FlatOut 2

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"FlatOut 2" is a high-speed racing game with destructible environments and vehicles, featuring over 5000 destructible objects on each track. The game offers enhanced physics, a career mode, and a variety of racing environments, vehicles, and mini-games. With LAN multiplayer mode, players can experience intense races and mayhem with friends.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,381 reviews

music327 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

music
619 mentions
53 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in this game is widely praised for its nostalgic and energetic rock soundtrack, featuring popular bands like Nickelback, Rob Zombie, and Fall Out Boy, which many players feel enhances the chaotic racing experience. While the soundtrack is considered one of the best in racing games, some users note that it can become repetitive due to a limited selection of tracks. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a memorable part of the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's dynamic nature.”
- “The soundtrack is so memorable that I was once driving my real-life car, and as I passed a stretch of road close to where I live, I saw two cars that had crashed, their bumpers hanging, bent chassis, and slanted wheels.”
- “The soundtrack maintains the high-energy vibe of the first game, featuring a mix of rock and alternative tracks that complement the intense on-screen action.”
- “The soundtrack is complete shit, though.”
- “The only real negative was that you couldn't edit the playlist, nor skip or choose your favorite song while playing.”
- “The music was kinda irritating, so I just turned it to minimum volume.”
graphics
233 mentions
44 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while showing their age as a 2006 release, are generally regarded as surprisingly good, with many players noting that they still hold up well today. The art style and physics contribute positively to the overall experience, despite some graphical glitches and limited settings. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for their time, providing an enjoyable aesthetic that complements the chaotic gameplay.
- “The graphics are surprisingly good for a game of its age, and the physics add a satisfying level of chaos to the races.”
- “The graphics still look impressive for the time.”
- “With its refined physics, diverse tracks, creative mini-games, and improved visuals, it stands as a testament to the sheer joy of vehicular mayhem.”
- “There is no resolution setting in the game; you can change your keybinds and the volume of the game, etc., but there's no real graphic settings.”
- “One obvious graphical glitch is that the wheels of other cars disappear if they move away a certain distance from you, and the wheels magically reappear when they get close.”
- “The game was made in the seventh generation of consoles, which means it's got a fair amount of brown, dirty graphics.”
gameplay
186 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Flatout 2 is widely praised for its fun, arcade-style racing mechanics and emphasis on destruction, making it a standout title in the genre. Players appreciate the variety of modes, including demolition derbies and stunt challenges, which keep the experience fresh and engaging. While some critiques mention issues with AI and catch-up mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game offers a thrilling and satisfying racing experience, bolstered by a fitting soundtrack and solid physics.
- “With the tweaked gameplay, FlatOut 2 now has more emphasis on destruction compared to its predecessor, and this makes it so much more fun to play.”
- “The physics-based racing mechanics are incredibly satisfying, allowing you to feel every bump, jump, and collision with stunning realism.”
- “The addictive nature of the gameplay, combined with the variety of modes, ensures that FlatOut 2 remains engaging even after many hours of play.”
- “The entire gameplay doesn't make any sense.”
- “Gameplay gets stale after a while.”
- “There is absolutely no reward for driving well, luck plays a big role in every race, and the 'catch-up mechanics' that the game uses are severely overdone - when you're in the lead, cars behind you get 20% faster, and when you're behind a few cars, they slow down like crazy and sometimes even crash before the finish line in an obvious attempt to let you win - which means there's no reward for driving accurate tight lines, and you only win races by not crashing, even if you drive like crap.”
humor
56 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by chaotic races, hilarious ragdoll physics, and absurd mini-games that often involve launching drivers from vehicles. Players find the janky animations and over-the-top crashes to be consistently funny, especially when enjoyed with friends during multiplayer sessions. While the humor may not be the game's primary focus, it significantly enhances the overall fun and enjoyment, making it a memorable experience.
- “The janky animations when your character flies out of the window are so silly and stupid that they made me laugh many times.”
- “These hilarious events involve launching your driver through the windshield in various scenarios like high jump, bowling, and darts.”
- “It's just hilarious; if you crash your car at a certain angle, your driver ejects out as a ragdoll.”
story
42 mentions
10 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a substantial story, with many players noting it primarily consists of repetitive racing tasks and upgrades without any engaging narrative. While some appreciate the focus on gameplay and physics over a traditional storyline, others express disappointment at the absence of a meaningful plot, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more developed story mode. Overall, the consensus is that the game is enjoyable for its mechanics but falls short in storytelling.
- “Unique AI adds flavor to the story, and destruction feels meaty and satisfying.”
- “I remember how I went through the story tasks on hacked machines, how much I was happy with the victories and how much I was disappointed with the defeats.”
- “No stupid story, just full of fun and action and a great soundtrack to crash into your opponents' cars.”
- “The game has only circuit type races and only tournament points style events in 'story' mode.”
- “This game has no story; you start, you want to be the best, done.”
- “But the game makes it feel like they didn't put a story mainly because they didn't have the money for it.”
replayability
36 mentions
31 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with players consistently noting its ability to keep them engaged for hours through a variety of game modes, unpredictable AI, and competitive multiplayer elements. Even with the loss of online features, the diverse environments and events available ensure that players can continually find new experiences, making it a favorite for those seeking long-term entertainment. Overall, the replay value is considered outstanding, with many players expressing that they never tire of returning to the game.
