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FlatOut Ultimate Carnage Review
Chris Leyton
27/06/2007
Last year's outing makes a surprisingly welcome return to the Xbox 360...
Undeniably falling into the "last-gen ports with facelifts" category of 360 titles, Empire Interactive and BugBear Games would undoubtedly point to the list of improvements and additions along with the dropped "2" moniker as key differences between this Xbox 360 racer and what appeared on the PlayStation2, Xbox and PC last year. Dynamic lighting, 720p, 12 cars on track instead of 8, 3000 extra objects on the track and a 266% increase in the cars polygon counts - sure sounds like a lot of numbers.
Try as you might, however, the game is fundamentally the same title that earned a warm critical and commercial reception last year on the ageing consoles. Thankfully, whilst the disappointment that inevitably hangs over such ports still lingers, FlatOut Ultimate Carnage manages to provide a largely entertaining if unremarkable experience at a friendly price.
Rooted in the Destruction Derby mentality, FlatOut undoubtedly wants to be the dirtier, grittier hick of a half-cousin to EA and Criterion's highly successful Burnout series. Split between Derby, Race and Street modes, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage provides a sufficient range of race types across 54 cup and event competitions. Whether it's racing jalopies around dirt tracks or emerging victorious in destruction derby arenas; high-powered sports cars on the oval circuit or taking it to the streets; it's hard to fault the variety that Ultimate Carnage's has to offer.
As a racer on the Xbox 360 there's a distinct lack of the sophistication we've come to expect. Undoubtedly geared as an arcade racer, this nonetheless does little to hide the fact that the thoroughly unremarkable handling system feels tired. Tried-and-tested techniques such as the powerslide are there in abundance, but there's little to differentiate the game's racing action from the myriad of titles already out there. Continuing the Burnout influences, success on the track is a measured balance between driving fast enough to win but recklessly enough to collect the bonuses. Collisions and flips are rewarded with an increase to the boost bar, along with bonus points to the tally at the end of the race. Unfortunately, this feature feels distinctly under-developed in comparison to Criterion's efforts and all the more appreciative of the dynamic's effectiveness in the Burnout series. Compounded by a jarringly noticeable elastic band strapped around the AI opponents, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage probably shouldn't offer too much fun... yet for some reason, it's a game that's more engrossing than it probably should be.
That fun largely stems from the physics engine running behind the game, ensuring that the thousands of objects that lurk around the track have a strong sense of mass and impact on the car's handling. Hurtling through fences, smashing into advertising boards and knocking the fixtures completely, not only looks impressive but also shapes the outcome of each lap and ensures every race feels different to the last. Smaller objects such as the plastic chairs are quick and easy to push out of the way or drive over; however, larger objects (of which they're many) provide far greater obstacles to overcome. It's the equivalent of track deformation making waves on MotorStorm and SEGA Rally, physically changing the layout of the track as the race progresses, just in a very different way.
The lack of any official licenses to the variety of vehicles on offer has afforded BugBear the license to create cars that literally fall to pieces. Incurring no actual degradation to the car's performance, the visual effect nonetheless is far more striking then the effects recently seen in Microsoft's Forza Motorsport 2 and help to amplify the ludicrously unrealistic and unrefined racing action. Promoting wild driving habits, major crashes result in the series' trademark rag-doll driver (crash test dummies in Germany) hurtling through the roof in a grisly reminder of why driving like this is best left to videogames. With plenty of parts to purchase, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage creates an illusion of depth to the game's tuning options. Covering everything from the engine to the tyres, the game's heavy elastic band AI makes such "improvements" questionable when the outcome of the race never seems to be certain. Two races, before and after upgrades, will inevitably end in the same tense close finishes, rarely allowing you to extend a lead or fall too far behind. It's strange then that an apparent flaw in the game becomes one of its most endearing aspects. The tight nature of the races and the frantic action, combined with the game's challenge creates something that's fun and satisfying to play overall. Refusing to namby-pamby to your pride with a string of unchallenging initial races, Ultimate Carnage is a deceptively tricky game to master but one that could keep arcade racer fans glued until Burnout Paradise arrives.
Taking the flying driver technique to extreme lengths, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage provides a comprehensive list of Stunts to put the dejected protagonist into a series of highly imaginable and remarkably unbelievable situations. Often revolving around the concept of launching him high up into the air, typically towards a target, the fun and variety suits FlatOut's less serious overtones whilst the archetypal Bronze/Silver/Gold awards provide a long-term challenge.
This variety is embellished further in the game's most noticeable switch to the Xbox 360, with the addition of the Carnage mode. Essentially a hassle-free, re-jigged collection of the various races, stunts and destruction derby events found in the main game, the individual bite-sized nature of these endear themselves to the pick-up-and-play mentality that epitomises the FlatOut franchise.
Action and mayhem aplenty.
Unremarkable drive and handling.
gfh-77
Date Added:Sat 16th Feb 2008 08:28
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 4th Jul 2007 16:27
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 4th Jul 2007 15:32
Anonymous
Date Added:Fri 29th Jun 2007 22:21
Anonymous
Date Added:Fri 29th Jun 2007 00:23
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 27th Jun 2007 22:52
GRANTblade
Date Added:Wed 27th Jun 2007 20:53
The derby mode is so fun it is all out derby war the best desrtruction derby on a game ever!!!
Ant the widy loved stunt mod is back andbetter than before!!!
7/10 more like 9/10 cant give it 10 because of ga... [ Read full comment... ]
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 27th Jun 2007 19:02
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 27th Jun 2007 12:37