FlatOut

I say "incredibly destructible", simply because it is. Should you plough into a tyre wall, the tyres will roll all over the track, making navigation treacherous when you find out that your car reacts somewhat realistically when you try to drive through them as if they aren't there on the next lap, and you inevitably end up rolling the car.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

And most important, who doesn't love a good crash where the driver flies out the window into a tree? There is a little of something here for everyone who is just looking for a little fun. Definitely worth the purchase.

What FlatOut does it does exceptionally well. It offers hours and hours of extremely solid racing action with excellent physics and handling that is very enjoyable, offline and online.

A solid bit of destruction derby/road racing hybrid madness that's well worth picking up. Bugbear has the tools and talent to make the next game even better and I'll definitely be along for that ride.

A little more work here and there, especially with the graphics and the sub-par soundtrack features would have had this game scraping a nine instead of just making an eight.

An excellent package. Honestly, Flatout is a hairbreadth away from a 9, and legendary status.

Empire's release slips under the radar, but manages to surprise us with its incredible ragdoll physics and smashing damage system.

The 'instant gratification' test from Flatout is very high which is always a good marker. Flatout does not profess to be anything but an out and out 'revving foot on the pedal and try to waste the opposition' game.

It's hard to compare FlatOut to the other extreme games on the market, but that's a good thing since it feels fresh in many aspects.

You could say FlatOut is a bit like your favourite page three girl. Great to look at, boasting accentuated physical attributes that sometimes defy gravity, yet underneath is a filthy minx who loves to get dirty with a group of mates. Fun, enjoyable and instantly playable. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Sure, the graphics aren't that great, the soundtrack isn't exactly memorable but most important of all is the game play, and that is spot on.

The inclusion of the ridiculously over-the-top mini-games instantly helps this game move ahead of the pack, and the online action is highly entertaining.

The truly suicidal, meanwhile, will be in awe of the driver's ability to launch himself fatally through the windscreen, screaming, while the rest of us will love the game's easy and responsive controls, and the authentic feel of the cars.

For those who just want to race fast, wreck hard, and look good doing it, FlatOut fits the bill.

The use of physics brings a genuine uniqueness to the title, but it ends up feeling more like a gimmick than anything else. Without these physics, FlatOut would fail on all fronts to be memorable.

In stark contrast to racing proper, the developers at Bugbear have neglected to take FlatOut's bonus mode far enough. I don't think they knew what they had with this extra mode until it was too late.

It would've been nice to see more cars, deeper customization, or tighter controls, but FlatOut gets the job done. It's solid with friends, but falls pretty short for solo fun.