Fatal Inertia EX

Best racing this side of Endor

Posted 4 years ago By - Brian Edey

Fatal Inertia EX is a rare game; it is basically the same game in theory as an Xbox 360 game called Fatal Inertia, developed by the same team but was not widely accepted on Microsoft’s console. This is a fact that will turn off many gamers who have a PS3 and will be unwilling to try the EX version of the game. But they should, for Fatal Inertia EX on the PS3 and Fatal Inertia on the Xbox 360 are not even in the same class game wise. Koei has fixed everything wrong with the Xbox version, redone a majority of the game and gave us a budget priced title with some serious weight behind it. Actually this futuristic racer is my favorite racer this year and one of my favorite of all time, just behind Star Wars Episode 1: Pod Racer.

Extreme speeds, different classes of races, race craft, weapons and tracks are extremely well done in this game. A great single player game mixed with a fun multiplayer game and there is little wrong with Koei Canada’s latest game.


Gameplay
If you played the Xbox 360 version and believe the gameplay mechanics will be the same in the PS3 version of this game you are mistaken. The entire gameplay side of Fatal Inertia EX is leaps and bounds above the Xbox 360 version, something everyone who has tried or heard of the Xbox version should realize; this is not the same game but a vastly superior one. Every control is very exact, you can turn corners, boost your speed, fire weapons, the learning curve is nice and easy and you will blow up your friends with ease once you get used to the game.

Multiplayer is done very well with a wide variety of options to make every race fairly unique, every race type, track and more in the single player game is there in the multiplayer version. Single tracks, split screen and series are all available for you and your friends to race on. But one of the features I enjoyed was the fact if you are playing with someone ranked much higher then you are, they can use stock race craft instead of trying to beat others using much faster racers.

One feature missing from the Xbox 360 version and appreciated here is a training system where you learn everything before actually racing, instead of being thrust into the actual racing and learning as you go. The training is done very well and once you complete it actual racing is a breeze for a while before the other racers AI become challenging and when they do become challenging every race is a fight and that is the best part of the single player game.


Graphics
Using the Unreal Engine comes with some issues and benefits, first off no 1080p, but honestly you do not even notice the resolution difference because the rest of the game runs at a steady frame rate, with some fantastic visuals, especially some of the unlocked maps which are stunning. Many particle effects on the screen were one of the downfalls of the Xbox 360 version, but in this one the sheer amount of particles are fantastic. Smoke bombs, dust storms, water falls and more fill the screen at times and add so much to the game.

The level design is possibly the most impressive aspect to the game, with every imaginable type of level from water, beach, forest, lava, and ice with various obstacles, canyons, cliffs, rocks and more all over the level. Each of the main tracks has between 6 and 9 variations of how to race the track with several short cuts and paths to take on each one. With such a wide variety of tracks and their variations you will not find your self bored easily and memorization of each one will take a long time.

Each of the stock racers look very nice, but when you actually begin to design your own racer in the garage by unlocking new parts you can build some beautiful sleek designed craft which cut the air like a knife. Adding wings, engines, hulls, brakes, front end, tails, side panels, spoilers and cockpits all effects your top speed, handling, braking, mass, how much damage you take and more. It may take a while to unlock enough of the items to fully customize your vehicle to look ‘bad ass’ but once you do, your personalized craft can handle exactly how you want it to.

Audio
One of my favorite futuristic racers is Star Wars Episode 1 Pod Racer and if you are familiar with it you know the game has some great audio and sound effects. Of course once you hear the best you always expect the best and Fatal Inertia EX does not disappoint. It comes in with some great audio across the board with music, weapon and sound effects which are amazing.


Value
Racing fans will enjoy the game for what it offers, a fast sci-fi racing experience with some in-depth combat and a nice learning curve that will not intimidate you. Even though there is no voice communication between players in multiplayer (at this time), the multiplayer is rather enjoyable, especially when you use the weapons to their full potential.

But I have to say I did not see the initial value until I started playing the game and played it for a long time, then I saw some real strategy needed in the racing, the depth of building your own racer and finally how fun it was to race in multiplayer.

Bottom Line
Very fun title, especially for its budget/impulse buy price of $29.99 it is worth picking up for racing fans.

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