Split / Second
by Disney
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: Disney Interactive StudiosAudio: English (Unknown)
Format: CD-ROM
Published: 2010-05-18
Release Date: 2010-05-18
Platform: Xbox 360
Model: 712725005771
Color: One Color
Publisher: Disney
Product features:
- City is Your Weapon - Alter the dynamics of the race within a made-for-TV city rigged to blow
- Every Lap is Different - Devastating events that change the track, create new routes and new obstacles
- Action Arcade Racing - Fast paced, intense racing action
Video Game Reviews of Split / Second
Customer Review: A summer blockbuster on your gaming screen
Summary: 4 Stars
I have a confession to make: I haven't played a racing game in a long time, not since the days of Extreme G-2, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer and San Francisco Rush 2049 in the Nintendo 64 era. Sure I played a Mario Kart now and then but as far as a true blue racing title, they've been pretty absent in my consoles though I couldn't tell you why. Partly because most of them are trying to be simulation titles with the most realistic physics, handling and near fetishistic attention to detail on the cars and partly because it's not quite exciting as when you're actually driving. But for some reason, May sees the release of 3 big releases: Split/Second from Black Rock Studios (Pure), Blur from Bizarre Creations (Project Gotham Racing) and relative newcomers United Front Games doing the user-generated content focus of Modnation Racers. The battle now has become which of the 3 do you pick up and worth your time? For now, we'll take a look at Split/Second, a game in which your main focus is not only to outrace your opponents but to survive the onslaught of the track itself but that is kind of the game's main problem: the selling point is immediately noticeable and it starts to slowly wear a bit old, not enough to make it boring but not enough for it to be constantly engaging.
Story: Most racing games don't really have a "Story" per se as you tend to play a new racer making a name for his or herself and racing to your heart's content to win cash, new cars and fame and glory. Split/Second doesn't so much have a story as it has a basic premise: in what's sure to remind people of Death Race, you play as a contestant on a game show named you guessed it, Split/Second, as you play on massive stages in episodes. But of course to keep things and the show exciting, several different special races and events are provided that you have to win so you can win the whole show. While it's a nice idea, Black Rock didn't really do much with this concept like for instance: do we get any kind of specialty rewards for blowing up the most stuff? Or even the least, proving you're a better racer by not causing mayhem? However they did put in some "next time! on Split Second!" kind of videos which offer a nice teaser for the next batch of events. Not the must fully realized concept but certainly fresher than "you're a dude, go win".
Graphics: Racing games tend to be all about really smooth and realistic graphics, from the sheen of the paint jobs to the light refraction, it's essentially car porn and the more gorgeous it looks, better reception game gets as far as racing enthusiasts go. Split Second is certainly no slouch as this game is flat-out gor-gee-yus with some stunning lighting, a great sense of speed and the destruction caused looks beautiful, as odd as that sounds. The HUD is also nicely designed with your position, current lap and power meter displayed near the rear bumper and trunk which keeps the clutter away from the rest of the screen so you can enjoy the rest of the game's vistas more. Pure was also a very nice looking game and same goes for this game as well.
Sound/Music: The music well, let's just say I barely remember any music. From the loud car engines to the explosions, it becomes really easy to not remember the music with all the sonic chaos that goes on. As far as the score itself, it's very much like summer blockbusters which is loud and bombastic and it rears its head now and then and it sounds nice sure but given the loudness of the main gameplay itself, it's kind of easy to overlook. One thing that isn't a slouch is the sound design as the car engines and even that light "whoosh" you hear when passing under street lights or bridges overhead is a nice touch and of course the explosions sound amazing as well.
