FlatOut for Windows

Flat Out is a racing game not too unlike many others in the past that have racers smashing into one another in a speed frenzy to the finish line. However, most other racing games leave out a lot of the details of car crashing. Older games like Need for Speed III didn't even show any damage after a major collision. This game shakes the foundation of the racing/derby genre by adding as much detail as possible and taking advantage of the new technologies in graphics processing to create one of the most realistic looking racing games I have ever played.


Game modes

Flat Out can be played in single player or multiplayer mode. In multiplayer mode you can not access some of the tracks and special events that you can in single player mode. You are basically stuck with simple racing around various tracks against other players. There are also no computer AI drivers in multiplayer mode, it's strictly players vs. players. Up to eight players can compete together in multiplayer mode.

In single player mode you can choose to run a quick race, Time Trial or Continue Career. The Quick Race mode allows you to run one single race which will have no bearing on your career. The Time Trial mode gives you a specific time to beat for the track you choose. In time trial mode it is just you against the track, there are no other drivers on the course.

Choosing Continue Career gives you access to the special events and allows you to climb the ladder to fame and fortune. In career mode you can choose a car and upgrade it with money you win from racing and special events. There are three levels in career mode; Bronze, Silver and Gold. In each level there are 15 tracks to race. You must place at least third on each track of a level to advance to the next level. As you advance levels each race is worth more money as well.


Starting out (single player career mode)

You begin by choosing either a male or female driver and giving them a name. Then you select a car and choose whether you want an automatic or manual transmission. You can also choose different colors of the same car. From here you begin by choosing a race then choosing the level. In the beginning you can only choose the bronze level. You have five tracks to choose from at first and if you place third or better in your race you will unlock the next track. Once you have unlocked all fifteen of the tracks and placed third or better in them all, you unlock the next level and you have five more tracks to choose from with ten to unlock.

You can also choose Bonus which will get you into the special events. In the bronze level there are four bonus events you can enter. The first is called Long Jump. In this event you speed your car down a short track with a ramp and short wall at the end. The idea is to launch your driver as far down the alley as you can and you get money for making certain distances.

The next is called High Jump. The idea of this event is to race down a short track to a steep ramp at the end and launch your driver as high into the air as possible. You get money for hitting certain heights.

The nest choice is called Demolition Dash. This is your typical smash up derby only to the extreme. In this derby they don't stop the show if someone's car catches on fire. You also may find yourself running over a body that has been thrown from another vehicle.

The fourth event is a simple race around a figure 8 track. The center of the figure 8 is elevated with a four way ramp. In this event it is not uncommon for two cars to be crossing the center going in different directions and the result is a very explosive crash in mid air.

There are more special events in the next two levels that are unlocked when you advance in the standard races. These other events include Darts where you throw your driver at a giant dart board and try to score points. Bowling is where you throw the driver down a giant bowling lane and try to knock over giant bowling pins. There are also two other types of smash up derby races you can play when they are unlocked.


Game play

The game is played strictly with the keyboard or game pad. There is no mouse used, not even in the menus. You can set the controls for the keyboard however you like but I use the standard W-A-S-D for directional control and the space key for the emergency brake. You also have a nitrous oxide button which I have assigned to the Ctrl key. In normal races you get NO2 added to your tank for use whenever you need it by hitting objects along the road. The more things you smash into the more nitrous oxide you get.

You also get a smash bonus at the end of the race for hitting objects in the race. The amount of pay you get depends on where you place and what you smash into. This money can be used in the shop to buy upgrades for your car. Each level you complete unlocks more cars with more horse power. So you can upgrade all you want but if you can scrape by with fewer upgrades you'll have more money to spend on a better car in the next level.

You can upgrade you engine parts, transmission, exhaust, suspension, tires and body. Each upgrade adds a little better performance and you can tell how much better the car controls when you race.


Graphics

This is the crowning achievement in this game as far as I am concerned. The graphics are simply stunning and very realistic. The geometry of the game is as close to real as I have seen in any game. The texture are almost photographic in nature and absolutely beautiful. I have also noticed that even though the graphics are extremely realistic, it doesn't take the greatest graphics card to run this game. I have played this game on an Athlon XP 2.17GHz machine with 512MB RAM and a Radeon 9000 graphics card which you can get for cheap these days and the game was smooth as glass. So this game proves that great graphics does not require an Alienware computer with the latest video card to play.

When cars crash into objects and each other, they take damage that stays on the car. Parts fall off too. Fenders, bumpers, hoods and doors can be lost if enough damage is done. Windows are broken on impacts and exhaust pipes fall off behind the vehicles when the hit the ground too hard after a jump or if they careen over something. This is another reason the game is so realistic. If your car takes enough damage the engine even catches on fire and black smoke will pour out of the engine compartment.

The scenery is not exactly realistic but close enough when your passing it by a speeds over 100 mph and sometimes as fast as 160+mph. The track and objects around the track are done very well and look fairly realistic, the sky looks real and the trees look almost real until you get right up to them. Overall this is the best graphics I have seen in any game to date.


Sound

The sound in the game is also very well done. The sounds of the cars engines and tires squalling are really well done. The game also supports 3D audio and surround sound. The game sounds are great but the music is excellent. You can choose the level of quality for music at the initial setup of the game. I chose 16-bit, 48kHz audio and the music is CD quality. The music is actual songs recorded by real bands and really does sound great. You also have the option of turning the music down or off as well so if you don't like the hard rockin' music you can simply turn it off.


Likes and don't likes

I have to say I like everything about this game. I have yet to find something I don't like but I would have added a few features to the game if I had designed it. I would have added smash up derbies to the multiplayer aspect of the game (since that is my favorite part to play) and different looking drivers. There are only one male model and one female model to choose from, more drivers would be cool. This game seems to me like a console game that was adapted for PC and therefore I would have added some support for older game pads since mine doesn't work with the game (my game pad is like 5 years old and runs off a serial interface).


System Requirements

Minimum Specifications:
* 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 or AMD Equivalent
* 256 MB RAM
* 64 MB Graphics Card
* DirectX Compatible Sound Card
* 1.1 GB free Hard Drive Space
* Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
* DirectX9.0c (Included on the Disc)

Recommended Specifications:
* 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or AMD 2000+
* 512 MB RAM
* 128 MB Graphics Card
* DirectX Compatible Sound Card
* Gamepad or Steering Wheel
* Windows XP SP2 (DirectX 9.0c included with SP2)
* Ethernet card for multiplayer LAN


Conclusion

Did I mention that this is one of the best graphics I have ever seen in a game? I did? Oh, ok well I mean it. This game is one of my favorite games to play these days. I have had other games that help release tension after a hard day but this one takes the cake. I mean how many times have you felt like just slamming your car into that jerk that cut you off from the left lane to take an exit only twenty yards ahead? Well here is your chance for some pay back. I have had this game for over five months now and I still play at least once a day if I can. This game won't be sitting on my shelf for some time yet. If you like racing or car games this is one you have to check out.

Thanks for reading,
Gr8ful :-)