Fatal Inertia Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

System: PS3, X360	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Koei Canada	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Koei	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 11, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1 - 4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The vehicles themselves are great. Again, this is mainly due to the customization level of the game. Literally, Fatal Inertia allows you to really make the vehicle you want. You will also see the attention to detail for the damage your vehicle will take. This may not be a huge thing, but after excessively bashing your vehicle on the walls and other various hazards, it is a great cue for when you are about to be eliminated from the race.

Fatal Inertia screenshot

The sounds of the game are not genuine, nor are they all that pleasant to hear. Unless of course, you like bass thumping techno, with a few dashes of videogame idiocracy blaring through your speakers. The music is just flat dull and a little stale. But with the intensity of the races and determination factor, most of the time the music is going to be drowned out from you being on the edge of your seat either wishing it would end or cursing that driver that just pasted you.

The frantic frenzy comes to light a little better in the online multiplayer. It also helps you realize just how cutthroat you might be while playing online. Online you get into the spirit of competition a lot quicker than some will in the single player season action.

While not perfect, Fatal Inertia does keep you entertained for a while, and might even hook you the way F-Zero hooked me. However, I have to warn you, just because you loved F-Zero doesn't mean that you will like Fatal Inertia. Simply put, if you really have to run out and buy any game that will keep you going for quite a few hours, then this could certainly aid you along in your quest to defeat boredom. Just make sure that you are prepared to run into the several track laden obstacles repeatedly. Just after each hit say to yourself, "Once more, with feeling." It seemed to help me.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Freelance Writer

Features:

The foundation of Fatal Inertia is its physics engine, which uses the power of the Xbox 360 to create weapons and environments that are unlike anything seen before. The beautiful natural environments aren't just scenery - they are there to be used in combat, and rock walls can quickly become avalanches to use against your opponents. You'll have unparalleled freedom, and with all the possibilities the physics-based engine has to offer, you'll never have the same play experience twice.

In this game, weapons are not something you use to directly damage an opponent, but are used to create a variety of physics-based effects. A single weapon has a variety of uses, and you'll discover new ways to use them every time you play.

The vehicles in Fatal Inertia are highly customizable, and with the large variety of designs and parts at your disposal, you can truly inject your own personality into your ride. You can also save your custom vehicles to a memory card and take them on the road.

This game isn't just about getting to the finish line first, with a wide variety of game modes to choose from. There are several competitive and cooperative modes, and season play lets you win prizes and gain special items. Whether you're a speed demon or a road warrior, you'll find a mode that's right for you.

Desolate woodlands, dusty canyons, giant glacial ranges, and other natural regions are your playground. But the environments are not just there to be sped through - they offer many opportunities to hinder your opponents as well.

Take your customized vehicles and play in epic multiplayer combat. With the many ways to use the weapons and environments, every multiplayer battle is sure to be a hotly-contested affair.

Screen Resolution: Up to 720p (Standard HDTV, Widescreen).

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.7

Graphics
Not really what you would expect from a next-gen system.

2.8

Control
The vehicles themselves handle as sloppy as the controls, so it evens out, maybe.

2.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Generic. That's really all I can say about the sounds and music, generic.

3.0

Play Value
There is a lot to keep you busy, but it really isn't for everyone.

2.9

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.