Flat Out 2

4 Comments

1. Jun13

   Sherlock Holmes

   This is a good “fluff” game, not quite as challenging as the first one and not as good graphics wise, but overall a good game to pass the time.
   Rating: 4 / 5

2. Jun13

   T. Johnson

   Flat Out 2 provides the ideal video game experience for people like me who seek uncomplicated fun. Life is stressful and difficult enough without having to worry about button combinations that take a PhD to learn, or storylines that burn all of your free time. Just jump into Flat Out 2 and race or compete in track-and-field type events. Spend time racing through a career, buying upgrades and new cars, or just spend a few minutes on beating your best high jump record, etc. The interface is easy, the graphics are great, and the physics are cool.
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. Jun13

   Torkx2

   If you enjoyed the first installment of Flat Out…you’ll love the second edition. Improvements are: 1. your computer controlled competors (CPU) racers are “smarter” they also have names, profiles, unique cars and styles of driving. Somehow, psychologically, it’s easier to get pumped about smashing “Jason Carter” than “car number 7″. Graphics are more polished and vibrant. A much more expanded “games” section and derby section also. If you are a fan of the “Need for Speed” series or any hyper-real (i.e., crazy) style of racing game…give Flat Out 2 a go. One last thing…of my buddies who don’t own game systems…this is the game they request to play when they come over every time. It’s easy to pick up and play and enjoy as a novice but rewards persistance, style and calculated risk taking if you stick with it over time.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. Jun13

   PyroDark

   Burnout can get a little old, when your car becomes a total loss every other second, I just wanna keep going. So when I checked this game out I was almost sure it would be a 10, I downloaded all the gameplay videos from Gamespot AND IGN and watched them through. After that I was sold. I ordered it off Amazon for $17. I found and played a demo of the first flatout before it arrived and could’nt Stand the Driving Physics. All the cars were WAY too FLOATY, I’ld say like driving on ice but more like driving with like buttered wheels. I was hoping once my copy of the 2nd one arrived, It would turn out to be an improvement. It was, but not as entirely as I had hoped. the wheels are still way slippery, just not AS much. It takes alot of getting used to, and I own both MidnightClub 3 AND Forza, [and on PS2 Gran Turismo 4, and Ridge Racer V] so I’m a master of many racer styles both sim and arcade.
   
   Now I will say there are many Good Reasons to consider buying this. There’s a Wide Variety of Cars, Tracks, and Modes. The Negatives here are that most of the cars just WILL NOT be controlled without countless spin-outs from being far too slippery, and all the tracks seem to be stuck on 4 laps, I cant change it. Then again most tracks are so long and full of surprises you can forget winning, it’s just Surviving thats the challenge. After awhile I was fed up with trying to win, and just typed in GIEVEPIX and unlocked all the cars, to see them all.

   Okay, Lets go back to the Main Menu to tell you what to expect. Two PRESET Control schemes with no custom option automatically disqualifies this {or ANY game} from getting a perfect 10 from me.

   Choose Single player/Multiplayer{1-8 via PartyMode or Split Screen}/Or XBOX Live.
   
   [we'll say you chose Single Player]

   Next is Mode select[Career::Single Race::Single Stunt::Single Event::Single Derby]

   Career: Earn Money for car upgrades, unlock stuff.

   Single Race: Pick a track to go around 4 times with 7 CPU opponents

   Single Stunt: The “Flatout” Famed Stunt mode. Where the Driver’s Rag-dolling Body Launches out of the Windshield and lands a trick {I can’t seem to do many of these well, it’s Never Been so Hilarious to suck at something}

   Single Event: Like Single Race Exept on special tracks with cross-over points for possible collisions

   Single Derby: Destruction Derby, Destroy other racers engines and stay alive your self, just don’t avoid collisions to long or you’ll be disqualified {which is somewhat lame when your just trying to hold on to your last 1% of health}

   In the tracks for Single race, you can pick first from the area-style you’ld like to race [Forest::Field::Desert::Canal::City::Race]

   Forest: Lots of Hills and Trees, Backwoods Campground kind of area.

   Field: Rural Country[less trees], Farmland style.

   Desert: Mesas,Dust,Old Western Towns. Southwestern US style.

   Canal: You know the famous Storm Drain Canals of L.A. featured in so many race games, all these tracks lead into one of those.

   Race: More like Highway loops {Motorways} Made specific for Racing.

   There are about 6 tracks in each area-style and all the tracks are so forgiving and well done with an abundance of alternate routes.

   NEXT is your Vehicle and there are MANY to choose [from the start and to earn], all are mimic Knock-offs of real cars. My suggestions “The Roamer” is an old pick-up, one of the first you start with, it doesnt have much in the way of speed, but when speed does nothing for you exept get you into walls or spin-outs, you may wanna slow-down and take advantage of the other idiots in fast cars spinning out all over. This Pick-up can take a beating and give a beating, for surviving’s sake this is a good selection. However my favorite one that gave me the most overall joy in this game, Is “The Splitter” a mid-80s Camaro mimic, It has an Excellent balance of all the variables you’ll look for in this game. All the cars have a few Pre-selected color schemes in the way burnout did. [In the way of Secret Cars, look for a School Bus and Semi-cab to show up, for use in ALL modes! exept stunt, but yoou won't need them there.]

   The Gameplay of this game is where it all gets confusing for me what score I should give it. Although I’m slipping and sliding around so much, trying to compensate for a spin-out that just will not be denied, Nothing is stopping me. Im cutting through buildings knocking signs and fences and posts,streetlights out of the way, everything moves easily with little effect to the car, then without warning I grow to sure of myself around obstacles and slam headlong into ONE post that’s planted firmly into place and will not be moved, so it’s a little scary the first couple of runs through each track, wondering when your gonna come to an abrupt halt, however simply press Y at that moment and be instantly respawned at half your speed, back on track, with the 2 second reset-blink to not be slammed until you figure out where you are and get back up to speed. This saves the game from sucking, but more could have been done to help the physics system just feel more fun.

   For all this game does right, it’s ashame what it does wrong. While it’s Still gonna earn a High Score from me for the great feeling of speed, sense of freedom in wreckless driving, and Forgiving nature of the nitro refilling, and easy resets. I can’t give it the perfect 10 I had wanted to. Still for all that the game DOES have to offer, IF you get used to the odd buttery driving style, It’ll be very worth the Greatest/Platnium Hits Price it’ll probably recieve within 1st Quarter 07.

   [*I've put this same review on Gamespot]
   
   Rating: 4 / 5