Visually, FlatOut 2 is stunning. The sense of speed and momentum is quite astonishing; zipping around obstacles, flying through barriers, and careening wildly around the tracks - some great stuff. Frames hold steady throughout, and the graphical edge of the PS2 is pushed to its near limit. Even the shine from reflective surfaces like water and windshields is pretty dang good. The way the vehicles tear themselves apart is equally impressive, littering the field with all manner of hubcaps, hoods, taillights and more.
The environments and tracks are equally creative and well done. Some may take you through dusty trails, others in abandoned malls, gas stations, or even snow-covered hills. On some of the back roads, the sheer amount of debris is pretty amazing, from broken fences, cacti and more rocks than a gravel pit, you will enjoy ripping right through it all. Throw in a myriad of special event arenas, with their whacked out layouts, and there is a bevy of visual splendor to take in.
In the sound department, there is a pretty wide array of rock tunes from famous artists like Audioslave, Megadeth, Wolfmother and Nickleback, to name just a few. They provide a nice backdrop to the races; especially in the wicked intro video that highlights all the aspects of gameplay you are about to dive into. Some of these songs have been around for a few years as well, so singing along is always a possibility, as well as their quality having already been tested and respected in the music biz. It would be a shame to have a host of generic tracks, instead of some real head bangers presented within.
Beyond the soundtrack, the various squeals, crash effects and so forth are compiled with expert attention and really draw you into the action. Nothing sounds overly shallow or resampled, and all adds to the already stellar sensory package by BugBear Entertainment.
