Wave Race: Blue Storm (GameCube)
	Developer Nintendo Publisher Nintendo Reviewed by Sean Mallory [Feedback] [Author Bio] Review Date February 12, 2002

Rating (out of 5.0) 4.0 out of 5.0*

Judge for yourself

Strengths Excellent graphics Wonderful water physics Weather effects Weaknesses Difficult to beat for newbies, a certifiable challenge for veterans The announcers' voices can get stale (if left on)

* Notes Gaming Voice ratings are based on the technical and/or gameplay merits of a given product as well as the developer's choice of features and delivery of same. Our rating is not an endorsement of the thematic content of a given title. Gamers and parents are cautioned to determine if such content conflicts or coincides with their values and beliefs.

If you like water racing, you must own Wave Race: Blue Storm.

The water in Wave Race is pretty. Very pretty. Everything is reflected, and it all moves according to the waves. Sitting in a certain spot in La Razza Canal, you can watch the reflections of nearby buildings rippling in the water. A very cool effect. The waves chop, ripple, and splash according to their environment. To put it simply, the water is almost perfect. From a physics standpoint, anyway. In some races, the waves can reach almost cartoonish heights, taking away from the "real" feel of the water. The riders and their jetskis are also highly detailed and customizable in their look. The game itself plays in an unbreakable 30 frames per second, even in a four-player multiplayer match. Slowdown doesn't exist in this game. Some speed freaks may argue it doesn't give the same sense of speed that it would under 60 fps, but it's plenty fast on its own.

The controls in Wave Race are somewhat difficult to learn. Not that the control is bad, it's actually very precise. It feels like you're driving a real jetski, which is sort of the problem. The controls will take time to learn for any newcomers, whether they're newbies or veterans of water racing. However, once you get the controls down, it's all green from there. Managing to pull off a 180 turn at high speed is very satisfying.

Weather conditions will alter the track and make it a new racing experience.

The old buoy system from the original is back and slightly altered. Instead of gaining a boost to your top speed with each buoy passed, you gain a point toward a turbo boost which can be used at any time. In addition, doing tricks will increase your turbo meter, bringing you closer to a boost. Most of the old tricks are back, including flips and barrel rolls, along with a swarm of new ones. Unfortunately the helicopter move from the original didn't make it.

The waves make for a good part of the control, since even a slight breeze can cause a ripple that will push you away from the buoy you're trying to pass. A straight line does not exist in Wave Race; however, you can make do with a very jagged one. Smaller waves push you away; larger ones carry you. Be prepared to adjust your racer at any given time.

In addition, the weather will play a factor in each and every race. While there are only eight tracks to choose from, weather conditions will alter the track and make it a new racing experience each time out. A once-calm Aspen Lake can turn deadly once a storm sets in. Even a mild change in the weather can alter a course dramatically. Light rain will make fog roll in at the Lost Temple Lagoon and cloudy skies might cause rain to fall later in the race. These little changes make for some very unpredictable races, especially in the circuits.

The water in Wave Race is pretty. Very pretty.

Which brings me to the most vexing part of this game: the Championship Circuit. There are three levels of difficulty (Normal, Hard, and Expert) and all have the same problem: invincible AI. I recommend that anyone new to the game practice their skills in Free Roam mode or Time Trials, because the AI even in the Normal circuit will overtake you if you make the slightest mistake. More often than not, you will find yourself dropping from first to fifth in mere seconds because you zigged when you should've zagged. In Normal, this is a problem. Anywhere else, it's a matter of survival. Luckily there are hidden shortcuts and secret paths just waiting for you to find them. This is a game where practice makes perfect.

Remember the rather flamboyant announcer in the original? This time he's been replaced by eight narrators, one for each racer. They're not quite as annoying, but given that they say the same things, they get old, and fast. Luckily there's an option to turn the voices off.

The music tracks are extensive, but most of them are variations of the core songs. Techno, blues-meets-pop-rock, and what sounds like an 80s rock ballad are played for your listening pleasure, and some tracks will make you wish the race was longer so you could listen more.

If you like water racing, you must own Wave Race: Blue Storm. This version is everything the original was and much, much more. This game will keep you busy for ages, long after you beat the Expert circuit. Multiplayer options extend the game life dramatically and the many different weather effects will keep the courses feeling fresh.