Full Auto

"A Quick-Fix Game, but a Great One."

"A Quick-Fix Game"

Story-N/A

Why the "N/A"? Simple, it just isn't applicable in this situation. There is no story. No main character. Nothing of the sort. This is a blessing in disguise, however. When was the last time you enjoyed a driving game's story? Hmm? Has there ever been a story in a racing game that was majestic and delightful? Hell no. Full Auto made the best choice possible, and I thank Sega for it.

Graphics-9/10

The graphics are amazing, truly next-gen. Never a point where you think, "Man, those jaggies are really annoying me." Or, "Why are those texture-lines so blatant!?" The graphics are a smooth, flowing ride from one twist to another, detailed objects ripped apart by your mechanical steed. When you boost, lines tail from your car and fly back, towards the player. You see everything twist a bit, yet the details remain. Now though, you are seeing thousands of new details a second instead of hundreds. Admirably, the game keeps up. Machine guns shoot thousands of holes in the walls alongside the freeway, causing geysers of rippling water to wind upwards in shining fountains. Rockets make fire shoot out of windows of buildings torn asunder. Only some minor effects of rubble falling in an unrealistic manner hold this category fall from a perfect ten.

Sound-8/10

The soundtrack suits the game perfectly, flowing from one song to the next and keeping you excited throughout. No doubt that the tracks in this game will be rocking for as long as you keep playing.

Single-Player Gameplay-7/10

First, the complaints. The bots are idiotic at some points, blowing themselves up or ramming themselves into you in even racing games which just you and the bot. Yup, great strategy ahoy. The bots are just too agro in each mode, the AI needs to adjust to different situations. That loses the game a point. To be honest, the lack of truly different modes holds the game back, subtracting about two points. Gang Warfare, Endurance, and Impossibles are the only modes I really felt exhilarated to do something new in. The others were very forgettable. Unwreck made the game far too easy, where a bad turn or poorly judged jump can be waved away with a mere flick of your finger. Now, for the fun. This game takes away all of your intellectual ability, all of your dignity, until your reduced to your primitive instincts to see the shiny thing in front of you explode, so you can clap your hands and giggle in glee. This game is what I imagine the opposite of vicodin would feel like. For those who have never had a major injury requiring a strong med, vicodin is a pain-reliever that leaves the person tired, but can be addicting after long use. On the Full Auto side of things, the game puts you on the edge, reflexes firing and with a hunger for more after the first dose. After long use though, you begin to tire of it and stop wanting it. That is why I console this game for a rental, since the fun won't taper off after a week and you can 100% it with some effort.

Multi-Player Gameplay-8/10

This game truly shines here. Potential leeks off it, like a spring coat letting loose rainwater. Flashing around corners, dropping mines at strategic points while wildly dodging constant machine gun fire and the occasional rocket from your closest friend. Sweat running into your eyes, a rocket hits a bot you were hiding in front of, throwing you forward. The finish line is within sight. Rockets explode all around you, and now you're firing, trying to raise your boost meter. It flashes, and you speed forward, blurring your vision. Your friend is cursing now, cursing you. You're finally there. You leave a final surprise for your friend, a mine right before the finish line, masked by the yellow stripes. Boom. Your friend goes from second to fifth, sixth, seventh as cars flash past him, only rocketing the eighth truck keeps him from eighth. You've won. Your friend doesn't talk to you for a week. You're okay with that.

Final Score-8/10

Final Recommendation-Full Auto is definitely a rental, but that does not diminish it's quality. It has high-caliber gameplay, graphics, sound, and multi-player. Have fun, this game is will keep you busy for days.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/24/06