FlatOut Download (2004 Simulation Game)

Blending high-speed races and dynamic crashes along with a cinematic storyline, FlatOut comes to the PC with a number of features designed to set it apart from previous racing titles. Players can leave their car before entering a race to check out the competition at the pit areas, glean some information at the local bar, perform tune-ups, and embark on brief missions to further the story. The heart of the game is the racing competition, where players hit the pedal to the metal on a variety of outdoor venues. The environment is also interactive, to the point where cars can smash through wooden barriers, send piles of stacked tires bouncing along the road, and knock orange cones flying into the distance. A number of jumps are also available, to catch some air.

Real-time damage modeling is another highlight in FlatOut, with details such as engines, transmissions, and the driver viewable after smashing, crashing, and bashing into rival vehicles. Each part is designed to dent, crumple, crack, or fly off, and parts hurtling through the air can damage other vehicles as well. A total of 16 cars are available to drive, each with varied handling and characteristics based on their real-life counterparts. Up to eight vehicles can compete simultaneously on one of 45 courses, and players have the option to either repair or purchase new cars in between each race. Multiplayer options support split-screen and linked play as well as Internet competition via the Xbox Live broadband service.

If you ever get the urge to crash your virtual car and send your driver flying out the windshield, then FlatOut is for you. FlatOut is a destructive racing game.

The main purpose of the game is to compete in a career racing mode. You can equip your car with upgrades that allow it to accelerate faster and survive crashes better, among other things. But the real draw of the game is the destructible cars and environments.

FlatOut's courses include many destructible objects that you can crash into and send flying across the track. You'll even get bonus cash for doing so. But the cars themselves take damage, and boy does the damage look good. The damage the cars take is very realistic and looks good visually. In addition, if you crash badly enough, you can send your driver flying through the windshield. While this is a neat feature, you pay dearly in career mode for the amount of time it takes to watch your driver get rag-dolled against buildings and other things.

There are many bonus games in FlatOut, such as a destruction derby. You can also take part in a high jump competition, where you try to send your driver flying as high as possible when your car launches off a really high ramp. These bonus games are fun, but repetitious after some time and you'll likely head back into career mode after taking a dip into them.

Unfortunately, the computer AI in the career mode leaves much to be desired. It is mighty difficult to keep a lead in career mode. Getting used to the controls is one thing, but keeping a lead on the computer while driving flawlessly is certainly a challenge. The back rubber-banding of the AI is really tight, so expect the computer to catch up to you fast. The rubber-banding on the AI is also a little tight when you are behind, so expect to be able to catch up to the back of the pack rather easily in most races.

The multiplayer aspect of the game is probably the best aspect. Tossing away the suspect computer AI entirely, this game is definitely fun to play with buddies or online. Getting to see other players "flat out" wreck is fun indeed. The element of human players brings something to the game that isn't present with the computer AI: the prospect of seeing someone wipe out in a dramatic and very humorous fashion.

There really isn't enough to FlatOut to make it a truly great game. It can get repetitious too quickly, and is really at its best only when you have enough human players to make a full game of it. Not a bad game, but certainly not the best racer around.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

People who downloaded FlatOut have also downloaded:
FlatOut 2, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Ford Racing 3, Driver (a.k.a. Driver: You Are the Wheelman), Flanker 2.5, World Soccer: Winning Eleven 8 International