Developer:
Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher:
Empire Interactive
Series:
FlatOut
Release
date: June, 2006
Platforms:
Windows, PS2, Xbox
Genre:
Racing
Mode:
Single Player & Multiplayer
Understatement
is not a word that should be used when describing the success of FlatOut, as it
made people turn their heads when it released in 2004, despite not reaching the
heights or being an established series like Need For Speed and Gran Turismo. Extremely
realistic damage models + arcade gameplay with silly, fun and entertaining
minigames = A recipe for a good time for yourself or with others. The stages
were also a welcome change of pace from the conventional race tracks. Gravel,
mud, snow, and a tiny amount of asphalt made the racing in FlatOut extremely
fun. Not to forget, the stunts and bonus races, too. In the stunts, the
objective was to launch the driver through the windshield and score as many
points as possible in… Let’s say bowling. And if you missed your target, that’s
okay. Seeing the ragdoll physics in all of its glory was amazing back then, and
even now. The bonus tracks were very much different from the normal ones:
Circle of Eights, a NASCAR inspired track, a Crash Alley. All in all, FlatOut
was a smashing hit for Bugbear Entertainment.
With the team
striking gold, letting the hype down would’ve been a huge mistake. The team
carefully followed the praise and criticism for the game (upgrades breaking the
car control, the AI being too tough in some arrears to beat, the minigames,
although fun, there was barely any control of the driver, the music not working
properly, etc., etc.).
2 years later,
they released their magnum opus. Let the intro speak for itself about the
game’s greatness…
Far more
confident than before, FlatOut2 starts off with a bang and it never stops being
EXCITING, EPIC & EXCEPTIONAL! The handling model has been reworked to be
more manageable, but not always 100% in control, brand new stages, new cars,
ACTUAL CHARACTERS, AND SO MUCH MORE!!! What’s offering FlatOut2 to the player?
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is
what makes FlatOut2… FlatOut2! Compared to its predecessor, the handling has
been SIGNIFICANTLY improved across all aspects: the cars no longer oversteer,
but rather turn naturally and smoothly, unless you’re giving out gas like a
psycho and try to turn or you’re on a track that doesn’t consist of tarmac.
On top of that,
the tracks are no longer ordered based on tier or difficulty. There are 6 types
of tracks. 4 of them have 6 configurations, but 2 only have 3:
-
FOREST
(3x Timberlands & 3x Pinegrove)
-
FIELD
(3x Midwest Ranch & 3x Farmlands)
-
DESERT
(Desert Oil Field, Desert Scrap Yard & Desert Old Town)
-
CANAL
(Water Canal 1, Water Canal 2 & Water Canal 3)
-
CITY
(3x City Central & 3x Downtown)
- RACE (3x Riverbay Circuit & 3x Motor Raceway)
The racetracks
are huge when not put under configurations and offer a lot for the player to
destroy and explore, but that exploration is short lived as should the player
leave the track, they get automatically reset at the spot when they left. The
good side of this is you can actually go out of bounds in certain parts of a
track in a way to shorten the time or shorten or lengthen the gap between the
player and the opponents.
The Stunt and Bonus
game modes return, bigger and better than before. Some return from FlatOut, and
some are brand new. For the Stunts, you can now move your driver using
“Acrobatics”. Simply put, use the arrow keys or left and right on the left
thumbstick & the back pedals of your controller to move your driver in the
air, and use the launch/nitrous button for a nudge. But be advised, one nudge
per round and the more you move your driver, the more drag you add to your
momentum. So it’s in your best interest to be careful when going for the high
score. The movement of the launched driver also applies during normal races
when you Crash Out! It has no impact
when it happens, but it’s cool nonetheless.
Before I move on
to the characters of the game, I firstly need to explain the new systems of
being rewarded for your havoc. Destroying your surroundings isn’t the only way
of earning nitrous. Hitting opponents, long airjumps AND DESTROYING YOUR
SURROUNDINGS reward you with nitrous. The best of the best can utilise these
new mechanics to their fullest potential and beyond. Crashing into your
opponents is also revamped (not visually, although the damage model has been
slightly improved from FO1). You will be rewarded based on your type of attack
and the outcome of your attack:
- - SLAM
★ (A light
attack that does little damage to your opponent)
- - POWER
HIT ★★ (A
medium attack that does moderate damage to your opponent)
- - SUPER
FLIP ★★★ (A
heavy attack that does high damage to your opponent)
- - CRASH
OUT ★★★★ (You
managed to send your opponent flying off the dashboard. Nice!)
