FlatOut

Last updated
FlatOut
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Android, OS X, Linux, Meta Quest, PlayStation 5
First release FlatOut
November 5, 2004
Latest release FlatOut 4: Total Insanity
March 17, 2017

FlatOut is a series of action demolition derby/racing video games created by Finnish independent video game developer Bugbear Entertainment. [1] The FlatOut series has sold a total of almost 3 million units worldwide. After Bugbear developed FlatOut: Head On, Dutch video game developer Team6 Game Studios developed the next three games in the series, which are the Windows-exclusive FlatOut 3 and two spin-offs on Wii and Android. Kylotonn developed the series' fourth installment, FlatOut 4: Total Insanity , which was released on March 17, 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in Europe and May 2 in the United States. In 2024, Flat2VR Studios announced a remake of FlatOut (2004) for Meta Quest, PSVR2, and SteamVR. [2]

The series has received both critical acclaim during Bugbear's development [3] and notable negative reception after the bankruptcy of Empire Interactive and ownership change to Team6 [4] [5] with most notably FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction being considered one of the worst video games of all time [6] and FlatOut 2 being considered the best in the series. [7] It was called a welcome addendum to the derby-racing genre at first but eventually died out due to a lack of critical reception alongside constant developer and publisher changes. [8] Original developer Bugbear have since released Wreckfest (2017), which is considered a spiritual successor to the FlatOut series.

Games

TitleYear releasedPlatforms
FlatOut 2004 Windows, PS2, Xbox
FlatOut 2 2006 Windows, PS2, Xbox
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage 2007 X360, Windows
FlatOut: Head On 2008 PSP
FlatOut2010 Wii
FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction 2011 Windows
FlatOut Stuntman2013 Android
FlatOut 4: Total Insanity 2017 PS4, Xbox One, Windows
FlatOut VRTBA Meta Quest, PS5, SteamVR

FlatOut's gameplay style remained mostly consistent over the years, so much so that it was criticized for being stagnant and repetitive. [9] The first game featured standard lap races and destruction derby competitions against 7 computer-controlled opponents in either open environments or stadium laps. It was notable for featuring excessive car damage, silly physics and fun gameplay [10] and FlatOut 2 was praised for evolving the gameplay of the first game and having better races, vehicles, graphics and controls. [11] It received an enhanced version on Xbox 360 called FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, which also received a port to the PlayStation Portable called FlatOut: Head On.

After FlatOut 2 , the developers behind the series, Bugbear Entertainment, left the series and Dutch Team6 Game Studios took over the franchise for the next three entries and Kylotonn developed FlatOut 4: Total Insanity , the latest game in the series. However, future games didn't exceed FlatOut 2 's critical reception, with FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction being considered one of the worst games ever made, [12] FlatOut for the Wii being considered "awful" by Nintendo Gamer [13] and FlatOut 4: Total Insanity receiving middling reviews. [14] An iOS rag doll spin-off titled FlatOut Stuntman was developed and published by Team6 Game Studios in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Kuorikoski, Juho (2015). Finnish Video Games: A History and Catalog. McFarland & Company. ISBN   978-1-4766-2119-7 . Retrieved 16 March 2019– via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Lang, Ben (2024-08-15). "Flat2VR Studios Announces Four Flatscreen Games Getting VR Ports for Major Headsets". Road to VR. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  3. ↑ Matt Gardner (1 August 2019). "13 Years On, BugBear's FlatOut 2 is Still the King of Car Combat. Will Wreckfest Change That?". Forbes.
  4. ↑ Rich Stanton (5 January 2012). "FlatOut 3: Chaos and Destruction Review". Eurogamer.
  5. ↑ Luke Reilly (18 January 2012). "FlatOut 3: How to Ruin a Good Racing Series Forever". IGN .
  6. ↑ Ben Gilbert (17 April 2018). "Worst 50 Games Of All Time, According to Critics". Business Insider.
  7. ↑ Chris Roper (17 May 2012). "FlatOut 2 Review". IGN .
  8. ↑ Will Usher. "14 Game Franchises That Got Way Worse". Cinema Blend.
  9. ↑ Will Usher. "14 Game Franchises That Got Way Worse". Cinema Blend.
  10. ↑ Alex Navarro (18 July 2005). "FlatOut Review". Gamespot.
  11. ↑ Chris Roper (17 May 2012). "FlatOut 2 Review". IGN .
  12. ↑ Ben Gilbert (17 April 2018). "Worst 50 Games Of All Time, According to Critics". Business Insider.
  13. ↑ "FlatOut for Wii Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "FlatOut 4: Total Insanity for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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