FlatOut 2

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FlatOut 2
Flatout2pc.jpg
Developer(s) Bugbear Entertainment [a]
Publisher(s) Empire Interactive
Designer(s) Janne Alanenpää
Programmer(s) Tatu Blomberg
Artist(s) Mikko Kautto
Series FlatOut
Platform(s) Windows
PlayStation 2
Xbox
Xbox 360
PlayStation Portable
Mac OS X
Release
June 30, 2006
  • Flatout 2
    • EU: June 30, 2006
    • NA: August 1, 2006
    • NA: October 2, 2008 (Mac OS X) [1]
    Ultimate Carnage
    Xbox 360
    • EU: July 22, 2007
    • AU: August 1, 2007
    • NA: October 2, 2007
    PlayStation Portable
    • NA: March 11, 2008 [2]
    • AU: March 12, 2008
    • EU: March 14, 2008
    Windows
    • EU: August 1, 2008
    • NA: September 2, 2008
Genre(s) Racing, action
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

FlatOut 2 is an action racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Empire Interactive for Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was released in Russia on June 29, 2006, in Europe on June 30, and in North America on August 1. The game received positive reviews.

Contents

The sequel to 2004's FlatOut , FlatOut 2 is themed more on the street racing/import tuner scene than its predecessor. A notable change is the tire grip; players can take more control of their car, worrying less about skidding in tight turns. The game has three car classes: derby, race, and street.

An enhanced port was released in 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Windows as FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage. A PlayStation Portable port of Ultimate Carnage was released as FlatOut: Head On in 2008. The same year, an OS X version of the game was released by Virtual Programming. An update for the PC version was released in July 2024, that implemented Steam Workshop support, improved support for the Steam Deck and added various quality-of-life improvements. [3]

Gameplay

Ragdoll physics

The ragdoll physics have been greatly improved from the previous game. During the race, the driver may be thrown out of the car if slammed into a wall at a high speed. In the numerous stunt minigames, players can shoot the driver out of the car in order to complete objectives like knocking down a set of bowling pins, hitting the designated spots on a dartboard, scoring a field goal or flying through flaming hoops. Players must use 'aerobatics' to control the driver in-flight, but overusing it will increase drag, which will slow the driver down and possibly prevent them from reaching the designated target. If the driver falls short of the target, players can use the "nudge". This gives the driver a small upward boost and slightly reduces drag. In the Stone Skipping Stunt minigame, the players must use nudge just as the driver hits the surface of the water to skip the most efficiently and reach the furthest.

Reception

Critical reception

The PC version of FlatOut 2 received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [4] [5] [6] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of all four sevens for a total of 28 out of 40.[ citation needed ]

Awards

DateAwardCategoryRelease editionResultRef.
May 20, 2006 IGN Best of E3 2006Best Racing Game PS2 Runner-up [22]
December 20, 2006 X-Play Game of the YearBest Racing Game Xbox Won [23]

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is an enhanced port of FlatOut 2 featuring new gameplay modes, soundtrack and graphics as well as at least two new cars. It was known earlier as FlatOut: Total Carnage. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage was released on July 22, 2007, in Europe, on August 1 in Australia, and on October 2 in North America for the Xbox 360.

The Microsoft Windows version was released through the Steam network on August 26, 2008, and in stores on September 2. There is also a handheld version of the game for the PlayStation Portable called FlatOut: Head On, which was released in Australia on March 12, 2008, in Europe two days later, and in North America on April 4. [24]

Gameplay

Ultimate Carnage introduces a Carnage mode, a challenge series type of mode, which includes 36 challenges among stunts, demolition derby deathmatches, carnage races, and beat the bombs. [25] [26] [27] [28]

The cars are more detailed than previous games in the series, employing the latest in dynamic lighting and shadow technology, and a greatly enhanced damage and physics engine where each car is made of up to 40 separate destructible parts. The single player game supports up to 11 other AI-controlled cars in each race.

A new multiplayer format is also included; this runs on the Games for Windows – Live system which requires the user to either sign into own Xbox LIVE or Games for Windows LIVE Gamertag, or sign up for one for free. The LAN function is not available in FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, unlike the previous two FlatOut games for Windows.