-
WRECKED!
★★★★★ (Your
opponent has been “deleted” from the race)
Do be mindful
that this can also happen to the player as well, so be careful not to end up
somewhere outside the map while your car is totalled and in flames.
With the new gameplay out of the way, it’s time to talk about the CHARACTERS & CARS…
CHARACTERS
Unlike FlatOut,
that had racers, the characters in FlatOut2 have their own biographies and
characteristics on the track, derby arenas and stunt arenas. They all feature
unique paintjobs and drive a total of 3 types of cars. The cars will have to
wait, because now it’s time to see the brand new faces that the player has to
race against in the game:
|
Jack Benton  |
Fast, aggressive and skilled, these are the words you hear often when there’s talk about Jack Benton. Few can match the speed of this 28-year old driver, and even fewer will survive the crashes with him. Racing has been Jack's whole life since he was ten; it’s always been second nature to him. He spends lots of his free time practicing and aims for perfection. Jack will do whatever it takes to win. He is determined, experienced and cool, though he does display his sharp wit and humor occasionally, especially in the company of ladies. This could be a reason why Jack came to blows with Jason Walker on a night out in bar, which ended up with Jason short of a few teeth and his girlfriend. During races, Jack keeps his cool and doesn’t tangle up in unnecessary crashing for the sake of it. Instead, he bides his time and utilizes all the possible aspects in the race to his advantage. He is quick to react and before you know it, you’ll be left behind inhaling his exhaust fumes. Jack is a restless soul, doing odd jobs around the globe, trying out some dangerous hobbies and living a carefree lifestyle. He has gotten quite good at the ring of fire event where he flings his body superbly through the flaming hoops. Still, the most relaxing place for Jack is behind a steering wheel, going flat-out. |
|
Katie Jackson  |
34-year old former president of the Casual Driver’s Club, Katie Jackson found out that her driving style is better suited for race tracks than for rush-hour traffic. During her years sitting in the traffic jams, she has grown impatient and is quick to react to ever-changing situations. This makes her a dangerous and unpredictable opponent on the race tracks. What Katie lacks in driving skills, she makes up for in her aggressiveness. Katie is known to ram against a fellow driver just for the sake of it and this usually creates situations where she can take ground while leaving the other racers tumbling on the road. Katie has a great deal of arrogance and generally thinks less of her opponents. It would be wise to avoid her or make sure she isn't racing near the top three... Unless you enjoy seeing the top drivers turn to lawnmowers and drive anywhere except in the road. Katie’s crackpot nature makes her proficient in ski jump and her aggressive side is displayed in the field goal stunt arena. |
|
Sofia Martinez  |
If there is someone who can threaten Jack Benton’s win, it’s the 29-year old Sofia Martinez. Sofia hails from Latin America and brings her calculating nature onto the race tracks. While her style is completely different from Jack's, she still often finishes first. Whereas Benton's style is aggressive and calculating, Sofia’s is based on sheer driving skill and tactics. She picks the best lanes and sticks to them, trying to avoid contact where it is unnecessary. Sofia can be seen as rough, distant and outspoken, but generally she is the most professional of all racers in FlatOut. Most of the time she holds up her public image as the coolest racer around, but occasionally her private life charm and warmth comes through. Sofia's calculating nature gives her a natural advantage in royal flush, where she continually comes up with the highest combination of cards. |
|
Sally Taylor  |
Sally was born in Kansas and is the youngest of all her five sisters and six brothers. She spent her childhood on her family’s farm, tending cows and chicken until the herd was run over by a speeding race car. The tragic event changed her life profoundly and the farmer’s daughter became an overnight racer. Nowadays, the 21-year old Sally is cheerful and easygoing most of the time, but sometimes doesn’t think before she acts. She often gets in trouble on the race track, either because of her lack of skill or by ill judgment of the situation ahead. These accidents often lead other racers to think of Sally as silly and bothersome, not someone that is fit for the rough race tracks of FlatOut. Still, her presence brings livelier atmosphere among the rest of the racers. Sally’s physique is excellent for high jumping and her fearless mentality has prepped her for the baseball events where she also prevails. |
