FlatOut Review (no fat)

Game Description

Drive around in slick cars to see who can get to the finish line the quickest as well as smash the other cars up in the process, that’s what FlatOut delivers to gamers. Gamers will have a blast racing around the track knocking out everything in their way from opponent’s cars to the surrounding scenery. However, does this game offer any more depth other than smashing things up? Read on to see.

FlatOut Gameplay

Racing games on the market today feature loads of features and modes, however, FlatOut offers only a mediocre set of modes to play in. These include career mode, online multiplayer mode, quick race and time trial mode. The developers of FlatOut have kept it plain and simple. Most of gamer’s offline time will be spent in the career mode. Here, you race over 40 different tracks that include bonus tracks and mini games. However, there are only about 6 different actual locations, and each of these locations has a different set of tracks. The mini games are definitely a highlight in this game, as they feel like a breath of fresh air from racing and contribute in delivering a few laughs as well. The game features a cool move that can be used in these mini games, and that move is launching the driver of the car through the windshield to hit targets and bowling pins. A nice feature, but it gets repetitive after a while. Did we mention that this driver through the windshield thing also happens when gamers get into nasty crashes? This takes up some precious time as gamers get back into the races.

As you play through the career mode, you will earn money to buy cars and upgrades. When you first start the game, you will have an option to choose one of the lowest grade cars available and will have to work up from there. In the career mode, gamers will have to come in at least 3rd place in each race in order to open up the next set of races. Gamers will get more cash to buy those fast cars when they come in first place for every race. However, this isn’t required, and the entire career mode can be beaten if gamers just place third in every race. Since there is a first second and third place for each race, and medals are awarded for each place, the replay value comes from the challenge of getting the max in achievements, collecting all of the upgrades and cars on offer.

FlatOut Graphics

The graphics in FlatOut are visually stunning. Everything is detailed right down to the spokes on the wheels of the cars. The colors are bright and sharp, however gamers won’t get a chance to enjoy the scenery as they are blasting past their opponents to the finish line. With that said, it is safe to say that the graphics look the best on the PC, but that is to be expected as everything looks better on the PC. The frame rate stays steady for the PlayStation 2 where it drops in other consoles.

FlatOut Audio

FlatOut has a sound track that won’t be familiar to most of the gamers in North America. The game was created in Europe, and seems to have taken all of the music from that part of the world. Most of it sounds good, and some of it is even catchy, however, as soon as the console is turned off, you are more than likely to forget all about it.

FlatOut 2cent

This timewaster is not perfect, and its certainly no GT, but it is some extraordinary fun with high speed races and coupled with crashes and demolitions. Plus all that, FlatOut has online multiplayer capabilities so gamers can head online and duke it out with their friends either in races or demolition derbies. Some major bragging rights, anyone? The game also clocks in at a cool $19.99.