MotorToon GP2 Full Review
(by Terry Lin )

Overall Rating: 9.5/10


Let me begin by saying that I was TOTALLY caught off guard with this
marvelous game.  What a sleeper.  I mean, *where* did this gem come from?  I
only tried it out thanks to some very positive comments from rgv.sony.

For those of you who aren't familiar, MTGP2 is a "Toony" style racer, with
10(+) different tracks and 7(+) different racers.

Anyways, on with the show...

The first thing that caught my eye was the spectacular graphics.  Everything
is gouraud shaded, nothing is ever flat.  You can tell that the game is
taking advantage of the PSX's large color palette with the incredibly smooth
shading.

Next is the detail.  Words can't even describe it.  Once you see Gulliver's
House, you'll swear you've never seen so many objects with such detail
flying past you at 30 fps.  The Haunted House is equally impressive.  Like I
said, words can't even describe it.  You must see it for yourself.  Yes this
KILLS WipeOut.  By a factor of at least 2X.  Did I mention the transparent
roads?  Ah well... Saturn folks wouldn't care so...

The only caveat here is that not ALL objects are texture mapped.  BUT, this
does not detract much, if anything, from the overall impression.  In fact,
it gives a more "Toony" feel to each level.  This in IMHO a boon rather than
a deficiency.

Enough with the graphics.  How about the race tracks?  Like I said, all are
incredibly detailed.  Plenty of neat multiple routes on each level.  Jumps,
sharp turns, and very steep cliffs (Roller Coaster levels).  Ahh yes, the
Roller Coaster track.  Never in my life have I ever gotten dizzy from a 3D
game (this includes: Doom, Quake, and so on), but THIS... THIS level goes up
and down and side and UP and down and makes me nuts!  The 3D effect is
fantastic.  Something every PSX owner should experience.

And we've got 10(+) tracks.  While the last 5 are mirrors of the first 5,
all the textures are SIGNIFICANTLY modified and you do them backwards.  It
took me a couple of races to observe this, so it really isn't dead obvious. 
This is more than enough to call them different tracks (more than Ridge
Racer at least :).

What's even better, all 7(+) racers have a different handling and feel to
them. You've got a train, UFO, Batmobile, truck, jeep, car, motorcycle,
etc... and they all feel different (especially the UFO with 0 traction..
very difficult).  They also have this funky cartoony animation as they turn. 
In fact the detail in the vehicles themselves is fantastic.

And during the course of the level, you get multiple different weapons. 
Fireballs, heat-seeking rockets, jumps, time stop, super shield, bombs,
power-ups, dynamite, pandora's box, shrinking and enlarging... whew I don't
think that's enough! :)

The best part of the game has to be the goodies.  You've got 5 levels of
difficulty (and the hardest one is IMHO nearly impossible).  Each time you
earn first place overall in each difficulty level, a new "goodie" pops up. 
Be it new racers, new tracks, or even a secret MTGP2 "R" version w. 60fps
performance and ... I shouldn't spoil it!  This is great incentive for
finishing the game completely.

Ha, I almost forgot the FMV.  Don't worry, there's not a lot of it, but
what's there is HILARIOUS.  Everytime you lose, you'll get a brief FMV with
your character standing in one place, getting locked up, and having a 32t
anvil drop on your head.  Every character says something different.  The
best one has to be the Chinese one.  Both my friend and I couldn't stop
laughing... it was hilarious.  And it's SO well done, SO well presented...
you can't believe how much work had to be put into the game.

I guess YOU get the idea that THIS game is a winner.  This is up there with
games like Tekken 2 and Resident Evil.  Everything from the initial menu
screen to the actual game is presented so well... so cleanly... that it's no
doubt in my mind that this is one of those MUST-BUY games.  It's a definite
sleeper.