Gameplay: Split Second in a sense has a gimmick: blow *** up. When you do drifts, drafts, jumps or narrowly escape being wrecked it fills up a meter with 3 segments. These are called "power plays" and they function like this: get close enough to a racer till a blue icon appears and press the A button in which something on the track will end up triggering which can range from simple bus explosions, a garbage truck backing up or a tractor spinning its claw along the track. The red icon tends to be that times 2 with some bigger explosions and in some cases, huge environmental destruction such as a helicopter dragging a huge steel stone through a tunnel, not only hitting any cars in front but blowing the roof off as well. And then there is the route changers, catastrophic events that literally change the course of the race which can range from a 747 crash land on the runway you just so happen to be driving along, a Space Needle-looking building collapsing in front of you, allowing the spire to act like a ramp to go to the rooftops and some others that I don't want to spoil. These are easily the highlight of the game and the first time they happen, you can't help but exclaim "holy ****" as the game becomes a racer by way of Jerry Bruckheimer. Narrowly being hit by a flaming bus that's flipping along the road creates a huge sigh of relief and demolishing a building that not only causes it to cave in but wipe out one or more drivers but then a problem hits: it becomes too familiar. You'll start to memorize the pattern and the location of each power play and although you might not know exactly when they'll be triggered, you'll know that on this particular piece of road, stick to the right since that giant falling metal beam doesn't hit there, even if the event is triggered or not. It doesn't become boring since a crashing 747 is still damn intense, especially when you juuuust drive under its wings but that unpredictability of not knowing how to react or deal with an exploding...something wears off and it starts to become pattern: things blows up, turn right here.
One thing that I'd recommend you do is that you hold off on going online with the game. See, the more you race and win in the story mode, the more cars you unlock which can be used online. Going online doesn't mean you have a full roster of cars but rather what you've unlocked is what you use and it can become frustrating and to a certain extent unfair since if you just want to go online, be prepared to be absolutely manhandled because they have way more faster cars than you. The online experience was pretty smooth I felt, if a tad slow to get the match started but the matchmaking is generally an issue as well. You don't necessarily rank up like you do in shooters or even the upcoming Blur so you can unlock the entire roster of cars but you're rank 99 with rank 1 being the top rank to aim for so just because you have a fast car, doesn't mean you'll fly right to the end. However, the game doesn't really take into account either the amount of cars one has unlocked and the story progress, or their rank, and my second match online was literally against a rank 1 player who naturally won the match thanks to his super hyper car with the high car ranking while I might as well had been driving a pinto compared to his Batmobile or something. I'd recommend either playing against your friends or play about half or 2/3rd of the storyline to unlock the cars and then hop online cause if you go play multiplayer right away, it might be a tad too annoying.
One problem that has plagued a couple of racers, namely the recent Mario Kart, is the concept of "rubber band AI". What this means is that opponents will suddenly get a massive burst of speed and overtake you despite the fact you're in a faster car or as in the case of games like this and Mario Kart where you can damage and stall other car's progress, they bounce back remarkably fast whereas you crash and go into 6th place, it's remarkably difficult to even come in 2nd let alone first. The AI in this game has a remarkable habit of overshooting you frequently and more than once, I'll see a car that I literally just wrecked with an exploding bus and it's like "wait are you that 'Robinson' driver I just crashed?" While online it's not as pervasive, the more you play Split Second, the more the AI just seems to be programmed to drive faster than you regardless. I understand the fun of the game is being in the middle so you can power play the hell out of the front drivers but when the goal of the game is obviously to come into 1st, the game makes it remarkably difficult to even make this happen when they can outrace you at any point when they shouldn't have.
The question still stands of course: should you buy Split Second or get Blur instead? Since Blur's not out yet, you'll have to rely on a rental for this game. For some people, the destruction caused by the drivers will be a delight the first little while but then it might wear thin. What would really make the game have longevity is not to take the Forza 3 route and just do car packs one after another but rather to do map packs or "track packs" if you prefer. This way, the main selling point of the game can have some fresh ideas and I'm sure Black Rock can think of more "holy ****!" moments on the tracks but after awhile, you'll be playing on the same tracks where you'll memorize the same trap placements and it might become a bit too old hat so I definately recommend renting. You might find it a game that takes you by surprise and thus necessitating a full purchase or you might be like me and call it a great game that I certainly wouldn't say no to if it was a gift but I'm not sure if I feel I'd get enough mileage (pun very much intended) out of it if I bought it myself.
Description of Split / Second
Split/Second is an intense action racing game set within a reality television show. Competitors will vie to be the first to the finish line in a made-for-TV city set rigged to blow with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion. Players in Split/Second don?t just collide with other vehicles to knock them from the track, but can also trigger devastating events that drastically alter the dynamics of the race. Players must use pinpoint timing to obliterate huge structures and towering TV set pieces to tactically alter the track or create entirely new routes.Racing & Flying Games
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