FlatOut 2 review

Reckless destruction and gross bodily harm are two things we’re fond of in our games and FlatOut 2 delivers plenty of both. The focus here isn’t so much on racing as it is on aggressive driving and destructible environments - cars will wreck, gas stations will explode and hordes of orange cones will go flipping through the air. And all this chaos runs surprisingly well, even on a system that meets only the minimum system requirements.

Tracks are littered with dangerous obstacles and brutal opponents who want to turn your vehicle inside out and speed is only secondary to your ability to stay on the course and bash the hell out of the other drivers. So, while hardcore racing fans may be put off by the imaginary cars, goofy characters and general silliness of it all, anyone who thinks busting through the inside of a mall with a supercharged pickup truck sounds like fun should be pleased.

The developers certainly didn’t skimp on single-player content. You can play through Career Mode to win championships, upgrade your current cars, purchase new cars or participate in any single race, event, destruction derby or stunt of your choice.

Races take place throughout six beautifully detailed environments, ranging from rural forests and desert vistas to city streets and canals - each with several different tracks to choose from. The game also offers nine special events (short courses that are generally designed to encourage big pile-ups) and six derby arenas. The derbies give you a break from racing and a chance to vent a little road rage by inflicting as much damage as possible to your opponents while attempting to stay in one piece.