FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
| FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage | |||
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| Studio |
 Bugbear Entertainment
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| Publisher |
 Empire Interactive
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| Senior Developer |
Juho Kontio Reko Ukko |
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
Xbox 360 EUR July 22, 2007 AUS August 1, 2007 NA October 2, 2007 JPN April 4, 2008 Windows EUR August 2, 2008 NA August 26, 2008 |
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| platform | Windows , Xbox 360 | ||
| genre | Racing game | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer (up to 8 players; not in LAN) | ||
| control | Keyboard (PC), controller (PC, Xbox 360) | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
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| medium | DVD-ROM | ||
| language | English , German | ||
| Age rating |
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FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is the third part of the FlatOut series from the Finnish development studio Bugbear . The game was released on June 22, 2007 by British publisher Empire Interactive for Xbox 360 in Europe, while the Windows version was released on July 29, 2008. It's essentially a remake of FlatOut 2 for the seventh generation of consoles. Therefore, essential elements of the game are similar or even identical to the predecessor.
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is an action-oriented racing game where wreaking havoc while racing is an essential part of the game. The series is known for its numerous accidents and the fact that almost anything can be destroyed. This is made possible by a powerful physics engine that is considered one of the best in the racing game genre.
Gameplay
General
Nothing has changed in the basic concept of the game. The game is an arcade game that is less about driving fast and more about destroying the environment and especially the enemy vehicles. So z. As the use of nitro , which receives the player during a race for the serving of damage to opponents and around a central role. There are also numerous ramps, oil spills and potholes along the route.
The races will be held on the same routes as the predecessor. The old AI profiles were also retained. However, four more AI drivers have been added.
Racing modes
In circuit races it comes to cross first the finish line. Little has changed in this mode compared to its predecessor. The field of opponents has been changed slightly, as twelve instead of eight drivers compete against each other in the game. Furthermore, the routes were minor. modified. So now z. B. new puddles added or individual lanterns removed.
Stunt events are a specialty of games in the FlatOut series. In general, stunt events are about throwing your character out of the car and using it to achieve a specific goal, e.g. B. to push particularly high or far, or to hit certain objects with it. Essential factors for achieving the best possible end result are the firing angle and the force with which the figure is fired. FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage contains the same twelve stunt tasks as in its predecessor. These include variants of well-known games such as darts , football , basketball or bowling .
In derbies , the drivers compete against each other within a limited area (the crash derby arena ). The goal of the drivers is to destroy the enemy vehicles by ramming them. The drivers receive points for every attack, depending on the severity of the damage done.
FlatOut mode
The FlatOut mode is a career mode and the heart of the game. Different championships are available in three different classes. A championship consists of up to six different racing events that are held one after the other. In the end, all placements are added up and the winner is determined. For completing races, the player receives money, which can be invested in new vehicles or vehicle tuning . Winning championships also regularly unlocks new vehicles.
The entire FlatOut mode was adopted 1: 1 from the predecessor FlatOut 2 . The only change that was made was the addition of four new AI profiles.
Carnage mode
The Carnage mode is a collection of 36 challenges can be successively unlocked. In addition, points are awarded for each completed challenge. With certain scores, further challenges will be unlocked. Challenges are carried out on the routes available in career mode, but with a different objective. So it is not crucial to be the first to finish. Rather, three new modes with individual objectives have been introduced.
The Escape the Bomb mode races take place on the same tracks as the circuit races . However, the drivers do not compete at the same time, but one behind the other. This mode is about driving quickly through the race course. To do this, the drivers try to drive through the checkpoints that were distributed along the route within a specified time. If you can't do that, the bomb will explode in the vehicle and the race is over. The further you go, the more points you get. A time is credited for each pass. But the amount of the credit drops by one second with each checkpoint that is passed.
Time trials represent a similar mode . These are about achieving a good finish time. The drivers try to complete a race lap as quickly as possible. They have between three and five attempts per race. The nitro system is deactivated during time trials.
The Destruction mode is a mixture of the Race and Derby modes. Driving is on the normal circuit routes. However, it is not the driver who reaches the destination first who wins, but the one who causes the greatest damage to the environment and the enemy vehicles.
