FlatOut, a 2004 release from developer Bugbear Entertainment and publisher Empire Interactive, is an attempt at making a game about cruising laps enjoyable. The premise of the game is to race to the number one seed within the allotted time while keeping the car in the best condition possible. Imagine Need For Speed in a demolition derby, and that is the basic idea. FlatOut has the makings of a great budget game. Unfortunately, its price of $49.99 is a bit high to really be considered as such.
Demolition Racing
FlatOut is not the typical racer. It’s more of an extreme-racing sport similar to stock car racing, but the focus here is on crashing into other cars to ensure the player comes in first place. Not a bad idea, but the experience is somewhat hampered by the unresponsive control system, which tends to favor dragging the car around the track rather than feeling behind the wheel. It’s almost to impossible to steer; the best way is to slide around other cars by using the car’s brake and the handbrake, which slows the pace of the game down. The car feels as though it’s always on the verge of losing control. It’s something that the player can get used to over time, but seeing as being in control of the vehicle is the main aspect of the game, the length of time it takes to master the controls makes for a frustrating first few hours.
Delayed Gratification
FlatOut has its fun moments, but it requires too much effort to get to them. It’s somewhat like waiting in a long line at Disneyland only to buy bottled water. The controls take a long time to master. The AI makes it incredibly difficult to win races. They are very aggressive and will attack unmercifully – in packs if need be. Because of this, the game takes much longer to complete than might be expected, so expect to invest some hours in the game to get to the end.
Nitrous will give the car a speed boost but it’s impossible to buy it nor is it earned it by driving fast; nitrous is earned by smashing into things. The more destructive this player is, the more nitrous gained. Smashing into fences, signs, poles, buildings, and tire piles may seem like a lot of fun, but it usually involves getting into an accident that slows or stops gameplay. This basically neutralizes the extra boost as the extra seconds to get back up to speed nullifies any gains.
Fun Graphical Touches
The tracks in FlatOut go through towns, the countryside, farms, and snow-slick regions. There is no shortage of things to hit, including other vehicles. They take a tremendous amount of damage but keep on going. Fenders and hoods fly off while the frames twist and turn. Engines catch on fire and vehicles end up reduced to charred metal skeletons. Unfortunately, more often than not it’s your car that’s in this state, but it is a nice touch.
FlatOut’s online mode is full of problems. There are some slowdowns and some latency problems, which take the edge off of any skills cultivated. At least it seems to be a universal problem, since other players also seem to have little control over their vehicles. While it’s not ideal, at least it’s fair.
Minigames That Entertain
There’s some fun to be had in FlatOut’s Olympic mode, which requires the player to speed up some kind of a ramp and then stop quickly so that the driver is launched out of his seat toward the goal. There are several of these hilarious mini-games, including Man-Darts, Man-Bowling and Man-Long Jump. Not only are they funny but they actually work very well. The sense of physics is well-developed, and watching the drivers ragdoll through the air always elicits a laugh.
There is a lot of detail in the environments, but only the immediate stuff is interactive. It’s vital to memorize the track layout to collect all of the nitrous and manage to take all of the turns properly. The car sounds are decent, but the rock music is generic, with more fizzle than punch.
Final Thoughts
FlatOut might warrant a rental before buying. It’s possible that the game takes longer than the time to finish it. Even with its issues, FlatOut can be a fun way to spend a few hours once the player has gotten a feel for the controls.