Riptide GP2 for Windows 8

Pros

• It's packed full of polish, content and speed.
• Multiplayer is just as impressive as the generous single-player mode.

Cons

• It can occasionally feel repetitive, although switching to online play helps keep things fresh.

Riptide GP2 for Windows 8 is a high-speed aquatic racing game. Originally a mobile release, the game impresses with its high production values, being one of the slickest and fastest personal watercraft racers to release in a number of years. Despite its mobile roots, Riptide GP2 is packed with content and polished to a fine sheen, as well.

A Wide Variety of Tracks, Craft and Options

The single-player portion of the game starts simply enough, keeping things somewhat slow so beginners can get the hang of the racing. That doesn't last long, though, because even in the first few races pilots have access to speed boosts that really make the velocities ratchet up. Acquiring and managing these boosts, in fact, turns out to be critical for success, as the computer-controlled pilots will be doing the same.

There is no shortage of new things to discover as the game progresses either. The well-designed tracks feature plenty of jumps and elevation changes, although they are lacking in the shortcuts that sometimes liven up games of this sort. Players can upgrade their watercraft as they progress in the campaign, taking on bigger and faster machines as their skills as proven. They'll also find plenty of new tracks awaiting them, so things mostly remain fresh even hours into the action.

Testing Yourself Against the Best Online

While the single-player side of the game would be plenty to justify its price to most players, the multiplayer portion is just as worthy. In fact, those who prefer to compete against real, live humans might just gravitate toward this mode exclusively, and they will not be disappointed. The racing is just as fast as when going against computer-controlled opponents, with some highly competent networking code ensuring that player positions are updated smoothly. Human opponents are invariably more canny than AI ones, which results in some intense action as players battle for position online.

The Verdict

Couple all of this goodness with graphics that are invariably smooth and attractive, and you have an impressive game overall. In fact, this is likely one of the standouts on the Windows 8 store at this point on the entertainment side of things, and just about anybody interested in such games will be impressed with the value and fun to be had.

Pros

• It's packed full of polish, content and speed.
• Multiplayer is just as impressive as the generous single-player mode.

Cons

• It can occasionally feel repetitive, although switching to online play helps keep things fresh.