Video Game Reviews
by Jesse Kennedy
Issue 218 / February 2007 More from this Issue
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FlatOut 2
Bugbear/Vivendi
Xbox
08-06
Driving/Arcade
Last year Bugbear released FlatOut to some fairly dismal reviews. Not one to give up so easily, they climbed back up on the mighty horse of game development and released FlatOut 2 and this time around things are much improved. I started out with some derby racing, which involves about six cars, a dirt circuit and no rules. Smash, crash and plow your way to victory or (in my case) annihilation. The graphics look great and the feel of the cars is very well done. The environments are fun and allow you to plow through many of the things that would stop you dead in your tracks in other games. You are rewarded for hazardous driving with 'Nitro' points that allow increased acceleration. Placing well in the races earns you money to upgrade your vehicle and unlock other races.
Another feature of FlatOut 2 is the mini-games that involves launching your driver out of the car in order to complete some kind of stunt with his comatose body. You can high jump, skip on water or go bowling with the poor little guy. Obviously, this is a novelty in the game but it is surprisingly addictive. Completing different races unlock different stunt events for you to compete in; these mini games also proved to be irresistible to spectators who just had to try it once.
If you're into arcade style racing games, then FlatOut 2 should find its way into your Xbox library, it's worth the rental even just for the mini-game stunts! Although not as fancy as some of the next generation racers coming out on the new consoles this game is good for hours of good racing and with Xbox Live you can race on line on both the tracks and the mini games! When you pick up your copy, try to ignore the horribly cheesy cover art. Jesse Kennedy
4 out of 5 smoking car wrecks
Gears of War
Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox 360
11-06
Third Person Shooter
Gears of War was the action game of 2006 and one of the most popular games to be released on the Xbox 360 to date. Not only does the game look great and have some hair-raising action but it steps beyond the typical run-and-gun shooter and requires players to use their environment for cover and strategy. This does not, however, mean that you can sit back and play it safe. The action in Gears is relentless; every room, every corridor and every courtyard become a kill-or-be-killed blood fest.
Most of the environments look like they have seen a fair amount of action before you get there and the rendering and detail is really quite impressive; picture a futuristic ancient Rome after World War V. The cover system allows you to not only hide and peak but also to blind shoot and progress between cover opportunities with quick rolls and jumps. At first there were times when I would get stuck between taking cover and trying to get out of cover to move, but once you get the rhythm of the game the flow becomes very natural.
Bugbear/Vivendi
Xbox
08-06
Driving/Arcade
Last year Bugbear released FlatOut to some fairly dismal reviews. Not one to give up so easily, they climbed back up on the mighty horse of game development and released FlatOut 2 and this time around things are much improved. I started out with some derby racing, which involves about six cars, a dirt circuit and no rules. Smash, crash and plow your way to victory or (in my case) annihilation. The graphics look great and the feel of the cars is very well done. The environments are fun and allow you to plow through many of the things that would stop you dead in your tracks in other games. You are rewarded for hazardous driving with 'Nitro' points that allow increased acceleration. Placing well in the races earns you money to upgrade your vehicle and unlock other races.
Another feature of FlatOut 2 is the mini-games that involves launching your driver out of the car in order to complete some kind of stunt with his comatose body. You can high jump, skip on water or go bowling with the poor little guy. Obviously, this is a novelty in the game but it is surprisingly addictive. Completing different races unlock different stunt events for you to compete in; these mini games also proved to be irresistible to spectators who just had to try it once.
If you're into arcade style racing games, then FlatOut 2 should find its way into your Xbox library, it's worth the rental even just for the mini-game stunts! Although not as fancy as some of the next generation racers coming out on the new consoles this game is good for hours of good racing and with Xbox Live you can race on line on both the tracks and the mini games! When you pick up your copy, try to ignore the horribly cheesy cover art. Jesse Kennedy
4 out of 5 smoking car wrecks
Gears of War
Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox 360
11-06
Third Person Shooter
Gears of War was the action game of 2006 and one of the most popular games to be released on the Xbox 360 to date. Not only does the game look great and have some hair-raising action but it steps beyond the typical run-and-gun shooter and requires players to use their environment for cover and strategy. This does not, however, mean that you can sit back and play it safe. The action in Gears is relentless; every room, every corridor and every courtyard become a kill-or-be-killed blood fest.
Most of the environments look like they have seen a fair amount of action before you get there and the rendering and detail is really quite impressive; picture a futuristic ancient Rome after World War V. The cover system allows you to not only hide and peak but also to blind shoot and progress between cover opportunities with quick rolls and jumps. At first there were times when I would get stuck between taking cover and trying to get out of cover to move, but once you get the rhythm of the game the flow becomes very natural.
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