FlatOut was released on November 5, 2004 for both Windows and Consoles. My first impressions of the game were also back then. The game was fun. But now, it can only be played for nostalgia. I suggest you pick it up on a sale.

I said that the game was fun because there are better games out there that you can buy. This game made a good start for the derby racing game and started a future for FlatOut series. I still find it amazing how the driver just flies out of the window during big crash. The gave is hilarious especially if you play with friends. But I am not too sure if the game servers are even running. I know you can play with friends via some LAN programs or even HOTSEAT. It's a good game to have fun with.

As in any racing game there must be music in this one. It has a decent soundtrack for the time of release, but I have personally never heard those bands in my life before or after. I do not dislike the soundtrack but I think it could have been much better. The rest of the sound effects seem fine and nothing particular caught my eye( or more like ear).

2004 was a big year for very good looking games. This game didn't do too bad compared to big fish around that time. Car detail is good. The detail of the maps is good as well. Human rag dolls are a bit on the low side, but they are not that important. Overall, I am still very happy with the graphics to the current time.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=349808821
Controls and overall steering is a bit funny. I take it that's because the game was made for consoles too. There are not many buttons to press, but powerful steering can ruin your race.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=350923568
There are a few things, of course, that I quite hate about FlatOut. First thing is AI. It's so straight forward that it's actually not fun playing against computer. All it wants is to reach the finish line. I can also add that AI drives in the best possible way and will not crash. All other reasons add up to the first one. Because the AI drives really well, one mistake on the map could mean that you have lost your lead, quite probably for the rest of the match. And the last thing is that in my opinion the cars get damaged way too fast even without actually crashing into anything. But the end of the match you will end up having engine on fire, 2 car seats with human and skeleton of the car.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=350923322
Re-playability is low in my opinion, because you can just play other better games with the same name.

So in overall, I think this game (without considering the rest of the series at least) is quite good. I would recommend it simply because it's really fun. Not everywhere you can send the driver flying out.

A classic title from Bugbear Entertainment, FlatOut 1 is a racing game where you race scrapped-up derby cars around some tracks, to win, like any other racing game. However, unlike more realistic titles on Steam, this game seems to play more around dirty racing, such as slamming into your opponents, ramming them or pushing them into telephone poles.
Flatout doesn't take itself seriously, however, with the special events. I won't spoil them all, but they include such things as darts and a high jump. With your driver's body. Yeah, it was one of the first racing games to incoporate ragdoll physics and it plays this for laughs, especially when, if faced with a hard enough impact, your driver just FLIES out of the car.
Xbox controller support is okay, and it's a title that feels like it should be played with one. It's hardly taxing on modern hardware, and it runs pretty smooothly on laptops.
Honestly, give it a try, it's pretty enjoyable for the price!

200000000000/10 Better than Battlefield Hardline PC Games

i think this game is insanely awesome and realistic. if you really want to win use the blockhead hatchback and customize is with as many pieces and attatchments as possible.

FlatOut 1 physics *ARE* much more realistic than FlatOut 2!

Problem is, most kiddies (and adults) don't have a clue of how a powerful RWD car handles, and then stupidly trash this game physics.

I grew up driving a powerful rear-wheel drive muscle car - Chevrolet Opala 250 - about the same as one of a mid line 70's camaro, and I can tell that the handling in this game is very realistic and similar, in sand and on asphault (no real experience on snow driving, though)

But yeah, Bugbear introduced a few arcade elements, using the engine of their previous RACING SIMULATOR game... Arcade elements: All objects are somewhat light and the car tends to stay wheels down.

Writing this to counter-act so many arcade kiddos trashing this. Give something closer to a simulator to an arcade kiddie, he won't even be able finish the race after the first stage hahaha

Flatout, a completionist's review:

Never before in any racing game I've felt so vulnerable in my ride. At least on the highest 'professional handling' difficulty those ugly muscle cars are bound to flip and crash on the slightest impact with the semi-destructible environment and of course those other 7 suicidal maniacs you're up against. Even though this can lead to quite a bit of frustration, especially in end-game races, these physics will actually force you to drive cautiously. Seems logical but keeping control of your car is more important than speed, something unlike I've ever experienced in this genre, and it provides that extra thrill.

