FlatOut: Head On
Having not played any of the series of games, I expected FlatOut: Head On to be just another destructive arcade racer in the style of Electronic Arts' Burnout. When I started the game, a friend even asked if it was a cheap rip-off of the latter. We were both wrong. While the initial fee is similar to Burnout, FlatOut: Head On is very different. Burnout is about racing and car crashes while FlatOut: Head On is pure destruction on wheels. Carnage races - the only races available in FlatOut: Head On - aren't won by coming in first or second. You get your gold medals by driving fast and furiously, destroying everything in your path and accumulating points - without crashing too much, of course. And if you missed Psygnosis' Destruction Derby series where a bunch of cars go head on in an arena, you'll be glad to know this title brings Derby fun to the PSP. Expect plenty of crashing and ramming in the arena, with the aim of wrecking other cars so you can score "kills" - just like in a death match. Stunt mode takes the cake for being incredibly innovative. You are supposed to launch your driver into a variety of objects to score - from using him as a bowling ball to having him select cards in a game of crash poker. Unfortunately, FlatOut: Head On is harder to pick up than normal racing games. For one, the cars are sluggish and incredibly hard to steer. In fact, the game is so unforgiving, I was tempted to call it quits as I couldn't seem to score in the initial tries. But stick with it and it soon becomes fun. FlatOut: Head On is something new you can do with cars on the PSP. If you're the type who enjoys ramming your virtual rigs into other tings, drive on.