Flatout (XBOX)
Flatout's most prominent feature is undoubtedly the impressive physics engine that gives nearly every one of the game's movable objects its own characteristics. Hitting the tires stacked against the walls will cause them to fall and realistically bounce around the track, where they'll rest until another car comes by and sends them careening. There are plenty of destructible objects lining the course, from wooden signs and fences to water towers and scaffolding. In a nice twist, hitting an object will not actually destroy it, it will simply relocate it, oftentimes onto the track itself. This helps to make later laps a bit more challenging, as you've got to avoid the debris while simultaneously keeping track of the whereabouts of your competitors.
The only reason that the track is covered with debris is because you've got to destroy the environment with your car if you want to get ahead. Confused? Although the recipe for success in most racing games is to avoid whatever obstacles are in your path, FlatOut rewards your destructive tendencies by supplying you with the all-important nitro. Every time you hit a movable object, you'll get a bit of extra boost, making it that much easier to keep your lead or make a play for the lead. Surprisingly, you get very little nitro for taking out an opponent or pushing him into a solid, unmovable object. Of course, that won't stop you from doing it and watching the driver get ejected through the windshield.
Don't go into the race thinking that your opponents will be pushovers, though, as they're far from it. From the beginning, you'll be challenged by foes that don't make many mistakes, forcing you to somehow drive both cautiously and aggressively at the same time. The game's controls don't make this easy, as they tend to be a bit unresponsive, which can be a killer on some of the tougher corners. If you've got some boost left, your best bet is to rocket out of turns, while early braking works well if you're out. You'll get punished for your errors, too, either by getting spun in the wrong direction or being tossed from your car. Either way, resetting is generally your best option. Thankfully, the developers decided to let you keep whatever nitro you had left in your tank.
If you're racing in the career mode (there's a quick race option, as well), winning races will supply you with money to upgrade the parts on the car you bought at the beginning. Although hardcore gearheads will probably be a bit disappointed by the limited number of mod options, the selection is perfect for the type of player who would rather spend more time on the track than in the garage. Winning races will also allow you to progress to each division's (you'll go from Bronze to Gold) championship, although you might be a bit tired of the environments by the time you finish. In that timeless racing tradition, you'll see numerous permutations of the same tracks, which at least keeps things from getting too predictable. The tracks affect the races, too, especially in the cases of the slippery winter wonderland and the log-strewn dirt track.
Some people might not be that interested in the game's standard race modes, however, once they check out the highly original selection of mini-games that the developers have included. In one of the best implementations of ragdoll physics we've seen in some time, many of the mini-games revolve around using your driver's lifeless body to complete whatever goal you're asked to accomplish. In one, you'll have to knock down a cluster of giant bowling pins, while another requires you to rack up points on a dartboard. They're a ton of fun, and offer hours of laugh-filled replay value. Traditionalists will be happy to hear that you can participate in some good old-fashioned demolition derbies, in both arena and track settings.
Both the PS2 and Xbox versions of FlatOut offer fast-paced online play and matchmaking, and you can expect a smooth, lag-free experience for the most part. All of the tracks and cars are available from the beginning, although the game's host can choose to limit the choices in whatever way he or she would like. Once the race begins, all bets are off. The action is much more chaotic (and generally more entertaining) than that found in the offline game, and you're guaranteed to see some crazy stuff every time you log on. There's one noticeable difference between the online experiences found in the two console versions of the game: the PS2 supports the destruction derbies, yet the Xbox title doesn't. It's actually not a big deal, as I found the 8 player racing to be much more satisfying,
Although FlatOut might not be everyone's cup of tea (I'm talking to you, sim-racing fans), it's got the one thing that a lot of its competitors are missing: a playful sense of what makes the genre fun. The inclusion of the ridiculously over-the-top mini-games instantly helps this game move ahead of the pack, and the online action is highly entertaining. If you're a fan of wanton destruction (and really, who isn't?), you owe it to yourself to check this one out.