Pure

“This game is fun.” So commented a coworker who snuck a peek at one of our 360s running Disney’s Pure during a gameplay session in the office, and there’s really no better review summary than that. Call it a cliché if you want, but it seems pretty clear that developer Black Rock Studio had the F-word in mind when they mapped out this arcade-style ATV racer. And thank heavens they did.

Black Rock honed its racing chops making games like ATV Offroad Fury and Moto GP, but Pure beats both for effortless enjoyment. And more than those two games, Pure owes a NOW gameplay debt to SSX. Pre-load before a jump by flicking the analog stick, then launch your four-wheeler into the air, performing deathdefying tricks with simple direction/button combos while you’re up there. The game’s race events balance the stunts with speed, while sprints require precise driving on short tracks and freestyle contests trade your trick skills for gas — if you can’t bust out a steady stream of fresh flips and one-footed nac-nacs, your tank runs dry. Gameplay depth comes from mastering the basic skills (halfway through the World Tour mode, you’re fighting for your wins, and one crash can put you several spots back), but none of this is overcomplicated: Pure delivers that prized “pick up and play” experience with several shots of adrenaline.

Rather than over-designing the mechanics, Black Rock clearly chose to slave away on the graphics — and the results are jaw-dropping. Gorgeous vistas of mountains and sand dunes extend for seemingly miles; the draw distance is so vast you can practically see into the next game on your shelf. Mud splatters from the track and coats your clothing and bike, and the trackside snow your tires kick up on Kiwi Glacier puffs into powdery clouds. Unlike many games, blur effects are used subtly, and we never saw a hint of slowdown, even as we watched a dozen racers powerslide through dirt corners, leaving ruts in their wake. All that visual richness remains even with 16 racers on the grid, whether they’re A.I.-controlled or friends you meet on Xbox Live. (Check out the socially oriented Freeride mode online — it’s made for friendly competition.)

We can forgive that Pure’s ethnically diverse but otherwise generic characters spout unoriginal, repetitive quips, and we got used to the bikes’ droning engines, which sound like a hornet’s nest filled with angry lawnmowers. Honestly, they were minor trade-offs for the lush visuals and snappy controls. Besides, we were having too much fun to care.