Bugbear's original FlatOut was just one feature short of becoming one of 2004's (few) outstanding racing games - and that missing feature was online multiplayer. But fear not: no longer shall we emulate online LAN races, for FlatOut 2 is here! Once again published by Empire Interactive, the sequel crashed into UK stores on June 30th, for the PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms. It's Empire's largest launch of the year, and supposedly "one of the biggest and best racing games releasing anywhere on any platform in 2006". Well, no doubt it's "one of them", but it remains to be seen just how many others will overlap it by the end of this year.

"Experience the drive of your life as you throw yourself around on and off the track causing fences to shatter, tyre walls explode, water tanks and barrels fly across the track into other cars. And if anyone, including you, gets caught up in a big smash sit back and watch as the driver gets catapulted through the windscreen in spectacular effect. Also unique to FlatOut, anything you destroy or alter stays a part of the race lap after lap, increasing the carnage to unprecedented levels!

With over 5000 destructible objects on each track and 40 deformable pieces on every car sparks are guaranteed to fly increasing the mayhem with every lap! As the different races progress you'll recognise which of the AI characters are your closest rivals. How you decide to take them out is up to you, like slamming them into a bridge, stealing a lead through an alternate route or Nitro boosting your way past them in the final moments."

Screenshots, trailers and such are available locally, and for more information on one of the most destructive, high-octane and flat-out fun racing games ever, fans are invited to head over to www.flatoutgame.com. North Americans crash test dummies will apparently have to wait until August 1st to try out FlatOut 2.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)