I finally beat Flatout the other day, it was a real rush, and so much fun. I kept my Fasthammer all the way through the Gold Cup, very nostalgic. I love how well the arcade feeling wreck and smash mantra mixed into the realistic physics engine.
So, I downloaded the Flatout 2 demo and was met with something quite different. It seemed like Criterion got their hands on the game and injected some Burnout, which is basically what it feels like to me, Burnout.
I can't complain, because I love Burnout, and its awesome to have it on the PC (I can't run the newest version of Burnout), but, I feel like Flatout got lost in the exchange. What do you think? And have you played Flatout: Ultimate Carnage?

Flatout's original idea was to be a nice demolition derby racing game, with really badass minigames that was well worth the price itself. And if I'm not mistaken, Ultimate Carnage is just a remake of Flatout 2, but with shinier graphics and some extra tracks, so you're not missing much if you already have Flatout 2. I don't see why there shouldn't be some Burnout DNA in the game, because Burnout is awesome and it somewhat fits with the series. Besides, how can the original Flatout game mechanics get lost in the development? You're crashing cars with other cars, how hard could it be?

i love flatout.
first one was something i really needed after DD2 didnt want to work on XP.
Second one was reamake of first one with some improvements and was easier.
If its about ultimate carnage, i wait for it in some cheap series, coz its reamake of second (as i heard) witch is remake of first one. ;]

I really like Flatout 2, it's a real fun for the destruction.
The only thing that keeps making me mad, is the "simulation" aspects in driving, while the game is (should be) pure arcade. I mean, the collision system is pretty fun with the other cars, but with the walls... it's like the walls are "magnetized", as well as the front of your car... how many times that you pass near a wall, your car touch it just a little, and that's it... your car is stuck, the front "glued" to the wall.
For the race, I prefer Burnout, but Flatout 2 is so amazing in arenas and mini-games.

The main thing about Flatout ultimate carnage is the multi player.
It is the same thing as Flatout 2, with multi player.
Great series, that I wish was more open range like Carmageddon was (not so much limited to just the track).

Flatout 2 has multi-player. At least on PC, don't know about the console version.

Agreed, that is really annoying, you're usually better off resetting and that just breaks the flow of the game. They should have kept the ejecting driver thing out of races, especially when races get going as fast as they do.
And yeah, as far as I know Flatout 2 has multiplayer on the PC, I'm going to check out Ultimate Carnage anyway.

Hmm... Nah, in FlatOut 2, you're better off just resetting the car and getting back to the race - I use this feature far too often :D
Yeah, FlatOut 2 IS easier, but IMO it'S more fun as well, since enemies keep crushing themselves (and you :D) all the time, making it more 'destructive' experience :D In FlatOut 1, you weren't alloved to make a single mistake usually - and that's pretty bad for a destruction derby - ish racing game, since mistakes come quite easily when you're trying to destroy your oponents as well..

I have that problem with Flatout one when I think my car will scrap along round corners but instead get pulled to the opposite direction. Same with being hit by cars. It does annoy me and gets me frustrated when I lose a chance to win a race. I should add that being ejected from the car for driving 20 mph and hitting the sidewalk when trying to drive up on it angered me a lot.
Your right, it tend to require perfection to complete the course in first place. Even if you are good, it's nearly impossible to make first on your first time because of the lack of warnings of the changes in environments and the camera.

Yes, this. Guard rails o' doom. Going airborne and flipping end-over-end five times because you hit a traffic cone.
I had fun with Flatout, but when you've got a demolition racer that requires you to drive like you're trying to pass your driver's test and the examiner has already murmured disapprovingly twice, it means the developers did something wrong.