What is it?

• At first glance, Flat Out appears to be another watered down, non innovative arcade racer on mostly dirt roads driving around or through obstacles scattered all over the track.
• Then you hit the wall, and watch as your driver is ejected, screaming at 80 mph through the windshield.
• His or her limp body flies across the track before crashing through a wooden sign lining the track.
• Finally as they slide on their neck, they come to a complete stop after hitting a tree head first.
• It is this use of rag doll physics that differentiates this racer from all the others.
• Think of it as a redneck’s version of Burnout.
• The racing is broken down into two main areas of competition.
• First is a race mode where you bang and crash your way through a series of races to earn money to buy upgrades for your car.
• Second, and quite possibly the main appeal, is a collection of mini game’s where you can earn extra money by exploiting the rag doll physics of your poor unsuspecting driver:
• High Jump – Eject your driver off a ramp and see how high he/she can fly.
• Long Jump – Eject your driver and see how far he/she can go.
• Darts – Eject your driver and try to hit the bull’s-eye.
• Bowling – Eject your driver down the lane and go for a strike.
• And even more.
• There are even a few other race types you can try such as:
• Demolition Derby
• Figure 8 track racing.

Preview Gameplay

• Most of the races will be set on dirt tracks, or off road racing environments like the “Sand Pit”.
• In the Xbox preview version, you are given a really fast and powerful car.
• This car was pretty hard to control.
• Breaking wasn’t very effective, and due to the power of the car, the back end felt very loose on the dirt track.
• On the PC, the less powerful cars were very easy and nice to control.
• Hopefully, the Xbox version will be able to capture that fluid feeling control, because I don’t think the preview version did a very good job.
• The racing definitely has a nice drifting style to it; helped out by the fact that most of the racing is done on dirt tracks.
• Little hills and mounds, and elevation changes can cause a lot of trouble by causing the car’s weight to shift and affect the handling.
• One thing that must be mentioned is the good use of the environment.
• Virtually everything is destructible.
• Signs, fencing, gates, oil barrels, all kinds of construction equipment.
• Even poles which will stop you instantly will lean and start to give way.
• All the objects remain where they lay for the race too, so if you send a stack of tires flying on the first lap, they will be there for the rest of the race.
• Destruction of the environments plays an important role in the game.
• Every time you run into something like tires, fencing, or another car, you will earn boost. The more damage you do the more boost you will earn.
• Boost can help you pull off that last second comeback.
• You will also get paid at the end of the race for the damage that you caused.
• The game still probably wouldn’t be that interesting if it weren’t for a pretty detailed graphics engine.
• The cars are not Gran Turismo, or Forza detailed, but they make up for it with extensive detail in the damage.
• Windshields explode.
• Tires wobble.
• Engines catch fire.
• The body crumples like it was made out of aluminum.
• Basically, your car can look exactly what you might expect it to look like after being in a destruction derby.
• However, the damage modeling only goes so far, so if you are looking to wreck your car until it won’t go anymore, you might be a little disappointed.
• The damage you take will also effect how the car handles.
• Your car might start pulling to one side or the other.
• Your tire grip will go away so you will have a harder time turning.
• Your car will loose overall speed if it takes too much of a beating.

Preview Hype

• With great games such as Forza, Project Gotham 2, Rallysport 2 and Burnout 3 already dominating the racing on the Xbox, there doesn’t seem like much room for another racer.
• However, the sheer fun of watching your driver get ejected from your car is sure to make this game at least a top rental.
• Flat Out is looking to be very solid arcade racer, and the unique mini games that focus on the rag-doll physics, is sure to draw some interest.
• Considering that most of the Burnout 3 fans are probably sick of the game, you might see Flat Out do surprisingly well in its wake.
• Here’s looking forward to Flat Out, this July.