FlatOut

"Total carnage!!"

So, here I am in the UK, astounded that we have actually received a game before the USA get it! I've been waiting a while for this, despite its release being somewhat overshadowed by HL2, and rest assured this is a fantastic game that is fun, but also pretty imaginative...

Graphics - 10/10
Some may think that this is a little too high, and I don't generally believe in giving perfect scores, apart from when a game really, really impresses in a certain department. Without doubt, Flatout is the best looking stock car/destruction derby style of game ever, by a long margin. The environments are well detailed, but the cars are the clear highlight. Highly detailed and shiny when they start off, and guaranteed to be a smouldering, twisted lump of metal by the end, the damage model really does a great job.

Bumpers fly off, engines set on fire and the bodywork becomes realistically altered depending on the severity of the collision, and believe me, there will be a lot of these. Skidmarks, tire smoke and dust and snow kicked up behind the cars over the varying surfaces is also extremely satisfying. The game also runs really smoothly, even at high resolution and maxed out settings, on my machine, which has had some trouble keeping stable frame rates with some of the new games out there recently.

Gameplay - 9/10
Surely the most important aspect of the game, again Flatout shines through, not only in terms of variety, but through the sheer fun that is to be had by high speed crashes causing the car to barrel roll realistically, or smashing through fences to try to get a lead. Shortcuts are well applied on many of the race tracks, and usually involve smashing through some kind of scenery - this can be damaging to your car, but their existence means that even if you are lagging behind, there is always hope.

The career mode is involving, with both professional and normal handling to choose, from, though the difference between the two is negligible to those using a gamepad, or those with experience of racing games. You will move through 3 classes of car, bronze silver and gold, and as you progress through the races and bonus stages (more on these later) you will earn money, allowing you to upgrade the car. There are around 6 cars to choose from in each class, and races will take you from tarmac roads to dust bowls and through icy lands.

This variety of races alone is enough to keep the avid race fan involved, but where this game takes a new step is with the creation of a kind of sick form of Olympics. Whilst making your way through the game, you will find some objects are solid, so that your driver flies through the windscreen. This tactic is applied in the bonus games, which include, amongst others, high jump, long jump, darts and bowling. Each will require launching your character out of the car at the appropriate moment and angle to gain the highest score. This can also be played as a multiplayer option, and though hard to master some events, there is nothing quite as satisfying as battling with friends to see who can get 3 strikes in a row.

The AI is not bad for a racing game, but is fairly standard, so don't expect any huge surprises. Progressing through career mode, you will generally find that there tends to be one car that takes the lead way ahead of the others, though this is not always the case. Thankfully though, the AI cars seem just as prone to mistakes as you (they can be easy to make during a mass pile up over a jump, or smashing through a barn door at 100mph) and they will react to you, instead of sticking to a set path.

Sound - 6/10
Here, in my opinion is where the game drops a few points. Despite the fact that sound effects of shattering windscreens and bending metal is well executed, the engine sounds seem a little underpowered, and the option of a nitro boost doesn't give much of a booming effect. They are fairly minor annoyances, but the soundtrack is also fairly limited, and altogether too similar. Most of the tracks are metal and rock, but there is little variety between bands, and the short playlist leaves you wanting more. A longer playlist, with a little more variety would have improved this aspect of the game significantly, and set the mood for a destruction bowl more effectively.

Replyability - 8/10
Overall, this game is fairly addictive, and I have found myself playing through career mode a second time, with options of different cars, time trials and the bonus levels, it does make it hard to put down. A few friends into the mix for the bonus stages also add to the longevity of this game. Though the tracks are all based in the sae 4 or 5 environments, variety of routes and the promise of smash bonuses for breaking up the scenery add to the 'wow' factor. Though not usually one for watching replays, I am finding myself addicted to them, as they show up the crashes in great detail with no slowdown whatsoever.

In conclusion, this is a very fun game that I would recommend racing fans to buy. Those new to the genre may like to consider some more lengthy titles, as this is a relatively easy and fast paced ride. Extra features are innovative and the damage modelling and handling of the cars is impeccable. However, it only gets 8/10 due to the let downs on sound, and at times AI that is only too easy to beat. A shame is this lives up to much of what it promised, and if it's smashing and pure fun that you want out of a racing game, then this is for you.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/17/04