The derbies that are also present in career mode are also present in Carnage mode. However, these have been slightly modified. Various bonus objects are distributed in the arena. These include defensive upgrades for your own vehicle, e.g. B. a protective shield, or offensive upgrades, e.g. B. a ram. The point system has also been changed. Only the destruction of vehicles is rewarded with points. In return, the participating vehicles have fewer hit points than usual and are restored after they have been destroyed.
Bonus vehicles can be unlocked for some challenges. These were already included in the predecessor, but could only be unlocked there using cheat codes . The bonus vehicles include a school bus, a tractor or a hot rod.
Multiplayer mode
In contrast to its predecessor, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage does not have a LAN mode. Instead there is only an internet mode. Using the Microsoft Live platform, up to 8 players can compete in a game on the Internet, with all challenges from the single player modes available.
The party mode already known from the predecessor has been adopted. This is an implementation of the stunt challenges for up to 8 players, in which the participating players take turns.
vehicles
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage includes a total of 48 vehicles, two more than its predecessor. The vehicles do not have any licenses, so they are fictional models of the developers, which, however, are mostly based on real models. The vehicles are divided into five different vehicle classes:
Derby cars are vehicles that originally came from junkyards and were equipped with the equipment necessary for stock car races, such as a roll cage and a reinforced body. They are comparatively slow and cumbersome, but in return they can take a lot of damage. They are good for rough roads and dirt roads. Examples are vehicles that are modeled on the Ford Bronco or the Ford Granada . The two vehicles that have been added to the game are Derby class vehicles.
Models in the racing class are predominantly American muscle cars or European sports coupés . They can be viewed as a mix of Derby-class and road-class vehicles. Racing-class cars are faster than Derby cars and can take more damage than road-class cars. Models in this class are well suited for all types of routes. Examples are vehicle models that are based on the Chevrolet El Camino or the Lancia Coupe .
Street- class cars are tuned sports cars, some of them also racing cars. They are the most powerful but also the most sensitive vehicles in the game. You drive most effectively on flat, paved roads. They include B. a model based on the Dodge Viper .
The cars from the fourth stunt class are sophisticated vehicles with at least one, usually two jet engines in the rear. However, they are used almost exclusively for stunt events, where they quickly reach their top speed thanks to the enormous acceleration. Only one of these vehicles can later be played in other events.
The fifth bonus class includes all types of extraordinary vehicles. Just those that don't otherwise fit into any other category, such as B. a vehicle that was modeled after the famous Batmobile , as well as a school bus or a hot rod . In FlatOut 2 these vehicles could only be unlocked with cheat codes , in FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage they can be won as prizes in Carnage mode.
The vehicles of the opponents depend on the chosen class of the player. If the player selects e.g. B. a vehicle of the Derby class, it competes against vehicles of the Derby class.
In career mode it is possible to modify the properties of the vehicles using tuning. Tuning, however, plays a rather subordinate role. On the one hand, it is possible to increase performance, for example through improvements to the vehicle's engine , brakes and transmission , and on the other hand, the stability of the vehicle can be improved, for example by installing a roll bar or a reinforced chassis for greater vehicle stability. On the other hand, there are hardly any options for changing the look of the vehicles;
Opposing racers
In the game there are eleven different, computer-controlled racing drivers against whom the player must compete. Every driver has a different personality as well as different skills and driving styles.
Jack Benton : He's one of the best, if not the best, drivers. Drives extremely quickly and in a controlled manner and knows exactly how to hold its own on the track. You can almost always find him at the head of the field. He prefers yellow sports cars .
Lei Bing : You should never underestimate her as she has the fastest car in the derby and racing classes. She rarely makes mistakes and is usually in the top group. She prefers sports cars in dark red.
Ray Carter : Mostly very relaxed on the road. It doesn't matter to him whether he wins the race or crosses the finish line last, the main thing is that he enjoys driving. You often only meet him at the end of the field. He prefers muscle cars in light blue.
Lewis Duran : Quite unremarkable, slow and without special talents. He keeps out of large pile-ups as best he can. This is exactly why it suddenly appears when you don't expect it. He prefers sports cars in light brown.
Katie Jackson : She's aggressive and tries to get her competitors off the road. Since it is unpredictable, it is difficult to assess. Often drives just behind the front, always within striking distance. She prefers sports cars in red.
