Aqua Moto Racing 3D

Game Info

Whenever I see a Jet Ski Racing game, the first thing that pops in my head is Wave Race 64.  The fond memories I have of the Nintendo 64 classic and then the Gamecube sequel really make it hard for any other similar game to live up to the hype.  Aqua Moto Racing 3D does a good job with the racing, but the overall package leaves something to be desired.

Zordix’s racing game comes equipped with a few different single player and multiplayer options.  In single player, there are quick race and championship modes.  In Championship mode, you play 3 races, earn points for placing, and then get a cup based off of your point standings at the end.  During the races you have to maneuver your jet ski around buoys, which earns you a turbo boost for consecutively passing them on the correct side.  If you pass the buoy incorrectly three times you are disqualified from the race.  Racers can perform stunts off of jumps by  either tapping the touch screen or using a combination of the r-button and the d-pad.

Winning cups and races in the game will earn you money that you can use to purchase new jet skis.  Cash can also be grabbed during races by driving over moneybags and treasure chests.  This is important to help keep up with the competition and at times you will feel like you need to old-school RPG grind to get the better Jet Ski to even remain competitive.   The multiplayer mode is fun, but it would be hard to find 6 people that have the game to start a local game.  This games multiplayer could have been helped immensely by online play.

One of the other gripes that I have with Aqua Moto Racing other then the lack of online play is the graphics.  The 3D effect is fine, but the textures and surroundings look muddy and lack a quality feel.  The water physics and the controls are tight though, which cancel out the lack of attention to the graphics. The music has a good racing feel and doesn’t get too repetitive.  A few times I even caught myself humming the songs as I was racing around in the water.

If you are a fan of Wave Race or other Jet Skiing games this game will definitely feed the urge for some good racing.  It has a ton of unlockables to keep you playing in single player and the eShop title’s low price tag won’t break the bank.  The lack of online play and the less then average graphics really hold this game back from being a top tier game.   It is a good start for Zordix on the 3DS and I look forward to seeing their improvements in their upcoming releases.