FlatOut 2 is a 2006 action racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Empire Interactive in Europe and Vivendi Universal Games in North America. It is the sequel to the 2004 game FlatOut.

FlatOut 2
Developer(s)Bugbear Entertainment[a]
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Janne Alanenpää
Programmer(s)Tatu Blomberg
Artist(s)Mikko Kautto
SeriesFlatOut
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
    • AU: March 12, 2008
    • EU: March 14, 2008
    • NA: April 4, 2008
    Windows
    • EU: August 1, 2008
    • NA: September 2, 2008
Genre(s)Racing, action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

This game 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.

It was released in Russia on June 29, 2006, in Europe on June 30, and in North America on August 1. In 2008, an OS X version of the game was released by Virtual Programming. The game received positive reviews

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. An update was released for the PC port on July 20, 2024 that implemented Steam Workshop support, improved support for the Steam Deck and added various quality-of-life improvements, along with FlatOut 1 and Ultimate Carnage.[2]

Gameplay

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Ragdoll physics

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The ragdoll physics in the sequel have been greatly updated. 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 the goal is to shoot themselves out of the car and complete objectives like knocking down a set of bowling pins, hitting the designated spots on a dartboard, score a field goal or fly 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

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Critical reception

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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.[19][20][21] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of all four sevens for a total of 28 out of 40.[citation needed]

Awards

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Date Award Category Release edition Result Ref.
May 20, 2006 IGN Best of E3 2006 Best Racing Game PS2 Runner-up [22]
December 20, 2006 X-Play Game of the Year Best Racing Game Xbox Won [23]

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

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FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage is an enhanced port of FlatOut 2 featuring new gameplay modes 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

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Ultimate Carnage introduces a brand new series of tracks which are based anywhere from busy streets to storm water drains.

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

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The Xbox 360 and PC versions received "favorable" reviews, while the Head On version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[19][47][48]

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".[49] In Japan, Famitsu gave the same console version a score of three sevens and one six for a total of 27 out of 40.[30]

Notes

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References

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  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. ^ Director, Graham Smith Deputy Editorial; Smith, Graham (2024-07-20). "FlatOut 1, 2 and Ultimate Carnage all get Workshop support, Deck verification in new updates". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  3. ^ a b c Edge staff (August 2006). "FlatOut 2". Edge. No. 165. p. 89.
  4. ^ a b EGM staff (September 2006). "FlatOut 2 (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 207. p. 98.
  5. ^ Whitehead, Dan (June 8, 2006). "FlatOut 2 (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "FlatOut 2 (PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 161. September 2006. p. 88.
  7. ^ Indignant Crab (August 1, 2006). "Review: FlatOut 2 (Xbox)". GamePro. Archived from the original on August 5, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  8. ^ Navarro, Alex (August 11, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Navarro, Alex (August 1, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  10. ^ Turner, Benjamin (August 8, 2006). "GameSpy: FlatOut 2 (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c "Flatout 2 [sic] Review". GameTrailers. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  12. ^ Bedigian, Louis (August 13, 2006). "FlatOut 2 - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  13. ^ Roper, Chris (August 3, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Roper, Chris (July 31, 2006). "FlatOut 2 Review (PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "FlatOut 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. September 2006. p. 76.
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  18. ^ a b c Fish, Eliot (August 26, 2006). "FlatOut 2". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c "FlatOut 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "FlatOut 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  21. ^ a b "FlatOut 2 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  22. ^ Team, IGN PlayStation (2006-05-20). "PS2 Best of E3 2006 Awards". IGN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  23. ^ Howarth, Robert 'Apache' (2006-12-20). "X-Play Game of the Year Awards". IGN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  24. ^ "FlatOut: Head-On Release Information for PSP". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  25. ^ Edge staff (August 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Edge. No. 178. p. 91.
  26. ^ EGM staff (November 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. p. 111.
  27. ^ Allen, Darren (September 8, 2008). "PC Roundup (FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  28. ^ Purchese, Robert (March 17, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  29. ^ Fahey, Rob (June 22, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "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.
  31. ^ "FlatOut: Head On". Game Informer. No. 181. May 2008. p. 99.
  32. ^ Kato, Matthew (November 2007). "FlatOut Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Game Informer. No. 175. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  33. ^ Erikson, Tracy (October 8, 2007). "Review: FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ Cocker, Guy (March 18, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  36. ^ Navarro, Alex (October 8, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (X360)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  37. ^ Goble, Gord (October 25, 2007). "GameSpy: FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  38. ^ Sandoval, Angelina (April 6, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  39. ^ Valentino, Nick (October 23, 2007). "FlatOut Ultimate Carnage - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  40. ^ Thang, Jimmy (September 12, 2008). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  41. ^ Roper, Chris (March 13, 2008). "FlatOut: Head On Review". IGN. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  42. ^ Craddock, David (October 1, 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Review (X360)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
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  44. ^ "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage". PC Gamer UK. October 2008. p. 82.
  45. ^ "FlatOut: Head On". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. May 2008. p. 82.
  46. ^ "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  47. ^ a b "FlatOut: Head On for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  48. ^ a b "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 24, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  49. ^ Branscombe, Maurice (September 2007). "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage (X360)". Hyper (167). Next Media: 64. ISSN 1320-7458.
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