MotorStorm: Arctic Edge

Alongside the portable PSP version, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge also came out in 2009 on the PlayStation 2, by then an outdated console of the previous generation that at the time lived mainly off budget titles and ports. The port was handled by American studio Idol Minds, separate from Bigbig Studios, the creators of the PSP version and the series as a whole, and it had to build the game practically from scratch on hardware without support for the modern effects the MotorStorm series was otherwise closely tied to.

Although it's the same tracks, vehicles, and snowy Alaska storyline in terms of content, the PS2 version technically had to cope with noticeably weaker hardware – lower resolution, a more limited number of rivals on track at once, and simplified destruction effects are the price paid for the game running on the older console at all. The handling and drift physics feel a bit more forgiving than on the PSP, making it easier to get through corners without frequently having to reach for the Rewind feature, and the overall pace of the races is slightly slower to match the console's capabilities. For PS2 owners in 2009, this meant one of the last major racing releases on the platform before the incoming generation finally pushed it out, and at the same time proof that even an off-road series built on flashy destruction can, with compromises, be brought to considerably older hardware. The sound design and soundtrack stayed very similar to the PSP version, so the racing atmosphere remains recognizable despite the noticeably simpler graphics.

Why play it: The PlayStation 2 version gives a chance to play Arctic Edge to owners of the older console who never moved on to the PSP or PS3, and thanks to its different porting job it offers a slightly different, more relaxed ride than the pocket-sized original. It's an interesting demonstration of how one team managed to adapt a demanding game to a console generation on its way out, and at the same time a final reminder of the MotorStorm series for players who stayed loyal to the PS2 right to the end.