Kart and Paste- ModNation Racers Review

In 1983, a young programmer named Bill Budge taught the gaming industry a critical lesson: occasionally, there’s more fun to be found in designing your own diversions, that in playing prefabricated ones. Budge’s Pinball Construction Set gave players an intuitive drag-and-drop table creator, an elementary paint program which allowed customization, along with the ability to load and save their designs so players could share their handiwork with others. An early precursor to Sony’s “Play, Create, Share” axiom, the title displayed the ability to captivate audiences for far longer than its static contemporaries- I spent the better part of my summer vacation exploring PCS‘s deepest recesses.

Recent release ModNation Racers certainly remains faithful to Pinball Construction Set‘s design decisions, while upping the flexibility of the tools and graphical complexity a hundredfold. Like Budge’s classic, design is broken down into three core elements- player customization, car modification and the title’s most impressive component –  track building. Coupled with an extremely competent racing model, the title is another jewel in Sony’s DIY-centric crown.

Mod (the game’s moniker for race drivers) creation recalls crafting an Xbox Avatar, as player’s select from a wide variety of eyes, mouths, accessories, and skin tones. Adroitly, the tools are intuitive without sacrificing power; on my first visit to the ModNation lobby, proficient recreations of Iron Man, Mario, and Spider-man were on display for all to see, download, and tweak. ModNation Racers shrewdly allows gamers to modify other people’s mods, vehicles, and tracks, while giving credit to the original creator, ensuring a loyal community.

Car construction works similarly, allowing gamers to assemble vehicles out of a large assortment of chassis, wings, tires, seats, mirrors and steering wheels. Parts are conveniently organized by car type, allowing gamers to sort through futuristic, heavy truck, and even antiquated soap-box derby motifs. Karts can then be painted or decorated with vinyls, allowing participants to create liveries that approach the complexity shown by the Forza series.

When developing a track, players first pick from one of four main themes- alpine, desert, seaside, and jungle. Next, designers may either transform the landscape, effortlessly creating mountains, valley, and lakes with a sweep of the analog stick or begin laying down racing track. Unlike most games that have offered track editors, ModNation Racers owners never have to worry about searching for specific pieces or ensuring that track sections align- everything is handled automatically.

Fortunately, the game’s on-track performance matches the strength of its tool-set, offering a unexpectedly multifaceted racing experience. While many contemporaries reward competitive players who drift, draft, and stunt with dexterous proficiency, ModNation advances the formula. Each skillful maneuver fills the player’s boost meter, which can be employed for the requisite turbo, or as a defensive shield when an offensive weapon strike is imminent.

Visually, each component of ModNation Racers is unified by a colorful sheen that propels the title to the forefront of the kart racing pack. The game’s framerate stays intact during intense competitions, only wavering in split-screen matches. Regretfully, ModNation‘s presentation falters in the title’s sporadic thirty to fifty second load pauses, which stifle the game’s otherwise well cultivated momentum . Despite a hefty 3.2 GB install, players will surely grow impatient at the extended intermissions; hopefully, the  rumored patch will alleviate the title’s one nagging setback.

For more than a capable standalone kart competition, ModNation Racers delivers on Sony’s promise of “Play, Create, Share”, offering a perpetual amount of activity to PS3 owners. Those daunted by the complexity of Little Big Planet‘s tools, need not worry – the title’s creation components are pleasingly intuitive, allowing for effortless  user-generated gratification in minutes. Only the most impatient gamers won’t be enticed by ModNation‘s  irresistible charms.