FlatOut 2

The Good
The idea behind the whole game. Nowadays almost every developer creates an action game, or a FPS. And since all the Burnout games are console-only, and since I liked FlatOut 1 a lot, I was really interested in the sequel to the original game. After all, you don't get to play a Destruction Derby-like game everyday :)

The game features LOTS of improvements. Not only that a more accessible and good looking interface is now present, but several cars, tracks, modes and characters were added. And FlatOut 2 can be considered a worthy sequel to the original game since it takes everything that made FlatOut 1 a good game and improves each of those elements. Long story short: FlatOut2 = Improved FlatOut1.

But don't think of the game as a new FlatOut1 clone. Even if every element from FO1 (I'll use this abbreviation from now on) is present in FO2, each one is changed in a manner that makes the game look like a completely new one, and not just another clone (points at FlatOut Ultimate Carnage).

First of all the graphics are stunning. Perfect. Impressive. Immaculate. Whatever term you want to use. I simply love the landscapes (especially the sunset scenery) and the cars are insanely well modeled. The physics of the game are OK, though there are a few minor bugs... The car damage is impressive for the eye but, alas, it has a really LOW impact on the car's performance. But what the hell? Who cares? This isn't a simulator or anything like that! This is an insanely fun game that features massive...

... WRECKAGE! If you hear the name FlatOut, you immediately think of massive car destruction, impressive and dangerous stunts, landed planes and flying cars! Every single scratch is visible on your car and every contact with the solid objects in the landscapes will leave serious "scars" on the car's body. You can't call a crash a failure since you get nitro points for every impressive crash so... aside from winning the race, your main aim in this game is to wreck everything you can see. Reminded me of Carmageddon somehow... and that's not a bad thing!

There are lots of cars to choose from. Split into 3 different categories, varying from Derby Cars to Street Racing cars. While the derby cars look more... destroyed, the street cars are the perfect picture of luxury. So, all you have to do, is earn enough money, buy an expensive and good looking car that would make any Maybach go pale, then take it out on the streets... to wreck it! Don't worry, the car will be automatically repaired after the race :P As I said, the scenery is perfect, thus making the driver look away from the road to admire the view. That isn't a good thing at all. Really. The tracks are great but it is difficult to master them. At every turn you can crash into something and get slowed down. Or you could go through a fence and end up with nothing more to do other than clicking on the Reset button. This is a bad and a good thing at the same time.

The music is simply great. I love most of the tracks and those that I don't love I don't get annoyed with. They're all ok. Even if I don't fancy metal or alternative music, the soundtrack goes well with the game atmosphere so I don't mind it at all.

The game controls are great, the car is rather easy to handle, and if you have a gamepad, then you're in luck. I played the game using a gamepad and believe me, you control the car much better than with the keyboard.

The Bad
The game is insanely difficult. You need to crash some opponents in order to get pass them without using nitro, because they are just TOO fast. Or should I say faster than you? Maybe It's just me but...

And most of the tracks repeat. You race on the same track in different events 3 or 4 times.

Also it's really frustrating to crash while racing the last lap and lose everything you gained before crashing... That happens quite often in this game.

The Bottom Line
Even if the game was quite difficult and frustrating, it always made me go back to play!