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Introduction Every once in a while a relatively unknown developer will come up with a great idea and be able to turn that idea into a rather entertaining game. Developed by Bugbear Entertainment, Flatout (available on PC, PS2, and Xbox) is a surprisingly well done mixture consisting of both strategic racing and destructive driving elements. While this isn’t necessarily the greatest driving game available by any means, Flatout moves away from the beaten path to offer a unique twist to the racing genre. What is Flatout? Flatout puts you in the shoes of a young racer setting out to build up the fastest and most dangerous car around. Starting off with some lightweight cars with generally very little horsepower, you will slowly begin to earn cash that can be used to purchase new car modifications or new cars altogether. Through predetermined races, as well as some inspiring minigames, Flatout is sure to attract all racing fans alike.
Technical Standpoint On the PS2 and Xbox, Flatout still manages to appear almost as visually attractive as the PC counterpart while still retaining a smooth amount of frames per second. The lighting effects work appropriately in all environments, as do the reflections. The fully destructible environment and damage modeling system on all of the cars is very impressive, as it is not too commonly seen on consoles. Despite these extensive features, the PC version is devoid of any components of online play. Luckily, a third party program entitled FlatoutNet allows for a multiplayer feature, but unfortunately the program is not too popular and is missing many standard features. Luckily, the PS2 and Xbox versions support online, so console gamers have something to rejoice about here. Visually Stunning Flatout is simply a beautiful game on the PC and Xbox, but even the PS2 version is worthy to be gazed upon. While most PS2 games are bombarded with jagged edges and low texture details, Flatout is surprisingly pleasing aesthetically. A convincing motion blur effect compliments the environment nicely whether you are burning rubber at breakneck speeds or going off road through a lush forest. The sun is very noticeable during the races; when you aren’t blinded by the luminous fireball you can see individual rays pass through different objects. For the PC, the minimum requirements are as follows: Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Even with these settings, you can expect to see a fairly decent looking game that runs rather smooth. With any kind of 128 MB graphics card and at least 512 MB of RAM, you should easily be able to turn the game up near the maximum settings and still expect everything to run as smooth as liquid.
Roaring of the engines Flatout’s soundtrack consists of the basic rock and roll genre that flows nicely with the gameplay. While the music is nothing extraordinary and doesn’t add a whole lot to the intense racing feeling, it is played quietly enough in the background so it makes up for a dull silence. The sound effects, on the other hand, are actually very realistic. All of the engines sound differently depending on how powerful the car is, so adding different engine modifications will change the dependant sound of the engine. Each object throughout the different environments have their own specific sound effects, so it easy to distinguish the sound of a metal pole from a wooden fence. The most memorable incident occurs when you plow your car head first into a wall; the shattering of the windshield, screaming of the driver, and exploding of the engine all work together to create an amusing audio experience.
Crashing, crashing, and more crashing Flatout has a unique blend of arcade and racing styles that leads to a rather awkward feeling control scheme. During the circuit races, it is most effective to power slide around corners while keeping your eye out for any shortcuts. By colliding with any other object on the track, whether it is other cars or environmental obstructions, your nitrous meter will slowly begin to fill. Nitrous will obviously give your car an exhilarating speed boost, but it will also give you advanced handling around corners. In every other racing game around, increasing speed will usually make it harder to maneuver around tight bends, but Flatout rewards you for traveling faster than you should. Even though any driving fanatic should feel right at home with Flatout’s standard control layout, the driving physics will take some time to get used to. The career mode consists mostly of circuit races taking place on a variety of different courses, but there is also a separate minigame section where a great sum of money can be earned quickly. Game modes, such as bowling, long jump, high jump, target practice, and demolition derby make smashing up your ride a lot of fun. Some mini games, like the high jump, will have you launch the driver as far as you can out of his car after suffering through a terrible crash. The more you punish the pilot, the more money you can expect to receive. The computer A.I. is more aggressive than you would expect, which will always keep you on your toes even if the race looks like a guaranteed victory. The A.I. will take full advantage of the damage system, and they will stop at nothing to send you head-on to the nearest cement wall. Their dirty racing tactics add an extra challenge to your already dangerous racing experience, which separates Flatout from the rest of the crowd. As your career progresses, new cars and their corresponding modifications will become unlocked at the dealership. Luckily, exploding your car during a race has no penalty aside from losing a few seconds in the race. Building up a diverse garage will allow you to succeed in all types of races. Lightweight cars with a fair amount of horsepower will be favorable on the dry pavement tracks, while some of the bulkier cars will be easier to control on dirt tracks. Sometimes the car with the most horsepower isn’t always the best choice, but it doesn’t hurt to have a heavy car when you can expect to partake in many collisions. Flatout’s Future With Flatout 2 planned for release in the upcoming year, we can only hope that the developers don’t stray too far from the original game. Flatout proves that you don’t need an in-depth storyline, licensed cars, or a whole load of other fancy features to have a great game. In the future, we can hope that Flatout 2 will improve on some of the flaws seen here, such as the awkward driving physics and lack of PC multiplayer support. Flatout will always be remembered as the ruthlessly destructive driving game that rewards damaging your car, and hopefully Flatout 2 will make a name for itself as well.
Flatout was a great release from Empire Interactive
that should definitely be recognized by any driving fan.
Through its arcade and simulation blend of racing, this
motor sport thriller is certainly worth playing.
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