Flatout: Ultimate Carnage Review - Xbox 360

8.5

Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 9
Audio: 8
Multiplayer: 8
Innovation: 7

Introduction

The Flatout series moves onto the Xbox 360, with Flatout - Ultimate Carnage. It features fast-paced and over the top arcade racing, with smash-em up physics, and several destructive game modes.

Flatout Racing on the Xbox in 2004 was largely passed over with the fairly similar Burnout dominating the scene at the time, and many dismissing it as a mere clone. The sequel Flatout Racing 2 started to make inroads but was viewed with much the same lackluster opinions. Again the Burnout shadow loomed too large. This time around, everything has been amped up to the next level, and UC actually surpasses the Burnout series this time around in all respects.

Gameplay

At it's core, Ultimate Carnage is an arcade racer, which includes a number of different sections including Flatout, Carnage mode, Single events (which is very similar to Carnage mode), Multiplayer, and Party mode. Within each of these you take place in a number of events, such as straight racing, Beat the Bomb, Destruction Derby, and Stunt mode.

Beat the Bomb is a timed race against the clock over a number of checkpoints. Fail to meet each checkpoint by the time allocated, will mean your car explodes. The goal is to get the furthest without destruction. It's a good one to break up the usual races against others.

Deathmatch Destruction Derby is a fight to be the last car standing in an arena environment. By building up speed you can inflict maximum damage on others. If you can manage to be the last one with your car in tact, you'll win the derby. Massive multi-car smashes and destruction make this mode completely simple-minded, but hell fun!

Stunt mode has you catapulting your character as far from the car as possible. It has you starting your car through a basic stunt course, after which you launch your player through the windscreen. After mid-air, your goal is to either travel as far as possible, as high as possible, jump through hoops, or even knock over giant bowling pins, depending on the level. It's silly, but a good timeout occasionally.

Flatout mode makes up the main bulk of the game, and this is a series of simple 2 or 3 lap race around a track, where you compete with 11 other players, as you attempt to beat them to the finish. In this mode, you start with a few credits, can buy a basic car, can purchase upgrades, and compete in a number of different levels and races.

To start with, you race in the Derby class, which consists of very beaten-up beginner cars and races. Once you build up enough credits, you can choose to take place in the Race mode, with slightly nicer cars, and further levels and opponents. Finally, with enough in the bank, you can tackle the Street mode, with (continued next page)