Split/Second

About

"Split/Second is an exhilarating racing game set in a TV show environment, where players can trigger explosive events to alter the track and outmaneuver opponents. Every race is unique, with structurers obliterating to create new routes. The game features intense multiplayer modes for up to 2 players via split-screen."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,012 reviews

graphics61 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

The game features a unique and fun power play mechanic that allows players to trigger environmental destruction to hinder opponents.
Graphics and sound design are impressive for a game released in 2010, providing an engaging and cinematic racing experience.
The gameplay is fast-paced and exhilarating, with a variety of race modes that keep the experience fresh and exciting.

The PC port is poorly optimized, with a frustrating 30 FPS cap and limited graphical options, which detracts from the overall experience.
Controller support is lacking, requiring players to navigate menus with a keyboard and manually configure controls for racing.
There is a known issue with save file corruption that can occur midway through the campaign, leading to lost progress.

graphics
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The graphics of Split/Second, despite being over a decade old, are widely praised for their impressive quality and vibrant visuals, often described as stunning and cinematic. While the game is capped at 30fps and has limited graphical options, many players feel that the visuals still hold up well against modern standards, showcasing detailed environments and realistic car models. However, some users note issues with the PC port, including performance problems and occasional graphical bugs.
- “The game's visuals are stunning, with detailed environments and realistic car models.”
- “The graphics are beyond beautiful considering that this game came out in 2010.”
- “An intense racing game with great graphics, thrilling music, explosive set pieces, and the unique selling point of weaponizing the race track, split/second effortlessly crosses the finish line in the competition of racing games.”
- “The PC port of this game is slightly terrible, including no support for pro controllers, and graphics no better than its original Xbox 360 version.”
- “Graphics options are severely limited, offering only a handful of presets.”
- “After playing titles such as Battlefield 4, Dirt 3, and Bioshock Infinite on very high graphical specs with a silky smooth framerate, I expected this game to look extra silky smooth; boy was I wrong, the framerate is capped at 30fps and there is noticeable stutter on top of that.”
gameplay
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
3%
The gameplay of this racing game is characterized by its unique "power play" mechanic, allowing players to trigger explosive environmental events that add strategic depth and excitement to races. While the core mechanics are fun and accessible, some players note issues with AI difficulty, repetitive gameplay, and controller support, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game is praised for its fast-paced action, stunning visuals, and nostalgic appeal, making it a standout title for fans of arcade racing.
- “The ability to trigger explosive events, known as 'power plays,' to take down opponents or gain an advantage added a thrilling layer of strategy to the gameplay.”
- “The game's focus on speed and precision made for an exhilarating experience, and the variety of tracks and cars kept the gameplay fresh.”
- “The core mechanic that sets this apart from any other racing game, which allows you to trigger explosions throughout the map in order to wreck your opponents, is executed flawlessly and ensures this will be a game you return to time and time again.”
- “The power play mechanic is badly implemented and makes being in first place actually detrimental to your chances of winning the race as the only ways to consistently gain speed is to.”
- “But again the clumsy gameplay kills it as you experience weird crashes.”
- “Just about every major gameplay aspect of the game is pointless in terms of competitive racing.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and dynamic quality, effectively complementing the high-speed action and explosive gameplay. While many players appreciate the memorable main theme and the immersive soundtrack, some note that it can be repetitive or generic at times. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the racing experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The sound effects and soundtrack perfectly complement the on-screen action, immersing the player in the high-speed world of Split/Second.”
- “An intense racing game with great graphics, thrilling music, explosive set pieces, and the unique selling point of weaponizing the race track, Split/Second effortlessly crosses the finish line in the competition of racing games.”
- “The soundtrack is composed specifically for this game and wonderfully fits the action on screen, dynamically adapting to the situation.”
- “The music, voice, and engine sounds are close to being silent, while every collision, explosion, and tire skid is straight up deep-fried for how loud they are (there are only two options in the settings: music and everything else).”
- “Curiously, the in-race soundtrack doesn’t progress in intensity unless the music is completely stopped by certain events.”
- “The music is just insultingly generic.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
72%
17%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and often described as "paper thin," with some players expressing disappointment over the lack of a more developed narrative. While the racing mechanics and spectacle are praised, the absence of a substantial story detracts from the overall experience for some, leading to a sense of missed opportunity. Despite this, the nostalgic elements and the unique premise of racing for freedom in a prison setting provide a basic framework that some players find engaging.
- “Love the episode/story idea, and find it overall to be one of my preferred racing games.”
- “I doubt Split/Second has a background story, but Death Race is set in a prison, where inmates race against each other in order to win their freedom; it is easy to take in the movie plots.”
- “One of the best arcade racing games with a nice TV series style storyline.”
- “The (lack of) story doesn't detract from the game at all, but it seems like a missed opportunity.”
- “There's little to no story in it.”
- “But it does come with a story just as paper thin!”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
55%
25%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting significant performance issues such as stuttering, long load times, and a frustrating 30 frames per second cap. While some players have found ways to improve performance using tools like DXVK, the overall experience is hampered by limited graphical settings and compatibility issues, particularly with keyboard controls and controller recognition. Despite these challenges, some users appreciate the game's visuals and performance on modern hardware, suggesting that it can run smoothly under certain conditions.
- “Now for commenting on the actual quality of the PC port - it's unfortunately locked at 30 fps, but I am fine with that since the game is optimized enough, and it's from over a decade ago.”