- “This game will keep you entertained for many hours and for its price, it offers a lot of content and replay value.”
- “To be honest, this game has aged like wine; it has a lot of replay value. We even have a way to play multiplayer after the Gamespy shutdown back in 2014, and the soundtrack perfectly fits the chaotic races and demolition derby gameplay.”
- “I'd actually say this gives the game quite a lot of replay value because you can either try racing with cars you didn't touch during career or even restart a career with a new profile and pick different cars.”
- “I've lost my save file countless times for this game, but the replayability factor is very strong with this game, and the first one.”
- “Other than that, your main source of replayability is doing events outside of career more.”
- “It has a decent variety of game modes that add to replayability, despite the fact that multiplayer no longer works.”
optimization
28 mentions
25 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its solid performance and stability, with many users reporting no crashes, FPS drops, or stuttering, even on low-end hardware. While some performance issues are noted, particularly with controller support, the game runs smoothly and is considered highly optimized for a title of its age, providing an enjoyable experience across various platforms. The graphics are deemed acceptable, and the driving mechanics are engaging, although AI performance can sometimes feel unbalanced.
- “Amazing childhood game I grew up on still runs perfectly, zero bugs, extremely well optimized with today's tech, hardly crashes.”
- “And also possibly the most optimized game I have ever played, it literally runs on anything.”
- “Plus, the way this game is optimized, it runs at 60fps on my potato computer!”
- “Isn't really optimized for controllers and steering wheels (you still need your keyboard to operate the menu).”
- “Game gives you a variety of tracks in different environments such as deserts, forests, suburbs, etc., and a big variety of cars which you can upgrade. However, sometimes it feels pointless because opponents with the same cars as yours still drive a bit faster.”
- “Surprisingly more rugged in play and performance than its predecessor, but it doesn't stop it from being a fun and enjoyable game.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic, old-school racing vibe, enhanced by an electrifying rock soundtrack that keeps players engaged and adrenaline-fueled. Reviewers highlight the diverse maps, destructible environments, and quality voiceovers that contribute to a sense of rivalry and excitement. Despite some dated graphics, the overall ambiance is described as immersive and enjoyable, evoking fond memories and a strong connection to the gameplay experience.
- “The rocking tunes and pulse-pounding beats create an electrifying atmosphere, propelling you forward and keeping your adrenaline pumping throughout every race.”
- “The atmosphere is done perfectly with a modest selection of race tracks and an awesome rock soundtrack that make you feel like you're an actual demolition derby driver.”
- “Best of the best old school racing action game with incredible atmosphere for long hours of play!”
- “The bloom doesn't help to make an upbeat atmosphere; rather, it is obtrusive and blinding. I have no idea how I played FlatOut 2 with the post-processing on back then.”
- “Even with a low number of polygons and low-quality textures, it still has a soul and atmosphere to it; different game modes add a ton of fun.”
- “Much like the soundtrack in Crazy Taxi, the songs haven't aged well, but they really complement the atmosphere of the game.”
stability
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, though many still find it enjoyable. While some players experience minimal issues and praise its performance on modern hardware, others highlight significant flaws that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game runs well for most, but persistent bugs remain a concern.
- “Looks and runs great on modern hardware and has support for a game controller, but sadly without force feedback.”
- “A small amount or no glitches.”
- “Runs great even though it's old.”
- “The bad things about this game are the lack of multiplayer (Steamworks' MP would be great for this game) and some troubleshooting, which was really easy to fix, but it's still an issue.”
- “A strange game, very flawed, buggy, and hard to control.”
- “Do not buy this game; it is a waste. It does not work, has so many glitches, and is not that fun.”
grinding
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Grinding in the game is characterized by repetitive racing and upgrading, which some players find tedious and time-consuming, often requiring multiple attempts to progress. While the visuals of grinding against other cars are praised, the overall experience can feel monotonous, especially in single-player mode where aggressive AI adds to the frustration. However, the game offers a substantial amount of content without the need for excessive farming, which is seen as a positive aspect.
- “And for a 2006 PS2 game, this has a lot of content that has no farming for parts you need, which is awesome.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's exactly how an old grinding game goes; you race, you redo some races to get better places, upgrade your ride to win better places, and it goes on like that forever (or until the end of the game).”
- “This probably began to sound tedious, considering it's done only for money.”
monetization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game features well-designed levels and humorous fictional ads, with a strong emphasis on a complete experience without the need for microtransactions or additional DLC. Players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases, highlighting a return to a simpler, early 2000s gaming model.
- “There isn't much to say about this game; it's a simple early 2000s type of fun where there are no microtransactions or any additional DLC needed for the full experience.”
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “There are no in-game purchases.”
- “=== Microtransactions / DLC Policy ===”
- “☐ Microtransactions for a good cause 😈”
- “Oh, and also no microtransactions and DLCs.”
character development
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is perceived as somewhat generic, with limited depth in track and character design. However, the focus remains on the racing mechanics, which are praised for balancing control and chaos effectively.
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express strong negative emotions towards "FlatOut 3," advising others to avoid it entirely, indicating a significant disappointment with the game's emotional impact.