FlatOut Head On (PSP)

Yep, this is FlatOut alright.

FlatOut has always been a spectacular racing series, but it's never managed to break free from the also-rans category. Not that this is anything to do with the series' quality - the FlatOut games are among the best arcade racers around - but how it's seen by gamers. On consoles there is a very small elite group and it's hard to break into, whereas on handhelds the pecking order is still to be decided. With FlatOut Head On for the PSP, maybe the series will get the time in the spotlight that it deserves.

For anyone who hasn't dabbled with a FlatOut game before, you drive off-road cars (although they can get quite sporty) around various object filled tracks, smashing into things and fighting with other drivers. It's remarkably similar in feel to the now dead Destruction Derby series of games, but with far more interactivity. Logs will roll onto the track, road-side barriers will smash and cars will spin uncontrollably to their destruction. You might think this has suffered somewhat in the game's arrival on the PSP (the last game was on the Xbox 360 after all), but the handheld copes with the game better than you'd think.

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Although the visuals aren't nearly as pretty as the Xbox 360 game (which is no shame), they are close to the PS2 game. The cars are big and detailed, the tracks are packed full of items to smash into and the sense of speed is still excellent. In the preview build the frame rate is also pretty good, although still in need of some fine-tuning before the game's March 14 release date. There has been no compromise on the number of cars on the track either (you race against seven other drivers), and the trackside objects are more than plentiful enough.

What might be slightly disappointing for long-time FlatOut fans is the re-use of tracks. I played through the opening few events in the game's main career mode and the tracks are nigh-on identical to those in the Xbox 360 version (Ultimate Carnage), which in turn featured the tracks of the original PS2 game. While it's great that the developer (Six by Nine is handling the PSP game) has managed to port the tracks over to the PSP pretty much intact, hopefully there is some new content later in the game.

Did we say it looks excellent?

Not that Head On is lacking in content - quite the contrary. As well as the lengthy (and pretty tricky) career mode you can go for high scores in the Carnage mode or try out one of the many party-game-like events. The FlatOut series has become known for its crazy stunt events and this PSP version isn't going to let the side down. All the events from previous games are included, so you've pretty much got every game built around your driver being propelled through the windscreen that you could think of. It's cruel, but great fun.

Multiplayer proved to be a big success in previous FlatOut titles and the PSP game will be joining the party - although not online. There'll be support for four players over a local wireless network and eight players can take part in 'take it in turns' challenges. Online play would have been great, but considering so much of the console game has already been packed into the PSP we'll let Six by Nine off the hook.

Concerns at this stage do exist though. At times the track designs don't seem perfectly suited to the PSP's small screen, with certain corners being pretty hard to see. The handling, while close to the home console versions, also seems a little sluggish, although hopefully this will be sorted out when the frame rate is locked at 30 frames per second - a goal that seems perfectly reachable. With a bit of polish, though, FlatOut Head On has a good chance of a podium finish on the PSP. Check back in March for our full verdict.

FlatOut Head On will be released exclusively for the PSP on March 14.