Random brain farts on tech, games and gunpla: Split/Second Review

Overall-8/10

Looks can be decieving

Gameplay-8/10
Win
-destructive arcade style racing
-easy control and smooth learning curve
-simply yet elegant UI
-5 game mode available
-insanely addictive multiplayer with split screen support
Fail
-require some key mapping for logitech rumblepad 2
-no car customisation

Visuals-7/10
Win
-most destructive racing ever
-nicely done post processing and lighting
Fail
-lack of graphics setting
-abysmal performance with AA

This game is the most destructive and violent racing game ever. By tailgating, air time or doing drifts, you will be awarded points. Instead of showing those point in a worthless score screen after the race, you get to unleash mayhem with them.
When i say things blows up so often that makes some FPS cower in shame, you know this game capture audiences more than just racing fans. From vehicles to buildings to dams, everything is rigged to blow as long as you have enough points to pay for it. Upon maxing your points of 3 bar, you get to unleash 2nd tier attack that unleash destruction that rivals 911 and changes the racing track permanently. There are 3 standard mode like "normal" racing, elimination and time attack. Also available is 2 more unique mode like chopper attack and truck attack. As you have expect at this point of time, all of them come with flashy explosions that you can unleash or meant to destroy you. There are numerous tracks available but they are built around a handful of environments. Most of them require you to play through a few times to learn the locations and avoid those special attacks, before you get humiliated online.
Although the game comes with singleplayer like quick race and campaign, they are mostly forgettable. Blowing your friends or strangers online ass sky high is so much more satisfying than playing with the AI. Split screen mode is also available where you desire yo play with a friend to hit him in the nuts straight away if he throws a exploding school bus on your face. However, you are required to complete most of the campaign to unlock cars and tracks. The cars' performance cannot be customised or upgraded which result in online matches down to players' skills. As an arcade racer, the control is very easy and forgiving. Gamepads are fully supported with vibration working out of the box, but custom mapping is required to play. Coupled with a simple UI that is display as hologram under your car, thus allows you full attention on the carnage around you.
Visually, its up to the expectation of a console racer, complemented with the usual lack of settings. What seperates it from the crowd is the amount of destruction and particles for a racing game. The engine also has an extensive post processing to gloss out those lower quality objects and has some nice lighting to boot. However, the frame rate is cap at 30 and anti aliasing performance on PC is abysmal.
Great casual game for some brotherly bonding with your mates, with lots of swearing guranteed. Easy to learn, violent to play, a sure win receipe for arcade games.

Welcome to the most violent racing game yet