Reception

The Xbox 360 and PC versions received "favorable" reviews, while the Head On version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [4] [30] [31]

Hyper's Maurice Branscombe commended the Xbox 360 version for "looking and playing better than ever before", but did not like the soundtracks and stated that "the game's load times are too long". [53] In Japan, Famitsu gave the same console version a score of three sevens and one six for a total of 27 out of 40. [37]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Mac OS X by Virtual Programming

References

  1. ↑ Kruse, Cord (October 2, 2008). "FlatOut 2 Released For Macs". Inside Mac Games . Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ "FlatOut: Head On Hits Store Shelves Today". IGN . March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ Director, Graham Smith Deputy Editorial; Smith, Graham (July 20, 2024). "FlatOut 1, 2 and Ultimate Carnage all get Workshop support, Deck verification in new updates". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "FlatOut 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "FlatOut 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "FlatOut 2 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Edge staff (August 2006). "FlatOut 2". Edge . No. 165. p. 89.
  8. 1 2 EGM staff (September 2006). "FlatOut 2 (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 207. p. 98.
  9. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (June 8, 2006). "FlatOut 2 (Xbox)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "FlatOut 2 (PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer . No. 161. September 2006. p. 88.
  11. ↑ Indignant Crab (August 1, 2006). "Review: FlatOut 2 (Xbox)". GamePro . Archived from the original on August 5, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ Navarro, Alex (August 11, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PC)". GameSpot . Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Navarro, Alex (August 1, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 "Flatout 2 [sic] Review". GameTrailers. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  15. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (August 13, 2006). "FlatOut 2 – PS2 – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ Roper, Chris (August 3, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PC)". IGN . Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Roper, Chris (July 31, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  18. ↑ "FlatOut 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . September 2006. p. 76.
  19. ↑ "FlatOut 2". Official Xbox Magazine . September 2006. p. 80.
  20. ↑ "FlatOut 2". PC Gamer . November 2006. p. 118.
  21. 1 2 3 Fish, Eliot (August 26, 2006). "FlatOut 2". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  22. ↑ Team, IGN PlayStation (May 20, 2006). "PS2 Best of E3 2006 Awards". IGN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  23. ↑ Howarth, Robert 'Apache' (December 20, 2006). "X-Play Game of the Year Awards". IGN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  24. ↑ "FlatOut: Head-On Release Information for PSP". GameFAQs . Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  25. ↑ "FlatOut Ultimate Carnage Harness your road rage". Eurogamer . June 3, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
  26. ↑ "In terms of game modes, FlatOut Ultimate Carnage offers just about what you'd expect; Time Trials, a Career mode for progressing through the stages of the game, Stunt Challenge mode, and a new addition to the series called Carnage, which is a throwback to Destruction Derby and simply invites you to cause a massive mess." – Rob Havey, Eurogamer, June 3, 2007
  27. ↑ Craddock, David (October 1, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (X360)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  28. ↑ Carnage Mode is a smorgasbord of match types. Whether Beat the Bomb, Stunt, Deathmatch Derby, or something else entirely, each event holds certain score-based stipulations that must be met in order to unlock other Carnage events. Deathmatch Derby is a spin on FlatOut 2's Derby mode--which is also present in Ultimate Carnage--that gives a player three lives, one of which is lost each time their car is demolished. The goal is to earn as many "frags" as possible by destroying other cars. The more frags earned, the better the score. Beat the Bomb starts players with a low amount of time and challenges them to rush toward Checkpoints which add precious seconds to clock. If time expires, the car explodes. - David Craddock, IGN, October 2, 2007
  29. ↑ "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  30. 1 2 "FlatOut: Head On for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  31. 1 2 "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 24, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  32. ↑ Edge staff (August 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Edge . No. 178. p. 91.
  33. ↑ EGM staff (November 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . p. 111.
  34. ↑ Allen, Darren (September 8, 2008). "PC Roundup (FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage)". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  35. ↑ Purchese, Robert (March 17, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  36. ↑ Fahey, Rob (June 22, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Mags Review Scores – Famitsu scores added, 40/40 for Mario! (Page 2)". Gamersyde. June 12, 2008. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  38. ↑ "FlatOut: Head On". Game Informer . No. 181. May 2008. p. 99.
  39. ↑ Kato, Matthew (November 2007). "FlatOut Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Game Informer. No. 175. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  40. ↑ Erikson, Tracy (October 8, 2007). "Review: FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". GamePro . Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  41. ↑ Hurh, JP (November 8, 2007). "Flatout Ultimate Carnage [sic] Review (X360)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  42. ↑ Cocker, Guy (March 18, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  43. ↑ Navarro, Alex (October 8, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (X360)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  44. ↑ Goble, Gord (October 25, 2007). "GameSpy: FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  45. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (April 6, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On – PSP – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  46. ↑ Valentino, Nick (October 23, 2007). "FlatOut Ultimate Carnage – 360 – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  47. ↑ Thang, Jimmy (September 12, 2008). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (PC)". IGN . Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  48. ↑ Roper, Chris (March 13, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On Review". IGN. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  49. ↑ Craddock, David (October 1, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (X360)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  50. ↑ "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". Official Xbox Magazine . November 2007. p. 84.
  51. ↑ "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". PC Gamer UK. October 2008. p. 82.
  52. ↑ "FlatOut: Head On". PlayStation: The Official Magazine . May 2008. p. 82.
  53. ↑ Branscombe, Maurice (September 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Hyper (167). Next Media: 64. ISSN   1320-7458.
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