- “Its visuals are still impressive to this day, and its optimization is god-tier... got a toaster with Intel HD graphics 4000 and a 720p screen?”
- “Faster game, great environment, and optimized for the best frame rates on a normal/decent computer, so you don't need a 'Skynet' computer to run this game.”
- “This version misses all the DLC content from its console counterparts, is locked to 30 frames per second for some reason, has performance issues in the form of stutters and long load times, has a random save corruption issue that usually happens in episode 6, only offers a limited amount of graphical settings, only shows keyboard prompts in menus, and its DRM (SecuROM) is not fully removed but only deactivated, which causes issues for community patches.”
- “It is unoptimized, has a capped framerate, and I had to struggle to even get the game to recognize an Xbox controller.”
- “But this kind of racing game needs a lot of optimizations to be a fluid and playable game.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent across platforms, with many users reporting significant glitches, lag, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some players have managed to enjoy the game after extensive troubleshooting, others find it nearly unplayable due to persistent issues. Overall, the game appears to be a poorly optimized port, leading to frustration for many users.
- “An underrated gem that runs great on the deck, contrary to Valve's compatibility claims.”
- “No glitches, no issues—just run it.”
- “Error/bug free: 8/10.”
- “This game was absolutely brilliant on my PS3 back when I first got it in 2010, so my question to people at Steam is... why in the hell can you not get anything right???... this port over is just downright not even playable!... the game lags and freezes (and no, it's not the spec of my computer because I've got a top-of-the-range gaming rig PC with amazing specs) and yet the game still lags and freezes... also there's no DLC for this port over so I can't play with my favorite cars... and also there's no online play so I can play against other online players in a race, so you have the damn cheek to charge me nearly £20 for this piece of crap that doesn't even work properly!... I'll be making a complaint and be demanding my damn money back!”
- “This is a buggy mess!”
- “The game crashes and has tons of video and audio glitches, and none of the forums that I looked into have a way to fix it. A shame it was one of my favorite games on the PS3; I guess I shouldn't have bought it for the PC since it's so poorly ported.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable for time trials and unique gameplay elements, many feel that it is limited once the maps are familiar. Despite its fun mechanics and appealing graphics, critics point out flaws that impact long-term engagement, leading to a perception of low replay value in the campaign mode. However, at a budget price, some still consider it a worthwhile experience.
- “If you love time trials, extra replay value.”
- “Great game, lots of fun, replayable and good graphics.”
- “Unique take on the fantasy racing genre and has extremely high replay value.”
- “Replay value is low once you get to know the maps.”
- “Overall, replayability is a little limited, but at just under $20 it’s not a bad deal, right?”
- “Really hurts replayability of the campaign too.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages of the campaign, where completing career mode and achieving first-place finishes often requires extensive grinding on specific events. The menu navigation is cumbersome, further complicating the experience, particularly for those playing from a couch setup. Overall, finishing the game and achieving 100% completion can take upwards of eight to nine hours, with many players feeling that the grind detracts from the enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “It gets repetitive and grindy later in the campaign.”
- “To finish the career mode would take around eight hours – a couple more if one seeks to finish all bonus events (which, annoyingly, require grinding for a number of wrecks each episode) and to come with the first-place finish on each.”
- “On most tracks, the 1st place time is unreachable without dozens of hours of grinding just that single event to figure out the perfectly optimal way to play it.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its reliance on microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics, reminiscent of other titles like Asphalt 9. In contrast, the game "Split Second" is praised for its lack of monetization, offering a pure racing experience without the burden of additional costs, which many players find refreshing. Overall, there is a clear divide between games that prioritize monetization and those that focus on delivering an enjoyable gameplay experience without extra financial demands.
- “S/s is just a pure, fun, danger-dodging racing game, and best of all, there are no microtransactions!!!”
- “Split Second was built in a time when not every game from a major publisher needed to be overloaded with monetization, making it a favorite for many players.”
- “And as if that were not enough, their current idea of a racing game is a re-skinned version of Asphalt 9 with all the usual microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics.”
- “Is this a cash grab?”
- “Shame on the developers for advertising this game as a 'racing' game; this piece of trash shares absolutely no similarity with any of the existing good racing games, both in terms of mechanics and competitiveness.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, describing it as exhilarating and empowering, akin to feeling like an action hero. However, there is a sense of disappointment over the lack of a sequel and online support, which adds a bittersweet note to their overall experience.
- “I don't really know how to put into words how exhilarating this game made me feel.”
- “Great game, heartbreaking they never made a sequel.”
- “No online support/servers... heartbreaking.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional sound design, with audio elements like roaring engines and explosions enhancing the intensity. Reviewers note the detailed game design and a fitting soundtrack that collectively create an immersive experience, often rating the atmosphere a perfect 10/10.
- “The sound design deserves special mention – from the roaring engines to the thunderous explosions, every audio element amplifies the intense atmosphere.”
- “+ Soundtrack suits the atmosphere well enough.”
- “I prefer the weapons, vehicles, soundtrack, and overall atmosphere compared to this.”
- “Game design & atmosphere - 10/10 (everything is very detailed and made with attention).”
- “+ soundtrack suits the atmosphere well enough.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be exceptional, highlighting its ability to provoke genuine laughter through outrageous and unexpected scenarios, such as being hit by oversized objects. The game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its replayability and enjoyment during multiplayer sessions.
- “The Ryback Firestorm is so much better than the others, it's not even funny.”
- “Like really hilariously long drifts.”
- “This is the game we always go back to when I'm at a LAN and in need of action and pure fun, as in the real laughing out loud when you get smashed by an airport radar, a wrecking ball, a massive construction vehicle, or even a friggin' hangar ship!”