Flat Out

by Vivendi Universal

Product Features

• Wreak havoc as you race on 36 tracks in fully destructible environments
• Trick out your ride -- 16 different customizable and upgradeable cars that take realistic damage
• Take on your rivals online -- Race up to 8 players - or in two-player split screen mode - as you battle for the championship
• Cinematic graphics and revolutionary rag-doll physics

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006ZB60W
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: July 12, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,153 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC

From the Manufacturer

It's mayhem with muscle cars! FlatOut delivers a thrilling combination of high-octane racing, smash-em-up demolition-derby action, and death-defying stunts propelling the driver through the windshield!

Features:

• Wreak havoc as you race on 36 tracks in fully destructible environments.
• Supe it up! Choose among 16 different customizable and upgradeable cars that take realistic damage, affecting their appearance and drivability.
• Take on your rivals! Race online with up to eight players--or in two-player split-screen mode--as you battle for the championship.

Product Description

FlatOut delivers high-powered racing action combined with smash-em-up demolition derby thrills. It's a deadly combination of high-octane racing, action and death defying stunts. Get ready to be propelled through the windshield!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flatout ... NASCAR meets Demolition Derby, March 22, 2005

By 

R. Nicholson - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: FlatOut (CD-ROM)

A great racing game.

Background:

I initially saw this game offered as a demo, which I downloaded; I was quickly addicted and ordered the game from England before Xmas 2004.

The Game Basics:

Playable as a single player or on-line (I was unable to play on-line as I was the only one with the game). Your view of the action is from either 1st person( in the driver's seat)(recommended) or 3rd person (from above and behind your car)

There are 2 skills to play, 1.) Normal and 2.) Professional (where the physics of cornering, braking, spinning out and the effects of car damage are more accurate).

There are 3 levels of racing; 1.) Bronze (9 races), silver (12 races) and gold (15 races). You must finish a race in the top 3 positions in order to open up new race courses to you. Similarily, you must complete all bronze before silver becomes available, and all silver to advance to gold. Money earned for good finishes allows you to upgrade you vehicle and also buy new and better cars.

There are 5 different types of race tracts; 1.)Asphalt 2.) Gravel pit 3.) country dirt road 4.) town and country and 5.) Winter (with icy roads and frozen lakes). All these tracts require different driving techniques and skills.

The Game Play:

This game is simply an adrenalin rush from beginning to end. It is a contact sport with cars. Strategies requires you to drive clean when your in front but to bump and grind it out when your trying to come from behind (and what great fun this is).
In the single player version you are pitted against 7 other opponents who are hell bent on winning at all costs.
As good as any A.I. racing competitor as I have ever played against! The physics of this game are simply hard to believe; sliding around corners, turning, braking and collisions are as real as you can ask for in a racing sim. Also the scenery is stunning; especially the winter tracts.

Extras:

In addition to the main game there is a series of target practice games with a "rag doll" driver that explodes through the windshield after collisions. Also there are 3 short demolition tracts to try. These are fun to try but not as adrenalin pumping as the actual game itself.


Suggestions:

1.) You really need a steering wheel with gas and brake features to be competitive on the silver and gold levels.
2.) There is a downloadable patch that allows you to turn off the "rag doll" effect that sends the driver through the windshield with every collision. This is a neat effect at first but becomes tiresome and time consuming during an actual race.

Conclusion:
It took me 6-7 weeks of solid play to win all 36 races on the professional level. At times it was very frustrating (especially on the gold level), but I was NEVER bored with this game.
If you love racing sims, this one should not be missed. Highly recommend!

Addendum Jan 08
Having had time to compare 'Flatout' vs "Flatout 2', I have to state that the original 'Flatout' is a much superior game. They seemed to cut some corners in producing 'Flatout 2'; fewer 'rural' areas, more downtown city scenarios, no winter driving, etc. The original 'Flatout' was, and still is, the best racing sim I've ever been privileged to play.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too much fun..., July 12, 2005

By 

George (The Midwest) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: FlatOut (CD-ROM)

Pros: physics-- 9
graphics--10
gameplay-- 8
sound 9
AI 9

Cons: Gets a little repetative
Car tweaking could be more involved
Needs a stearing wheel with force feedback (adds realism)

This game is so much fun. If you enjoy all-out mayhem, with superb sounds and graphics, this game is for you. More "crash-em-up" than pure racing simulation. (Check out GTR for an excellent racing sim).
Racing other cars around tracks of gravel, asphalt, ice, dirt, and mud is thrilling; a pure adrenalin rush. AI cars are excellent, as they try to send you flying off the track. You can actually see the drivers steering, and watching them fly out of their cars is hysterical. As you drive around the course, you gain extra points wrecking fences, tire walls, etc. And, all these wrecked pieces stay on the track and interfere with cars as the race goes on. There are 6 "destruction bowls" added in for some unique madness, where the idea is to destroy the AI cars before they send you flying through your windshield. The sounds, physics, and graphics are unmatched as 6 or more cars, all going 70+ mph converge on one spot. Have fun!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FlatOut Fun, August 3, 2005

By 

Steve (Anaheim, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: FlatOut (CD-ROM)

This game is great fun. Great graphics, cool sound tracks are just the beginning. If your looking for a new racing title, this maybe the one. Realistic damage to cars and a destructable enviroment can add up to hours of pure racing mayhem fun.
FlatOut is flat out fun.

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