Frank Malcov : Veteran and former top driver. After an accident he is no longer the same and has had problems keeping up ever since. Only rarely shows his skills, but mostly ends up in the ditch. He prefers off-road vehicles in blue.
Sofia Martinez : One of the best with excellent driving skills. She always drives clean and disciplined, but often struggles with inferior equipment. Nonetheless, it is often found at the top. She prefers small cars in gray.
Jill Richards : Fast, talented, and aggressive. Often involved in wheel-to-wheel duels, but occasionally over-motivated. Nevertheless, you can usually see them in the front seats. Not infrequently a candidate for victory. She prefers pink muscle cars.
Sally Taylor : For her, the cars she drives are either too slow or too fast. She drives the fastest car in the street class, but is overwhelmed by its speed and often has serious accidents. She prefers white pick-ups .
Jason Walker : By far the most aggressive driver. Constantly tries to push his opponents against the next wall. He is also quick and talented and often up front. He prefers muscle cars in black with flame vinyls.
Curtis Wolfe : Also aggressive, but not particularly talented. Driving skills and overconfidence are in balance. Is in midfield for most of the race. He prefers muscle cars in black with white stripes.
Soundtrack
The game features songs that are mostly from genres such as hard rock, punk, and heavy metal. After quite prominent bands (e.g. Nickelback , Papa Roach and Megadeth ) were represented in FlatOut 2, rather unknown bands dominate in FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage . The soundtrack also decreased in size a little. While the predecessor contained 26 titles, Ultimate Carnage only contained 20.
| Overview of the pieces of music contained in the game | |||
| # | Artist | title | length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32 leaves | Waiting | 3:18 |
| 2 | A Static Lullaby | Hang 'em high | 4:29 |
| 3 | Art of Dying | You don't know me | 3:11 |
| 4th | Dead Poetic | Narcotic | 3:17 |
| 5 | Everything at Once | Boys on the Hill | 3:38 |
| 6th | Hypnogaja | They don't care | 3:55 |
| 7th | Kazzer | Filled by Adrenaline | 2:54 |
| 8th | Luna Halo | I'm all right | 2:36 |
| 9 | Manafest | Wanna know you | 2:59 |
| 10 | No connection | Feed The Machine | 3:42 |
| 11 | No connection | The Last Revolution | 4:06 |
| 12 | OpShop | Nothing Can Wait | 4:00 |
| 13 | Point Defiance | Union Of Nothing | 3:01 |
| 14th | Sasquatch | Believe It | 2:54 |
| 15th | Super mercado | Ditch kitty | 4:15 |
| 16 | The Classic Crime | Blisters and Coffee | 3:22 |
| 17th | The Riverboat Gamblers | True crime | 2:41 |
| 18th | The Sleeping | Listen Close | 2:45 |
| 19th | The White Heat | This is my life | 2:22 |
| 20th | This Is Menace | Cover girl monument | 3:23 |
Development history
In July 2006 the leading developer at Bugbear, Jussi Laakkonen , announced that a successor to FlatOut 2 would be released for the Xbox 360. On January 31, 2007, the publisher Empire Interactive officially announced the game and released a few details, according to which the new FlatOut was a port of FlatOut 2 for the Xbox 360. Accordingly, few changes in content are to be expected. Only minor revisions of the game structure were described, in which the multiplayer mode should be in the foreground.
reception
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Paul Kautz from the German game magazine 4Players praises the good damage models and the numerous possibilities of destruction. He rates the route design as extraordinarily varied. Furthermore, the graphics and the soundtrack were seen positively. Points of criticism are the physics of the environment, which is often unrealistic, as well as the level of difficulty, which increases rapidly over the course of the career. Another point of criticism was the lack of a network mode. The alternative of playing live via Microsoft's platform is unsatisfactory due to its instability.
The author Daniel Matschijewsky from GameStar magazine praises the greatly improved graphics and the very good sound compared to its predecessor. He also highlights the large selection of vehicles. He rates the vehicle and environmental physics as an overall realistic impression, even if errors occur every now and then. The route design is also described as very good, but it is criticized that the routes often appear too lifeless. The author criticizes the artificial intelligence used in the game for being too aggressive. This would make the game extremely difficult for inexperienced players.
