Those issues you have in Unch are more prevalent at the start of the game, plus I don't think the sequel suffers from that at all.
As for Motorstorm, the lack of replays is lame. However, the insistence on the comparison to Excite Truck is ridiculous, they control nothing like each other. Motorstorm is a much more weighty and precise affair, whilst ExciteTruck is about flair and pulling off quick, reactive manoeuvres.