systems a hundred fold. Waves take up and collide into each other, which generates even more trouble. Jet-skis spray up ample amounts of water and kick up serious wakes; heck even your own craft pecks drops onto the TV screen. Every aspect of the water, from the physics to the look and feel, is enough to impress any crowd. Although that is the biggest visual improvement, it's not the only one. Characters receive much needed bumps in poly counts and cast off their boring wetsuits in favor of more characteristic duds. The surroundings may not be built as well as the players and waves, but that is made up for when dynamic lighting and alternating weather patterns make their way onto the landscape. Aside from a few minute gripes, Blue Storm is a visual feat and just as impressive now as its older brother was back in the day.

Getting a visual facelift is all fine and good, but does the gameplay measure up? With the first Wave Race celebrated for its great gameplay, one would only hope that the sequel deserves the same. For better or worse, NST opted to change the seamless mechanics by adding multiple weather conditions, the ability to choose track order, events that happen throughout a race, turbo boosts, and a more rewarding trick system. The biggest change out of all of this has got to be the boost. In the original Wave Race, passing buoys on the correct side resulted in an increase of speed. Blue Storm one-ups this formula by rewarding you with a turbo whenever you pass 5 or more buoys. This is both good and bad: it's a great way to gain ground (or is it water?) in a pinch, but it drains the speed meter to its base limits. Another addition is the ability to increase your speed meter by doing tricks, giving more reason to 'show off' during a heated race. All of the above are sweet improvements, but things don't stop there.

Before each race you get a chance to look at a three-day forecast and select a race. This makes for some strategy in the championship even outside of an actual race, since proper planning and race selection improves your chances of winning the gold. This goes hand-in-hand with the new weather elements found in Blue Storm, where any course can be played in sun, drizzle, rain, or a full blown storm. As if weather changes weren't enough, various "events" occur during courses, such as icebergs falling, areas opening, and tides rising and waning. Thus a whole new element of challenge is added into the scheme of things and some replay value is thrown into the mix.

Yet every add-on in the world doesn't amount to much if a game isn't playable, and NST has succeeds in reviving and reinvigorating the solid control from the original. For the traditional street or rally racer, it will take some adjusting to since most of your performance depends on personal skill, while a good portion of it also rides on…er…riding the waves. Hit a high tide at the wrong angle and have a nice swim; land in the water or a devious wave improperly and take another drink. Getting a feel for the control also has a lot to do with familiarization of wave patters and water conditions. First-timers will have a hard time getting adjusted, but the effort is worth it. With a little time and a lot of patience, anyone can churn up H2O with devastating accuracy, thanks in part to tight control, sharp turns, and the handy lean-in that's introduced in BS.

Even with such solid representation in terms of visuals and gameplay, a title could still leave a bad taste in one's mouth when it comes to music. Ranging from wannabe hard rock to acoustics and then some, Blue Storm's soundtrack is easily forgettable. Most tracks feel uninspired and generic, and they don't do justice to the overall feel of the game. Not all is lost on the sound front though: the effects happen to be quite solid and the voices used are a nice touch.

In a nutshell (or is that seashell? AH-HA!), Wave Race: Blue Storm is an excellent sequel, a great launch title, and an amazing effort by NST. The only nitpick I could think of is it almost plays a little too much like the original. That may be a joy to some and a plague to others, but it doesn't change my love for the game. Check it out however you can - rent, buy, borrow - and prepare for the race of the new year!

· · · Hero


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Rating: BHero
Graphics: 8 Sound: 9
Gameplay: 6 Replay: 8
  © 2001 The Next Level