|
Jason Walker  |
Jason Walker is a former 27-year old bouncer from Ohio who became a race driver mostly to get his revenge on the top cat of racing, Jack Benton. Jason inherited his first car from his late father, who was a catholic priest until a job related accident left him decapitated. A few years ago, Benton stopped by the bar where Jason was working and proceeded to chat up his girlfriend. Jason was left picking his teeth from the floor and Jack left with a new girlfriend. Jason is a shortsighted and aggressive driver, often utilizing various ways of bullying his opponents into submission. During races, Jason is known to battle aggressively throughout the race, often claiming a lane and sticking to it no matter what. Especially on close quarters where positions are quick to change, Jason can go totally off his rocker and ram everyone off the track, no matter the consequences. |
|
Ray Carter  |
Ray is 27 and has collected a fine line of old motorbikes and old American cars. He got his first motorbike at the age of fourteen while living in Jamaica with his traveling family and has been racing ever since. His motto “Live and let drive” sums up his driving style perfectly. While he enjoys taking risks, he always tries to ensure that his driving doesn’t endanger the other competitors. Ray is calm and laid-back, almost casual in his driving style. He isn’t in the race for the competition, but just for enjoying himself and can easily leave the race track for the other, more competing racers. Ray is also a natural in the bowling arena and rules over the basketball court. Still, after the dust has cleared, Ray can often be seen in the top three. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his friends, collect and repair motor vehicles and listen to his extensive collection of reggae. |
|
Frank Malcov  |
Frank Malcov is a 32-year old former top driver who hit his head and shattered his hand in a race accident, after getting bumped off the track by Jack Benton. Since the accident, Malcov hasn’t been able to win a single race. While it is clear to others that Malcov's career as a race driver is over, he still firmly believes that with practice he’ll be able to make a comeback. Malcov has a strong presence, but often displays himself as a well-meaning, but incoherent person. On the race track, Malcov still retains some of his former killer instincts and can be quick to react to the ever-changing nature of the race, but usually ends up roof first into the nearby gutter because of his way of overestimating his skills. Malcov is rarely seen in the top ranks anymore. Malcov's accident led to interesting developments in his stunt career. His body shape is very aerodynamic and therefore he excels in curling and stone skipping, but is lousy at high jump, ring of fire and ski jump. |
The
bios for the drivers were taken from an unused biography info that was present
during the game’s development. If you found the bios a bit overwhelming, here’s
a simplified view on the characters:
-
Jack Benton is always in yellow and is the best racer in the game, but
average in derbies.
-
Katie Jackson is in red and is a somewhat scary driver to deal with, but
is pretty weak in derbies.
-
Sofia Martinez is in gray and is the second best driver in the game,
right behind Jack Benton. She’s above average in derbies.
-
Sally Taylor’s colour is pink and is a subpar racer, but does pretty
well in derbies.
-
Jason Walker’s colour is black and is the 3rd best racer
around. He’s also pretty good in derbies.
-
Ray Carter’s colour is always light blue and is a pretty much an average
driver overall.
-
Frank Malcov is in navy blue and is perhaps the worst racer out of
everyone, but the best and most dangerous in derbies.
Each character has a unique paintjob that belongs only to them and said
paintjobs cannot be unlocked for the player to use. Speaking of paintjobs…
CARS
Finally, we get to talk about the cars. Before, the cars were beaten, no
longer in use and pretty much ready to be put out of their misery. The trend of
using these types of cars continues here (as is with the spirit of Folkracing),
but this time put in the DERBY class. The cars in this class are slow, handle
somewhat okay, but can dish out EXTREME damage. And it’s not just cars that can
be used to race, but Jeeps and pick-up trucks as well.
