Pure

Sweet and unadulterated.

GamePro (online)

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Like cane sugar, Pure is sweet and unadulterated. This is among the finest off-road racers ever created, bringing together tight controls, challenging events, and slick visuals in one purified concoction. The lack of split-screen multiplayer leaves it slightly sticky, but its concentrated ATV racing is definitely superior to the saccharin style of other, less focused off-road experiences.

Pros

  • Simple controls, straightforward trick system, great presentation, absolute blast to play

Cons

  • No split-screen multiplayer, overly difficult events in the second half of single player campaign

Bottom Line

Served up neat, Pure is concentrate off-road fun packed with cool tricks and fast racing. A little simple syrup ensures the game accessible and easy to control, while fully customisable ATVs, lengthy career and a slew of online multiplayer modes keep things sweet.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 99.95 (AUD)

Tricked Out

Pure strikes a rare perfect balance between simulation and arcade racing with straightforward physics and simple controls. Maintain high speeds and navigating turns requires working with basic physics, although you never feel as though you're struggling to stay in the game. Instead, the challenge comes in landing tricks to gain boost and rocket ahead of your opponents.

Tracks are generously peppered with jumps of all shapes and sizes, which prime you for pulling off all kinds of wild tricks. Of course, these feats are as artificial as a packet of Equal, but that doesn't stop them from being utterly sweet. As you take to the skies, you can execute tricks according to a tiered system. Starting off an event, you only have the ability to land basic tricks with the A button. Succeed in sticking enough of these rudimentary tricks and you move up to the B button and then Y.

Keep it Simple, Stupid

Filling up your trick gauge completely allows you to try a super-powered signature trick. Landing these over-the-top signature moves not only looks cool, but also serve to refill your trick gauge. This is important since it directly corresponds to boost, which is vital to speeding past competitors. Whether you're working your way through solo campaign or racing online, maximizing your boost via tricking is a must.

It's a simple, straightforward game: go fast and pull out your best tricks. Fortunately, there's depth to be had if you're eager to invest the effort. Winning events rewards you with various parts used in customizing or outright building an ATV. The number of parts is staggering ranging from handle grips to gears to tires. Nearly everything can be painted too, so you're able to craft personalised four-wheelers suited to your taste.

With all that Pure has to offer from its comprehensive garage to lengthy career, it still lacks a key feature. Split-screen multiplayer is absent, countered by full online support for up to 16 players. That omission, coupled with a few tough-as-nails races in the later stages of the campaign, provide the game's two sticking points. Anything sweet, however, ends up being somewhat sticky and that's a small price to pay for Pure's fantastic gameplay.

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