Except for the obvious races in different types of environment split into a carreer mode, quick race and time trial events, this game also offers a wide range of minigames. From tossing your driver out of your front window into a dartboard to classic Destruction Derby madness, it's a lot of fun to be had. If you want to race online you can find a patch on the web, also a Widescreen fix is available there which I highly recommend, wIth it's help the visuals still look nice after a decade. The music is mediocre at best (except for that great Sixer track) but provides suitable excitement, and giving unsigned artists some exposure is something I surely respect. Except for a small graphic glitch that appears sometimes (the GUI flips all over the screen) it runs stable, and luckily that glitch can easily be solved by the alt-tab combo.

If you like crazy destruction-type racing and a brutal challenge I highly recommend this one!

wow memories

Perhaps the best racing game ever made

I remember playing this on my classic Xbox. (When the Xbox was litterly a giant X. This game was my childhood and I love it for the aspect of ragdoll and soooo much more.

I HIGHLY recommend getting the game if your wanting to see funny ragdoll moments and a lot more.

(Warning: The yellow and black car in the Demo Durby is a monster)

I've only played 10 minutes and already in love.

FlatOut is a fast and fun racing game released in 2005.

Since it's almost 10 years old, the graphics obviously show it's age personally I did not mind a bit. However, without controller support, steam achievements and online players, you probably want to look somewhere else and If you own one of the new FlatOut games you don't really need this one.

The only reason for you to get this game is if you are low on cash and want to pick this one up in a Steam sale (atm it's 1,75 euro).

I will still recommend this game because it was pretty good when it launched.

MULTIPLAYER!!! READ THIS!! NO DOWNLOADS!!

If you want to play MultiPlayer (with hamachi) edit the launch settings like this:

The Hoster types:
-host="your ip"

The Joiners type:
-join="your ip"

For example:
-host=1.2.3.4
-join=1.2.3.4

And launch the game normally.

(make sure you are in the same hamachi network as the host)

ENJOY!!!! ;DD

Really good game and I think personally the games experinence would be a little bit better if I could get my controller to work on it.

Igor simmulator

100/beer, would deathcrush again.

Right on the money.

Classic arcade racer
Great soundtrack
Great Physics
Great gameplay
HUD occasionally got possessed by satan
10/10

A good classic racer 9/10

You will never yell this much at your screen like in this game.

Pros:
Anger
Dissappointment
Hateful deathwishes to the NPC drivers and their families.
Slightly joy at your rare wins

10/10 will yell again

Btw: It's not stated on the store page, but it has controller support and some kind of local coop play (2-4 players), but not for regular races.

Maybe one of the most under-rated racing game series. This game is made by Finnish studio called "Bugbear Entertaiment" known as of Flatout Series (expect Flatout 3 chaos & destruction which was awful game made by some studio from Czech) Rally Trophy, Ridge Racer Unbounded and future release "Next Car Game" what is upcoming game to new generation consoles and pc (people voted from greenlight for steam). Even Though game is from 2005 this game have "heavenly" physics motor and driving response system when it is considered its racing game era back to that time. Simple & very challenging single player career. 8 player AI-races, 16 different cars what you can customise, 48 different tracks including Demolition derbys, Bonus and stunt tracks and all tracks contains hundreds of destructible pieces. Multiplayer is closed but still working with downloadable patch from net. Sorry for my bad english!

LEGENDARY GAME 10/10

Don't get decieved by a relatively low score on Metacritic, that's unfortunately a result of reviewers comparing FlatOut to Need For Speed (most popular racing game of mid-2000's). Although they belong to the same main genre, racing, they are completely different games with completely different perception of racing.

I played this game for the first time when it was released in 2005 but I was not able to get pass through the first stage of three as I was not that good in PC games back then. I grew up, saw this game on discount and I was determined to complete this after all those years and finally managed to complete the game in 15 hours.

During 15 hours, I completely lost my s**t, I leaned right or left on my chair while I was simply pressing left and right buttons on my cheap keyboard, I looked for a brake pedal under the desk, I felt like I won a real race after each race. This is probably one of the most underrated games of all times as it's gaming mechanics, AI, graphics are better than current era of arcade racing games.

FlatOut reminded me why I loved racing genre. 10/10.