Kombo’s Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don’t waste your time. This is why we’ve split our reviews into four sections: What the Game’s About, What’s Hot, What’s Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game’s About
PURE is a racing game that focuses on ATV racing infused with big air tricks. Made by Black Rock Studio who’s past includes many ATV Offroad, PURE takes that past and amps up the attitude. Pick from a stable of racers and construct an ATV anyway you like with the customizable vehicle editor and take it for a spin on a number of tracks.
What’s Hot
The first thing you’ll notice about PURE is that the game sets the bar at a high standard even in the tutorial. As you whip around the track at high speeds and learn basic maneuvers, you’ll understand this isn’t just a generic racing title. If it is to be likened to any existing titles, you could say that PURE is the mash-up of MotorStorm and SSX elements. The tracks are well designed and have an open feeling rather than a narrow defined path. The courses are varied and have interesting backdrops to explore, if you aren’t too busy trying to win the race.
Most racing games are judged on their sense of speed, PURE must have realized that from the very beginning because there is always a sense that you are going faster than your mom would say is safe – just the kind of thing you look for in a video game. There is just enough blur when you are performing gravity defying tricks to give you a heightened sense of danger and speed. Large jumps drown out the sounds and you are left with an exhilarating free fall as you hammer out tricks and modifiers to get more boost juice and points.
Tricks are a large cornerstone of the PURE experience. The system for executing gravity defying stunts is a well designed and thought out mechanic. What is unique is that it combines a trick and boost meter to give you a choice on how you like to play. It is a three tier system that requires you to choose better tricks or longer boosts. So if you perform a bunch of crazy-cool tricks, you’ll have a lot of boost or you can use that meter to perform even cooler tricks, including a signature move. This feature is something I’d like to see more of in games as it forces a choice on you and you can adapt when different situations arise.
The game starts you off on training wheels and ramps you up into harder races rather quickly. This approach to game design is favorable. It gets your feet wet with the basics but then straps you to a rocket hoping you paid attention to your lesson. Jockeying for first place will get nasty on some circuits and you need to have your wits about you to pass the checkered flag first.
What’s Not
Controlling an ATV is something that takes getting used to in PURE. When you don’t have access to good parts in the beginning, you’ll feel like your vehicle is on ice skates. It gets better when you upgrade your ATV but there is still an arcadey power slide touch to handling. It fits in with the theme of the game but there could have been a little more grip.
PURE has a minor fault that most people will either accept or raise an eyebrow. That is the level of attitude the game’s racers display. The game is designed with a younger crowed in mind and the juvenile racers you can pick from show that. There is a good amount of appeal for all generations but some comments from your racer and others exude “junior high” vibe that can get down right annoying.
Final Word
PURE’s best quality is the overall quality. It should stand out on store shelves this holiday season as a great example that family friendly games can be just as good, if not better than more mature titles. The racing is well paced, the graphics shine and the design is thoughtful. Couple those qualities with action, speed and stunts and the recipe for a memorable racing game is finished. The developers proved they are daft with the racing genre and I look forward to see the next installment. Hit the gas pedal and go for PURE.
