Split / Second is one of the few games I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. I watched all the trailers, the developer diaries and interviews, and video previews I could set my eyeballs upon in anxious anticipation of this game’s release. Now that its out, and I’ve sunk considerable time into it, I have to say–it has been worth the wait. What Disney and Black Rock Studios have created is–if not the best arcade racer to date–definately the most fun.
To begin, the game is set up like a seasonal show, or sports event. Race levels are broken up into episodes culminating in a season finale race against the Split Second elite drivers. Place in the top 4, and you have the option to move on. Placing well in races earns you season points, which unlock cars as your season point rises. Like any good arcade racer, this game has drafting, drifting, and collisions galore, but what truly sets the gameplay apart from the rest are the explosive events.
Explosive events are the meat of the game. As you drift, jump, and draft, you power up a three segmented bar displayed in a “heads up” style behind your car. When a segment is fully powered, you can set off an explosion to try and wreck opponents ahead of you when the explosion icon appears above their cars. Hold off on the pyrotechnics, and you can set off a “level two” event. If timed right, you can wipe out the entire roster of racers ahead of you. The beautiful thing about the Level 2 events (I call them L2s) is not only can they clear opponents, they also change the track for the duration of the race. Set off an L2 at the pier for example, and you’ll explode a huge cargo tanker, causing it to crash into the dock. It destroys a huge section of track, but the tanker itself becomes part of the race environment–forcing all racers to drive accross its chaotic deck, dodging storage containers and other debris. Freakin’ awesome!
Don’t think you can use explosive events without consequence however. Each event sets off a concussion wave–which causes control of your vehicle to deteriorate. The closer you are to the blast (without being caught in it of course), the greater the force exerted on your vehicle. Different cars react differently when hit by concussion waves, so it is wise to take that into consideration. It is this “concussion physics” system that makes this the deepest arcade racer hands down. A last second change in track position can have you taking the brunt of a wave sending you into a wall while your opponent gets away scott free. Simply memorizing where the explosions are on the tracks will do you no good if you aren’t constantly aware of where your vehicle is in relation to the other drivers. This all happens at Burnout level speed–so you’re going to have to depend on “split second” reaction time to win–get it? Split second reaction time in a game called Split Second–funny, right? Right? Anybody…?
There are several race types that you’ll encounter during season mode. There are traditional races where you compete against 7 other opponents. There are time attacks where you race against the clock and try to dodge all the explosive events that go off to impede your progress. Then there are the diesel and attack chopper challenges. The goal in the diesel challenge is to pass as many diesel rigs as you can before time runs out. When time runs out, its sudden death. The track is loaded with drone cars, and the rigs dump tons of exploding barrels. The blue ones are concussion charges, while the red ones blow you up on contact. It is racing chaos at its best. The attack chopper challenge pits you against a military type attack chopper that shoots missiles at you as you drive. You always know where the missiles will hit on the track, but your job is to dodge them, and compensate for the concussion waves they create. The more waves you dodge, and the faster you’re going when you dodge them, the more points you earn. Your car can withstand 3 hits from a missile before its junk heap time.
So, with this game being as great as I think it is, there are some problems that some folks might get a little frustrated with. The most glaring criticism of the game is the “rubber-banding” that goes on among your AI opponents–especially during the season ending races where you compete among the Split Second elite racers. In later seasons, its border line rediculous how hard it is to get into first place–let alone maintain first place. Another disappointment has nothing to do with the game, but what Disney/Black Rock did to the online. They offered the unlock code as payable DLC, so going online is an excercise in total frustration because some of those that play this game online have bought the fastest cars. If you haven’t earned them in game, or paid your digital dollars to get them, you’ll never win. You can create a private race to alleviate the problem, but–nobody on my PSN list is playing this game online, and I haven’t quite earned the fastest cars in the type that I use the most.
Another critique that some may have, is that Split Second throws everything it has to offer at you fairly early. Some may feel the game might get a little dull as you continue, as there aren’t very many tracks. Although I think the concussion system employed in the game addresses that issue whole-heartedly, I can see how some might get that “been there done that” feeling from the game.
To bottom line it: If you like arcade racers, this game is a definate buy. The original spirit of the Burnout series flows deep in this title. I know I can’t put my Dual Shock down. This game has pulled me away from Super Street Fighter 4–and for a fighting freak like me–that’s saying a lot for the presentation, gameplay, and polish this game exudes. If nothing else, give it a rent. If you have a pulse, you won’t be disappointed.
Tags: Reviews