I mentioned the word class. That’s because Derby is the first, with RACE
being the second. These are cars that are well balanced in all aspects. Some
have entered retirement not too long ago, whilst some look like they’re still
used for racing.
The third and last class is STREET. This is where Folkracing meets
Street Racing. Proper! The cars are clean, beautiful to look at, have insane
top speeds and great handling, are brand new, BUT cannot last for more than 5
seconds. That is to say, they cannot dish out much pain, and sure as hell they
cannot take it.
All cars in this game are a Frankenstein mix of real life cars, with
creative in-game names. Another aspect of the cars is that some cars handle
better on certain tracks, like let’s say a pic-up truck handles better off
road, while a modern day muscle car fares way better on the streets. Some are
exceptions to the rule and handle brilliantly on any type of surface. In total,
there are 34 cars to choose from and bring forth destruction on the race track…
CAREER
The career mode in this game is fondly remembered. Just like FO1, you’re
given a small amount of cash to purchase a shitbox of your choice (real ones
always pick the Roamer), and then start racing to earn more money to buy better
cars and better upgrades.
Unlike FlatOut1, the Career is divided in 3 categories: Derby, Race
& Street. Each career path contains 3 levels with cups that range from cups
held in the desert to cups utilizing every single track in the game. A table is
used to determine who the best racer is in each cup, with first place being
awarded 10 points, and the last driver being awarded 1 point. Finishing in the
top 3 gives out some major cash, but finishing in first gives you the biggest
reward, and unlocks a special event, which is Derby Arenas and Stunts for Derby
Class, and Special Tracks and Stunts for Race and Street Class.
Each career path contains 3 levels, with level 1 being the easiest,
level 2 ups the challenge and the opponents have their cars upgraded to 50%,
and level 3 being the toughest, where the amount of races are longer (or
shorter but the damage multiplier is increased tenfold) and the competition is
100% upgraded.
As a reward for completing a level, you’re rewarded with extra cash and
new cars to purchase, which can be used for both career mode and normal play.
Completing an entire career tree rewards with a fat stack of cash and unlocks
the Finals career tree. This career tree contains the finals for Derby, Race
and Street classes. Once you clear those out, you unlock the Grand Final, where
you’ll be allowed to use any car on any track.
Before continuing on with the soundtrack, a brief mention on the
post-race rewards. After completing a race in career mode, you are given extra
money for your actions, like Slam, Blast Out, Crash Out, etc. But you can also
end up nominated for one, or all, of the top drivers of a race:
-
Bulldozer: Driver that has destroyed the most props on the track.
-
Fastest Lap: Driver who had the fastest lap in the race.
-
Blast Master: Driver who has dished out the most damage to others in the
race.
-
Best Wrecker: Driver who has destroyed the most in the competition.
The
top driver menu appears in both Career and Normal play modes.
Rob
Zombie, Papa Roach, Mötley Crüe, Rise Against… Need I say more?
CONCLUSION
SIKE!!!!!
THERE IS NO CONCLUSION, BECAUSE A YEAR LATER…
FLATOUT
ULTIMATE CARNAGE
Developer:
Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher:
Empire Interactive
Series:
FlatOut
Release
date: July, 2007
Platforms:
Windows, Xbox 360
Genre:
Racing
Mode:
Single Player & Multiplayer
This
is pretty much an enhanced version of FlatOut2, featuring brand new graphics, 2
new additional cars, 4 new characters, achievements, new soundtrack, and much
more
Compared
to FlatOut2, the graphics are literally day and night. FO2 focuses a lot on the
Bloom and saturation to give off that peak mid 2000s vibe, whilst FOUC has a
more raw and industrial feel, as if it’s mature and takes life and itself a bit
more seriously. The cars are even more detailed than ever before, the damage
system has been upped to insane amounts, new props are added on the maps and
can REALLY mess you up during the race.
The
two new cars introduced are the Bonecracker and the Grinder. Both cars belong
to the Derby class and are insanely good.
The
new 4 drivers are Lei Bing, Curtis Wolfe, Lewis Duran and Jill Richards. These
4 new races don’t really have any detailed bios, but to put it simply: Lei is
the best racer among them.
The
achievements… I dunno why I mentioned them, but they’re there if you want to
complete them.
