When the
original FlatOut arrived for the original Xbox, it was a racing game that
featured dirt-kicking races that often ended up with cars getting trashed to the
point that a high impact can cause the driver to comically (and creepily) fly
out the vehicle, body limbs flailing like a rag doll before landing in a
pasture. When it came to destruction, EA’s own Burnout series was at the top but
FlatOut offered enough thrills and destructive derby racing to make it an
endearing racing game worth a look. FlatOut 2 expanded on the original, giving
fans of the original so much more. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360
isn’t a new chapter in the series but rather an upgraded port of the series’
second outing and thus making it the best version yet.
Ultimate Carnage
features a number of game mode types, including the return of the outrageously
hilarious and entertaining mini-games that made good use of the rag-doll physics
of your driver when ejected out of your car’s windshield after a massive
collision. FlatOut Mode is the game’s main career mode that has you competing in
a number of racing events in the three main racing classes such as Derby Class,
Street Class and Race Class. You’ll be set on a linear path but you will have
enough options to upgrade your vehicle any way you see fit depending on the type
of race. You begin the game at Level 1, which starts you in the Derby Class tier
as you race your way through qualifying races and cup events. From there you can
purchase better vehicles or make the appropriate upgrades needed. The upgrades
range from purchasing better suspension or even a better engine. In short, FlatOut Mode will keep you very busy.
The various race
types also make for some decent number of race varieties. You will be competing
in straight forwarded three-lap races as well as demolition derbies where the
object of the race is to be the last man or woman standing. Some races even have
conditions that cater to fans of the original’s destructive nature that has you
earning points for causing as much damage to the other racers as possible. Then
there’s Carnage Mode, a game mode that offers 36 different challenges using four
different race types such as Deathmatch Derby (score as many points before you
are destroyed), Stunts (complete a list of stunts), Carnage Race (complete the
race while causing as much destruction as possible) and Beat the Bomb (try to
beat the timer by completing all laps or your car explodes).
Then there is
Single Events, a mode that gives you a taste of every race type available in
FlatOut Mode and Carnage Mode. It is here that you can try any race you wish and
set your own conditions via the options menu. In Stunt, you can take on any of
the available 12 mini-games that range from Baseball (fling your driver into the
bat to make him bounce or Soccer (fling your driver and attempt to make a goal).
There’s also Time Trail (which is, of course, timed races) and Derby (more
demolition derby action). Finally, there’s Party Mode, a game mode that allows
you to use any of the rag-doll mini-games in an old-fashioned turn-based way
that has you passing the controller to your friends.
That’s right;
Party Mode doesn’t even allow a friend to use his or her own controller to join
you in a race or demolition derby. As far as the multiplayer is concerned, it’s
left only to online play. Online the game has you joining other gamers and
things run rather smoothly on this front. Sadly, the lack of offline multiplayer
means you’ll have to play a friend through Xbox Live. While we’re on the subject
of the game’s flaws, the long load times of the original are back and will not
fail to frustrate those gamers who wish to jump back into the action.
Still, these
flaws can be overlooked thanks – in part – to the controls that work well no
matter what type of race or car you happen to pick. Unlike other arcade-styled
racing games, the FlatOut series tries to be realistic when it comes to handling
the different terrains as well as opting for a more strategic approach to the
race (using the nitro boost at the right moment or how to handle sharp corners
without bouncing out of the track). In other words, it leaves the charming
silliness to the other game modes that were made to be arcade-styled diversions.
Visually,
Ultimate Carnage is quite spectacular and a real graphical upgrade from the
original. This isn’t simply slapping on shiny graphics like early ports but
rather adding more impressive textures, graphical details and realistic damage
that have literally hundreds of pieces fly out during brutal collisions. The
various backgrounds also look amazing as do the various cars you can drive in
the game. And when it comes to the rag-doll physics and acrobatic movements of
your ejected driver, you will not be able to help yourself from smiling at the
sight of your driver flipping across the air and hitting ground with limbs
akimbo.
The game’s sound
remains relatively the same from the Xbox original, showcasing the same hard
rock tunes from unknown rocking artists. For the most part, the music will not
be everyone’s cup of tea but for those who like a bit of cheese with the rock
tunes they will find a few songs to like here. As far as the sound effects are
concerned, they’re pretty decent and sometimes – when it comes to the collisions
– they sound pretty detailed.
FlatOut:
Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360 is not only one of the best ports but also one
of the most addictive and enjoyable racing games that’s still just as unique as
the original. It certainly does have a few weak points – one of them being the
lack of a better multiplayer mode – but these weaknesses are minor compared to
the great gameplay, beautiful graphics and the number of fun game modes that
will not fail to hook fans of the racing genre. If you already own FlatOut 2,
you can skip this one (better graphics do not make a better game) but if you
don’t you should seriously consider buying this one.
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Gameplay: 8.7
Whether you’re
playing FlatOut Mode or the addictive single-player mini-games, there are enough
events and race types to please any racing enthusiast. The controls work
perfectly for this type of game and its own brand of destructive racing just
makes this a truly addictive game. It does have its share of problems, of
course, but as far as ports go this one handles like a good muscle car.
Graphics: 9.0
The upgraded
visuals more than outshine the original in every way and removes the muddy
textures and adds more details to the cars and your surroundings. This certainly
makes the crashes far more intense and far more hilarious (watching the driver
launch into a giant baseball bat will not fail to produce a chuckle or two).
Sound: 8.0
The game’s
heavy rocking tunes might not be for everyone to the point that they probably
switch off the soundtrack in the Options menu. Still, there are some nicely
detailed sound effects and the crashes sound just as painful as it looks.
Difficulty:
Medium/Hard
Trying to make
a name for yourself in this type of racing circuit is certainly not going to be
easy and there are challenges aplenty that will have you really dueling it out
in the various tracks. Sure you can reset your car if you manage to race your
car off course but the somewhat realistic vehicle damage can seriously cramp
your driving abilities.
Concept: 8.5
Quite possibly
the best port of an original Xbox game, Ultimate Carnage brings its own brand of
destructive joy to the next-generation well enough. There are some highly
addictive mini-games and the game’s main mode is a real treat. You can upgrade
the various cars in the game and take them out online but sadly there is no
offline multiplayer mode.
Multiplayer:
7.5
Online the
derby action handles eight players perfectly and the destructive nature of the
game is really meant to be shared with others. Sadly, the multiplayer fun could
have been more complete if the game had included offline multiplayer as well.
Really, there’s no excuse for a game filled with party game modes to leave out
offline multiplayer.
Overall: 8.7
For those who
missed out on FlatOut 2 for the original Xbox, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the
Xbox 360 is a wonderful upgraded port that not only looks great but handles
beautifully as well. There are a few returning weak spots and the load times can
be too long but this is a game that is just far too much fun to want to put
down.
