Well, I just picked this up recently, and it has all those qualities I liked about the first one, and then some. No one ever seems to talk about this game, but for my money, it has the most exciting and nerve-wracking races out there (that is, until Wipeout Fusion, I hope). There's a couple things though, that need improvement:
-Less time spent navigating menus
-The ability to retry stunt courses after completing one (w/o reloading everything)
-More stuff to unlock; more incentive for single player
Speaking of which, I heard somewhere that some 1080 characters were supposed to be hidden...but nowhere on the net have I found out how, yet...anyone know?
Also, in the original waverace, you could go through championship mode in 2-player. As it is, I can't find anyway to include cpu players in the multiplayer mode. The manual doesn't say anything about it, but I swear I heard someone mention that feature.
Anyway, if there's any other fans of this game out there, let's here from you. Too bad it's such a niche product.
Really? I had no idea it was popular. Still, it's not exactly targeting the same audience as Gran Turismo 3. Besides, who says niche products can't sell alot? I'd hardly consider Jet Ski racing a mainstream genre, although racing in general is.
I've heard conflicting reports on this one, and I think your post might be the lone supporter. I'm really interested in the original Wave Race, but I'm wondering if I should just forego that purchase if Blue Storm is just "same game, better graphics" or just plain better (which doesn't seem so, by most accounts).
I am interested in picking up Blue Storm as well, to answer your question, I believe Blue Storm is really mostly a graphical improvement over the original, which is why some people didn't really go crazy over it. New courses and then some, go with Blue Storm if you want the updated version.
I think it IS a niche product, I haven't heard anything about Blue Storm's sales, or for that matter, I don't think I've heard much about GC software sales since launch... I think everybody went ahead with Luigi's Mansion or Sonic Adventure 2 Battle... it's good to hear some positive feedback on this game. I would get it if I see it in the $30 range though...
I basically thought that Blue Storm was everything Waverace 64 offered and then some... all the little graphical touches added really streamlined the whole presentation.
It's one of the few titles that I'd even contemplate getting a GC for.
yeah, the graphics are a lot better, and it has the nicest looking water in a game to date...
but although the additions to the gameplay were subtle, they were huge and made the game an almost completely new experience from Wave Race.
Blue Storms is a much better game. most people didn't like the game cause it was too hard, so they usually labled it as same crap with better graphics. but this game is damn good and easily one of the 3 best GameCube games IMO.
But no one knows about cpu in multiplayer or hidden characters? Ah well...
Personally, I bought a brand new copy for $23 off Half.com. I don't know how many of you shop there, but sometimes, there's some great deals.
Sometimes, the game *is* very reminiscent of the first Wave Race, but that was one of my favorite N64 games. Often-times though, like someone else mentioned, the little gameplay changes result in huge game changes (if that makes sense). What really sets this game apart is the wave physics, which are simply amazing. Yes, they look good, but what really impresses me is how it affects the race, and how much they can be used to your advantage (or conversely, how that damn cpu will keep pushing into "bad wave" areas). Of course, the dynamic courses, with the water level allowing secrets and stuff is nothing new, but some of the new courses have huge boulders or boxes falling into the water, which causes a huge splash and ripple effect. If you're good, you can dip into the middle of the ripple, and sorta ride out the wave for a nice speed boost. It could push you around too, if you're not ready. Stuff like that I find really interesting.
Also, the new "lean" feature really comes into it's own on the harder tracks. On the Vienna-like canal course, with all those 90 degree and u-turns, leaning + sharp-turning is the only way to win, and you can do some really cool things on the Jet ski that would be impossible, well, in just about any other racer (cars, snowboards, hover cars, etc.). It's all about the physics.
On a negative note, not much more was done with the trick system, but when you're having to contend with everything else, pulling of tricks during a race is hard, or detrimental, as it is. And that multiplayer things sorta annoys me too...
Waverace Gamecube is basically exactly the same as Waverace 64, just with much better graphics, and one addition: the wave physics. The wave physics are enough, though, to in the end make it feel like an almost completely different game.
I loved Waverace, although nowhere near as much as 1080 Snowboarding (almost as good as Amped and better than Steep Slope Sliders, another game I really liked), and I just don't enjoy Waverace Gamecube as much. I dunno why, I just don't think I've been able to get into the waves, using the waves, as much. I'd probably like the game more if I gave it more time. The water graphics are amazing. It has some texture problems, but, that's just carping.
The original Wave Race 64 was the first game I got for my N64 back when it launched and it was freaking awesome. I have only played WVBS for about two minutes at a GC demo kiosk, maybe if I see it for cheap Ill pick it up some day....
Skeptical.
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