The
soundtrack for this game is a hot topic of discussion when these games are
discussed. Every track in this game is made by indie bands and aren’t well
known in the mainstream scene. This is because Bugbear wanted to return to the
roots of FO1, to make the game a bit more serious rather than straight up fun.
Although to be honest, FO1 feels just as goofy as the other games in the
series. Not everyone likes this soundtrack, but I actually love it. It really
fits with the game’s brand new coat of paint. And if you use the soundtrack of
the first game, you’ll find that it suits Ultimate Carnage REALLY WELL, unlike
FlatOut2’s, which really doesn’t hit it due to how more upbeat and bright it
is. There’s a mod that combines all of the soundtracks into one package for UC,
and I consider this a necessary mod for the game, as it celebrates what FlatOut
is all about.
The
new additions to the game are customizing tracks in the single race events:
customize the amount of laps, upgrade level, damage & nitro multiplier. You
can mix and match to make your ideal race fun, sad, torturous, or straight up
insane. Time Trials return, and these replace the stunts in Career mode. Don’t
worry, stunts are still playable here.
A
brand new game mode however that is introduced here is Carnage Mode, an arcade
style mode where you select predetermined events and try to hit the target
score before time runs out. CARMAGEDDON is encouraged in these events. Going FlatOut
(no pun intended) is the only way to win these events and unlock not all, but
some cars that can be unlocked only through this game mode. Before I forget,
race tracks are actually locked this time around behind the Career and Carnage
modes. Winning tournaments and races unlocks them for Single Race use.
GALLERY
CONCLUSION
Yeah…
FlatOut2 Ultimate Carnage is one of the best racing games ever made. You can
buy them on Steam by clicking FlatOut2 or FlatOut Ultimate Carnage, as they’re
almost always on sale, always cheap, FlatOut2’s multiplayer works and it’s damn
fun, and Ultimate Carnage offers achievements for the player to complete and
show off how much they’ve mastered the game. I have nothing but the highest of
praises for FlatOut. Sadly, the developer, Bugbear Entertainment, lost the
rights to the series after the release of Ultimate Carnage. The series then had
one mediocre release around the late mid 2010s, but the original developers
went on to create Wreckfest, a spiritual successor to FlatOut and is very much
close to the national racing of Folkracing than FlatOut, but equally as fun to
play. Whatever happens with this franchise, one thing is for sure: I AM NOT
LISTENING, NOT ANYMORE!!! CAUSE I’M DEMON SPEEDING!!!!
Jack Benton
is Wrecked…
TRIVIA
-
Although being the worst driver in the game, Frank Malcov is totally
random in Ultimate Carnage. In Derby Races, he’s relatively weak, in Race Races
he finishes in the top 3, and in Street Races he is either dead last or gets
wrecked. He’s still a threat in Derbies, though.
-
Apart from Frank, Lei, Jill, Curtis & Lewis, all of the racers are
based on some of the AI opponents in FlatOut.
-
Two racers were meant to be in FlatOut2, but were cut due to time
constraints.
-
The Road King is the cover car for both 2 and UC.
-
Although the Insetta is a Race Class car, it’s MUCH, MUCH stronger than
its Street Class counterpart, and outperforms almost 70% of the cars in said
class.
-
The Splitter is notable for being the only Derby Class car for being
cleaner than the rest, and retaining the look of a Race Class car.
-
The Bullet GT is the fastest, but the most difficult to handle car in
the game.
-
Both games feature bonus cars that can be used for multiplayer and
single player.
-
Trailers and screenshots show the cars in FlatOut2 to look very
differently compared to their final version.
-
Cheat codes for FlatOut2: ELPUEBLO,
GIEVCARPLZ, GIEVEPIX, GIVECASH, KALJAKOPPA, RUTTO, WOTKINS, BIGTRUCK.
-
Cheat codes for Ultimate
Carnage: BIGTRUCK, KALJAKOPPA, RUTTO, WOTKINS, GIEVCARPLZ, ELPUEBLO, insertcoin,
housemarque, pressplay, gameover, allyourbase
Ѓорѓи „GioGio“ Илиев
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