PSP World

Watch Out! FlatOut Head On Preview incoming!

FlatOut: Head On is a PSP game first developed by BugBear entertainment (Developers of Flatout Carnage for the XBOX 360), but ported to the PSP by developer Six by Nine. FlatOut: Head On for the PSP is shipping with a number of modes to play, and multiplayer ad-hoc and infrastructure, which will all be detailed in this preview.

The first mode I'm going to talk about is FlatOut mode. Which works like the career mode of any racing game. You first buy a car using the credits you start with, when you are then able to start your career mode. There are three levels in the career mode. The three levels are Derby, Race, and Street. They increase in difficulty as you move on to the higher levels, and you will meet different cars and tracks, depending on what level you are in. The career mode also keeps track of your progress, and allows you to upgrate your cars, buy new cars, and manage them in your garage.

The next mode is Carnage mode. Which simply, has a lot to do with carnage. You are able to complete in a few different events in this mode. The events include Carnage race, which pits you against other cars in a race, where you are tasked with creating as much destruction as possible. There are also stunts. Where you are tasked with throwing the driver of your car through dangerous situations such as fire rings, playing darts, soccer, and even basketball. There is also a Destruction derby event, which is self-explanatory, and a beat the bomb mode also.

The final mode is multiplayer. You are able to play multiplayer via ad-hoc (local) or infrastructure (online). Sadly, at the time of publication, no one is yet playing infrastructure, as the game isn't out yet, but it works simple enough. You connect to the network, and then you're able to create a game, or join a game. Then, presumably you would race against opponents.

The graphics on this game look great. The damage modeling on the cars are done well, as are the environments. Destruction has never looked this good. The controls work very well, you will have no complaints on trying to control your car.

Look for FlatOut: Head On on a store shelf near you when the game launches March 11, 2008.