Daniel Braun from Gamingnewz praises the extraordinarily large scope of the game. The long career, the varied Carnage mode and the 48 vehicles offer players a lot of variety.
Jimmy Thang from the online magazine IGN is impressed by the graphic presentation. The improvement in the textures and models is clearly visible and makes the game much nicer. The game and level design are also praised. The races are atypically long for the genre and therefore place special strategic demands on the players. The tone of the game is criticized. The ambient and engine noises as well as the selection of pieces of music are too arbitrary.
Web links
- FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ James Kozanecki: AU Shippin 'Out July 30-August 3: Guitar Hero 80s, FlatOut, and heaps of DS games. In: GameSpot . CBS Corporation , July 30, 2007, accessed December 1, 2015 .
- ↑ James Kozanecki: Shippin 'Out October 1-5: Phantom Hourglass, PGR4, NBA, Quake Wars. In: GameSpot . CBS Corporation , October 1, 2007, accessed December 1, 2015 .
- ^ Frank Maier, Andre Linken: Release list - New games in the store. In: GameStar . Webedia , August 2, 2007, accessed December 1, 2015 .
- ↑ Brendan Sinclair: Shippin 'Out Aug. 25 to 29: Infinite Undiscovery, Disgaea 3. In: GameSpot . CBS Corporation , August 25, 2007, accessed December 1, 2015 .
- ↑ Test report FlatOut
- ↑ a b c d Jimmy Thang: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (English). In: IGN Entertainment . September 12, 2008, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ^ A b c d Daniel Matschijewsky: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". gamestar.de, July 7, 2008, accessed December 5, 2013 .
- ↑ Marcus Kollmann: FlatOut 2 for Xbox 360 in progress. speedmaniacs.de, July 5, 2006, accessed December 16, 2013 .
- ↑ Marcus Kollmann: FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage only improved FlatOut 2? speedmaniacs.de, July 5, 2006, accessed December 16, 2013 .
- ^ A b Daniel Braun: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". (No longer available online.) Gamingnewz.de, October 17, 2008, archived from the original on January 17, 2010 ; Retrieved December 5, 2013 .
- ^ A b Paul Kautz: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". 4players.de, August 1, 2008, accessed December 5, 2013 .
- ↑ Jamie Sefton: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (English). computerandvideogames.com, August 1, 2008, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ↑ Alex Navarro: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". In: GameSpot . CBS Corporation , September 12, 2008, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ↑ Dennis Hardmann: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". Gameswelt , August 12, 2008, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ↑ Tom Orry: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (English). (No longer available online.) Videogamer.com, July 9, 2008, archived from the original on October 7, 2014 ; Retrieved December 14, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Greg Sewart: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage." (No longer available online.) In: 1UP . Ziff Davis , February 10, 2007; archived from the original on June 10, 2016 ; accessed on December 14, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Rob Fahey: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". In: Eurogamer . Gamer Network , June 22, 2007, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ↑ Gamepro editorial team: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". gamepro.de, September 21, 2007, accessed December 14, 2013 .
- ↑ Alex Navarro: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". In: GameSpot . CBS Corporation , October 8, 2007, accessed February 14, 2014 .
- ↑ Gord Goble: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". gamespy.com, October 25, 2007, accessed February 14, 2014 .
- ↑ David Craddock: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". In: IGN Entertainment . Ziff Davis , October 1, 2007, accessed February 14, 2014 .
- ↑ Dale Nardozzi: Test "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (English). (No longer available online.) Teamxbox.com, October 2, 2007, archived from the original on July 20, 2013 ; Retrieved December 14, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Various: Average rating for "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (Windows version). In: Metacritic . CBS Corporation , accessed December 10, 2013 .
- ↑ Various: Average rating for FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (Xbox 360 version). In: Metacritic . CBS Corporation , accessed December 10, 2013 .
- ↑ Various: Average rating for "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (Windows version). In: GameRankings . CBS Corporation , accessed December 10, 2013 .
- ↑ Various: Average rating for "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage" (Xbox 360 version). In: GameRankings . CBS Corporation , accessed December 10, 2013 .
