FlatOut Ultimate Carnage

When the original FlatOut arrived for the original Xbox, it was a racing game that featured dirt-kicking races that often ended up with cars getting trashed to the point that a high impact can cause the driver to comically (and creepily) fly out the vehicle, body limbs flailing like a rag doll before landing in a pasture. When it came to destruction, EA’s own Burnout series was at the top but FlatOut offered enough thrills and destructive derby racing to make it an endearing racing game worth a look. FlatOut 2 expanded on the original, giving fans of the original so much more. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360 isn’t a new chapter in the series but rather an upgraded port of the series’ second outing and thus making it the best version yet.

Ultimate Carnage features a number of game mode types, including the return of the outrageously hilarious and entertaining mini-games that made good use of the rag-doll physics of your driver when ejected out of your car’s windshield after a massive collision. FlatOut Mode is the game’s main career mode that has you competing in a number of racing events in the three main racing classes such as Derby Class, Street Class and Race Class. You’ll be set on a linear path but you will have enough options to upgrade your vehicle any way you see fit depending on the type of race. You begin the game at Level 1, which starts you in the Derby Class tier as you race your way through qualifying races and cup events. From there you can purchase better vehicles or make the appropriate upgrades needed. The upgrades range from purchasing better suspension or even a better engine. In short, FlatOut Mode will keep you very busy.

The various race types also make for some decent number of race varieties. You will be competing in straight forwarded three-lap races as well as demolition derbies where the object of the race is to be the last man or woman standing. Some races even have conditions that cater to fans of the original’s destructive nature that has you earning points for causing as much damage to the other racers as possible. Then there’s Carnage Mode, a game mode that offers 36 different challenges using four different race types such as Deathmatch Derby (score as many points before you are destroyed), Stunts (complete a list of stunts), Carnage Race (complete the race while causing as much destruction as possible) and Beat the Bomb (try to beat the timer by completing all laps or your car explodes).

Then there is Single Events, a mode that gives you a taste of every race type available in FlatOut Mode and Carnage Mode. It is here that you can try any race you wish and set your own conditions via the options menu. In Stunt, you can take on any of the available 12 mini-games that range from Baseball (fling your driver into the bat to make him bounce or Soccer (fling your driver and attempt to make a goal). There’s also Time Trail (which is, of course, timed races) and Derby (more demolition derby action). Finally, there’s Party Mode, a game mode that allows you to use any of the rag-doll mini-games in an old-fashioned turn-based way that has you passing the controller to your friends.

That’s right; Party Mode doesn’t even allow a friend to use his or her own controller to join you in a race or demolition derby. As far as the multiplayer is concerned, it’s left only to online play. Online the game has you joining other gamers and things run rather smoothly on this front. Sadly, the lack of offline multiplayer means you’ll have to play a friend through Xbox Live. While we’re on the subject of the game’s flaws, the long load times of the original are back and will not fail to frustrate those gamers who wish to jump back into the action.

Still, these flaws can be overlooked thanks - in part - to the controls that work well no matter what type of race or car you happen to pick. Unlike other arcade-styled racing games, the FlatOut series tries to be realistic when it comes to handling the different terrains as well as opting for a more strategic approach to the race (using the nitro boost at the right moment or how to handle sharp corners without bouncing out of the track). In other words, it leaves the charming silliness to the other game modes that were made to be arcade-styled diversions.

Visually, Ultimate Carnage is quite spectacular and a real graphical upgrade from the original. This isn’t simply slapping on shiny graphics like early ports but rather adding more impressive textures, graphical details and realistic damage that have literally hundreds of pieces fly out during brutal collisions. The various backgrounds also look amazing as do the various cars you can drive in the game. And when it comes to the rag-doll physics and acrobatic movements of your ejected driver, you will not be able to help yourself from smiling at the sight of your driver flipping across the air and hitting ground with limbs akimbo.

The game’s sound remains relatively the same from the Xbox original, showcasing the same hard rock tunes from unknown rocking artists. For the most part, the music will not be everyone’s cup of tea but for those who like a bit of cheese with the rock tunes they will find a few songs to like here. As far as the sound effects are concerned, they’re pretty decent and sometimes - when it comes to the collisions - they sound pretty detailed.

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360 is not only one of the best ports but also one of the most addictive and enjoyable racing games that’s still just as unique as the original. It certainly does have a few weak points - one of them being the lack of a better multiplayer mode - but these weaknesses are minor compared to the great gameplay, beautiful graphics and the number of fun game modes that will not fail to hook fans of the racing genre. If you already own FlatOut 2, you can skip this one (better graphics do not make a better game) but if you don’t you should seriously consider buying this one.

Gameplay: 8.7
Whether you’re playing FlatOut Mode or the addictive single-player mini-games, there are enough events and race types to please any racing enthusiast. The controls work perfectly for this type of game and its own brand of destructive racing just makes this a truly addictive game. It does have its share of problems, of course, but as far as ports go this one handles like a good muscle car.

Graphics: 9.0
The upgraded visuals more than outshine the original in every way and removes the muddy textures and adds more details to the cars and your surroundings. This certainly makes the crashes far more intense and far more hilarious (watching the driver launch into a giant baseball bat will not fail to produce a chuckle or two).

Sound: 8.0
The game’s heavy rocking tunes might not be for everyone to the point that they probably switch off the soundtrack in the Options menu. Still, there are some nicely detailed sound effects and the crashes sound just as painful as it looks.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Trying to make a name for yourself in this type of racing circuit is certainly not going to be easy and there are challenges aplenty that will have you really dueling it out in the various tracks. Sure you can reset your car if you manage to race your car off course but the somewhat realistic vehicle damage can seriously cramp your driving abilities.

Concept: 8.5
Quite possibly the best port of an original Xbox game, Ultimate Carnage brings its own brand of destructive joy to the next-generation well enough. There are some highly addictive mini-games and the game’s main mode is a real treat. You can upgrade the various cars in the game and take them out online but sadly there is no offline multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Online the derby action handles eight players perfectly and the destructive nature of the game is really meant to be shared with others. Sadly, the multiplayer fun could have been more complete if the game had included offline multiplayer as well. Really, there’s no excuse for a game filled with party game modes to leave out offline multiplayer.

Overall: 8.7
For those who missed out on FlatOut 2 for the original Xbox, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360 is a wonderful upgraded port that not only looks great but handles beautifully as well. There are a few returning weak spots and the load times can be too long but this is a game that is just far too much fun to want to put down.