Featured Game: FlatOut

Fun, but could be more fun

Year: 2004/2005 (depends on region)

Genre: Semi-Simulation Racing

Recommend: YES

Requested by NSDCars5

I really like FlatOut. The graphics are superb, the damage modelling is a joy to behold, and unlike some racing games, it provides some challenging gameplay. If only it weren't held back by those criminal GMA 3600 drivers. At 1024x600 on the lowest possible settings, my netbook gets around 15-25 fps. A GMA 3150 netbook can muster 35-40 fps at 800x600 (thanks to NSDCars5 for that data). It's a real shame Intel doesn't seem interested in customer service, because Cedar Trail could be a great platform for older games like this.

What you'll need

FlatOut doesn't care as much about processing power as it does RAM. While you only need 512 MB RAM if you're running integrated graphics (ie, not ION 2), more really helps. 1 GB is the least I would recommend, and 2 GB makes a big difference in versions of Windows past XP.

Reviews and Awards

FlatOut's ratings can be described as "just good." Gamespot handed the game a 7.9/10, applauding the environmental destruction, graphics, and minigames. The reviewer was very unimpressed by the lack of online multiplayer for the PC, as well as it's "middling soundtrack." Speaking of middling soundtrack, IGN slammed FlatOut for its soundtrack in their PS2-version review, with a weak score of 5 for the sound category. The game was also criticized for its lack of creativity and subjective gameplay. Despite this, FlatOut was awarded a 7.5/10, which is still in the Good category.

Tips

If at all possible, stay away from stacks of tires. While you'll build up a nice stockpile of nitro by plowing into them, chances are you'll get stuck and fall back in the race. 

Featured Game: Motocross Madness

This was hot stuff back in the day

Year: 1998

Genre: Vehicle Simulation + Racing

Recommend: YES

Maybe you're nostalgic. Maybe you want to see what game graphics were like a decade and a half ago. Maybe you tried Motocross Madness 2 on your Cedar Trail netbook and were disappointed by how poorly it ran, but still wanted to experience the action of motocross (hint hint). Whatever your reason for trying the original Motocross Madness, you will find that it's a fine game that's plenty of fun. Sure, it pales in comparison to its sequel, but come on, this was 1998. This game was da bomb, and it's still enjoyable today. 

What you'll need

For being such an old game, Motocross Madness works well right off the bat. You don't need to mess with compatibility settings, no-CD patches, or anything else that tends to plague games of this age. The only problem I can see so far is the invisibility of player names above the AI's heads and on the scoreboard. Whether this is a driver or a Windows issue, I don't know. (I'll look into it.) The game runs very smoothly, as a game with such simple graphics should.

Reviews and Awards

Motocross Madness has garnered positive feedback from reviewers. IGN gave the game 8/10 (a 'great' score), praising the realism of the game by saying it "portrays the sport in all its agonizing glory -- a fast, maniacal sport that's more fun (and much safer) to watch than it is to participate." Gamespot awarded an even higher score of 8.4/10, still great, proclaiming "this is pretty much everything you could hope for in a motocross simulation, and then some."

Tips

From here on out, I will make my best effort to more tightly integrate this blog and my YouTube channel. That's why I've embedded my gameplay video of Motocross Madness below. Screenshots, like I've used in previous posts, are a dime a dozen, but a video really shows what you can expect from a game. Feel free to check out my other videos here, and their descriptions. I put important info in the descriptions (because I don't like too much fluff in my videos, and text uses next to no bandwidth), so read them!

Featured Game: Midtown Madness

Drive around like a maniac with no repercussions

Year: 1999

Genre: Racing

Recommend: YES

Got the need for speed? Well, you could play one of the Need for Speed games, or you could give Midtown Madness a try. There's nothing quite like hurtling down a Chicago freeway in a Panoz GTR-1 at 200+ MPH, trying to evade the cops. Or you could rumble down the avenue in a Freightliner Century, crushing every Geo Metro in sight. However you play, Midtown Madness gives you a super-fun experience, and the graphics aren't bad, considering the game's age.

What you'll need

You don't need to have the slightest worry about this game. If you can run Windows XP, you can run Midtown Madness. EDIT: You might have to reduce the graphics a bit for Cedar Trail netbooks; I get 13-32 fps on maxed out settings at 640x480.

Reviews and Awards

 Midtown Madness's most positive reviews (90% equivalent) came from Allgame and PC Zone, while the worst, 7/10 and 7.7/10 (still respectable) were given by Total Video Games and GameSpot, respectively. Midtown Madness was praised for its realistic vehicle models (for player-driven cars) and accuracy in portraying Chicago. On the other hand, the game was criticized for its poor performance on lower-end hardware (no big deal for netbooks) and AI intelligence, among others.

Tips

No, you can't commit vehicular homicide in Midtown Madness. If you could, the 'E' rating would be revoked in a heartbeat.

Featured Game: Motocross Madness 2

Oh, come on! I should've landed that!

Year: 2000

Genre: Vehicle Simulation + Racing

Recommend: YES

I'm sure you'll be saying that over and over again as you play Motocross Madness 2. I've been playing this game for years, and it never gets old. Meet the Wall of Death and you'll see what I mean. MCM2 is sure to provide you with hours of wipeouts and action.

What you'll need

Any netbook should do nicely for MCM2. (EDIT: Except for Cedar Trail netbooks...see video below, or better yet, it's description on YouTube. Technically, it's playable, but it looks very ugly.) The game provides some nice settings sliders for your customization pleasure. 

Reviews and Awards

For the time, this was the coolest motorcycle game in existence. IGN, in its 8.6/10 review, said "The eye-candy is constantly impressive, the physics are crazy enough to be fun but real enough to look right, and the multiplayer game is a blast, especially if you've got devious friends." GameSpot gave an even better rating of 8.8/10, saying "it's definitely one of the most enjoyable...motorcycle simulations you can buy." PC Gamer awarded MCM2 the 2000 Editor's Award for being "the PC's pre-eminent bike sim."

Tips

If you want to become a pro at this game quickly, load up a Stunts session with 10 opponents on Hard. You'll be able to land those stunts in no time in an effort to beat the bots.

Featured Game: F1 2010

Don't even try

Year: 2010

Genre: Racing

Recommend: NO

I'd like to recommend this game, but the truth of the matter is I can't. There are a multitude of reasons for my verdict that I won't bother you with, but I will mention one: single-channel memory. Most netbooks use only one stick of memory, in a single channel. This can only supply so much bandwidth, and modern games rely on the high-bandwidth dedicated memory that discrete graphics cards have to offer. For this particular game, even dual-channel memory can't keep up with its demands. Until technology advances, F1 2010 will have to go unplayed on netbooks.

Screenshot from simhq.com