Flatout Ultimate Carnage Review (XB360)

Aside from EA's Burnout series, there aren't that many driving games out there with an emphasis on total destruction. That's why it's good to see Flatout: Ultimate Carnage, a game that's just as much about creating havoc as getting the first place victory. Flatout is a series with its focus on demolition derby style racing, with junked-up cars, trucks and motorcycles out to earn that first-place victory. The key element that separates it from other racing games, however, is the ability to launch the driver through the windshield, like a bullet fired from a gun.

In fact, a portion of the game is all about human jettisoning as an art form. The Stunt Mode consists of jump events, bowling (where the driver becomes the ball) and, a personal staff favorite, royal flush, where some poor sap smacks into a board consisting of cards as he attempts to put together that ideal poker hand. In addition, you can play all of these games online against others in Party Mode.

For those who want to floor it in a car, however, Flatout: Ultimate Carnage has plenty on hand. The Flatout Mode starts you off from scratch with your average junker, which you can later upgrade with cash from first place wins. Keeping on the first-place run eventually earns new cars, parts and tracks, expanding on the game's replayability. Carnage Mode is much more entertaining, thanks to the variance of activities. Carnage Race is merely racing around the track and dismantling opponents or whatever else is unlucky enough to be trackside, Beat the Bomb puts an explosive exclamation point on the proceedings as you race to get a serious amount of points before time runs out and Deathmatch Derby is exactly what it is, a battle to the finish against others. Online races are also available via Xbox Live and they run pretty smoothly. Unfortunately, offline multiplayer isn't an option this time around. You're either playing online against others or by your lonesome.

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