The twisted metal
mayhem of the FlatOut series has given racing fans a new destructive
four-wheeled thrill ride that – in the past – was supplied by Electronic Arts
and its Burnout series. Who doesn’t like to slam into a racing rival only
to see said rival swerve off the track and slam into a tree? Who doesn’t like to
see a car get so mangled that the driver is ejected out of the seat with arms
and legs flailing wildly? FlatOut 2 for the PS2 gave us racing fans
another helping of the addictive destructive racing series and now, several
months later, we are given a port of FlatOut 2 on the PSP. FlatOut:
Head On takes nearly every element from the console game and fits it in one
UMD to makes this a good portable package.
If you’re not
familiar with the FlatOut series then Head On is, by far, the
perfect introduction to the franchise. The first game in the series was a fun
game to be sure but it came with a few problems that held it back. Fortunately,
the sequel fixed many of the original’s flaws and added more new elements and
mini-games so Head On brings all of these improvements to the PSP.
Head On is broken down into four game modes: FlatOut Mode, Carnage Mode,
Single Events and Multiplayer. Each game mode is filled to the brim with
different racing events but the nature of the game is about the destruction.
FlatOut Mode is
the main game mode that has you racing against a number of rivals in a
professional competition. The multiple cup competition is spread over three
racing classes so you’ll not only be competing in typical street and racetrack
races but also in some derby races. It is here where you will earn money to
purchase new vehicles to give you an edge in the various race types. Carnage
Mode is a more arcade-styled game mode that contains 36 challenges with a wacky
twist. Beat the Bomb races, for instance, have you attempting to make each lap
before the timer runs out and your car explodes. A Carnage Race is a race where
you are awarded points for slamming into fellow racers while Stunts makes good
use of rag-doll physics that has your driver being propelled out of the driver
seat.
Single Events
mode offers the best of both worlds as well as the addition of Party Mode … a
game mode that allows up to eight players (sharing a single PSP) to try to
outscore each another in a Stunt match. The best part is that this game mode
also includes 13 mini-games and most of them are a real blast to play. Using the
ability to launch your driver, you can send your driver into basketball hoops,
play a twisted game of bowling or even baseball. Multiplayer, sadly enough,
doesn’t have any online multiplayer function. The game allows up to four player
to take each another on via an Ad Hoc connection.
Despite the fact
that Head On does include all the major game modes and extras, all is not
perfect. Naturally, the PSP has a few hardware limitations that become apparent
while playing the game. The camera can sometimes be a hindrance but not to the
point that it becomes annoying or gets in the way of the action. There’s a
slight dip in the framerate as well but this issue never gets bad enough that
you will lose a race because of it. The hard difficulty level might turn off
casual racing fans, though, and there’s very little that can be done here.
Still, the controls aren’t so bad that you will get frustrated with it.
On the visual
front, Head On has some delightfully charming graphics that make the
vehicles and the rag-doll physics really stand out even on the PSP widescreen.
Unfortunately, the backgrounds – while decent – suffer from some poor textures.
Then again, there are some environments that looks better than others but the
PSP could definitely have done better. At least the destruction comes through
wonderfully and you’ll see your vehicle (as well as others) smash away to
pieces.
The game’s sound
isn’t bad at all either and there’s a great number of licensed tunes from
unknown rock artists such as The Riverboat Gamblers or The Sleeping just to name
a few. The fact that you won’t hear the same song twice is a nice touch. Even
the game’s sound effects are loud and detailed so expect to hear the sounds of
metal crunching loudly or the screams of your driver as he or she breaks through
the windshield.
FlatOut: Head
On for the PSP
may be a port of the highly addictive demolition racing game but it is an
excellent port filled with enough goodies to make this a worthwhile title to
buy. Sure, there are a few problems here and there but the overall result is a
game with all the game modes, racing action and cars that is sure to please
FlatOut fans new and old.
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Gameplay: 8.0
The good news
is that a good majority of the game modes from the PS2 version of the game is
present and accounted for including the fun (and twisted) mini-games. The bad
news is that the game can be a bit too hard for casual gamers and the camera and
controls can be a tad clumsy thanks to the hardware limitations.
Graphics: 7.5
The game’s
graphics are pleasantly colorful and the vehicles look good in action but you
can’t help but think the game could have looked better. Still, the backgrounds
look pretty sharp and the detailed vehicle damage is a major plus.
Sound: 7.5
The game’s
soundtrack has a generous amount of rock tunes so you’ll rarely hear the same
song twice. The sound effects come through nicely on the PSP and listening to
your car fall apart will put a smile on your face.
Difficulty:
Hard
The hardware
limitations play a role in making the game a bit too hard but the real credit
goes to the opponent AI that does a great job of trying to get the upper hand
during races. The racetracks offers enough shortcuts but they rarely help.
Concept: 8.0
FlatOut and
Carnage Mode deliver with all the fun racing modes and events that give gamers
plenty to do. There are dozens of mini-games where you can launch the driver out
the vehicle like a human missile and you can even create your own tournament.
There are also plenty of cars in the Car Shop for you to purchase.
Multiplayer:
8.0
The lack of
online multiplayer is very disappointing but up to four players can take each
another on using an AD Hoc connection. It’s far better than passing your PSP to
up to eight of your friends. Thankfully, the multiplayer modes are plentiful and
addictive.
Overall: 8.0
When it comes
to destructive racing action, FlatOut: Head On is a near perfect portable
title with a lot to offer. It’s hard not to love a title that piles on all the
game modes (including multiplayer) and makes the racing element actually fun.
While there are a few things holding it back, it doesn’t stop this from being a
game fans should definitely buy.
