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FUEL XBOX 360 REVIEW |
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Fuel comes
to the Xbox 360 with an inspiring concept: To
combine the elements of Twisted Metal, Dirt, and
Pure into one post apocalyptic package. While
the game tries to run on high octane dynamics,
what attracts players the most is its open-world
driving condition. Many of its racing modes are
exciting and cleverly constructed. But what
makes the game rather engaging is the incredible
environmental effects that deliver intense
off-road moments. The developer nails down some
of the basics in driving with user-friendly
controls. The physics however seem to be a bit
uneven where jumps can sometimes knock you out
of course. Still, Fuel tries to be original by
offering a number of unique perspectives in the
racing genre.
One of those unique perspectives is being able
to roam free in a highly-battered sprawling open
arena. Fuel gets part of its thrill from
impressive landscapes that are rigged with
unpaved ramps, winding roads, smutty bridges,
and forsaken farmland. The fun part of driving
into one of these debris-filled areas is
inventing your own shortcuts, and coming out of
a thorny woodwork intact. The game provides an
imposing collection of races that include
various types of challenges. You have a
helicopter chase that has you constantly
rummaging for the best unmarked routes. There is
a seek-and-destroy section that pushes you to
catch up with the enemy and eliminate him. The
list of outrageous challenges in this game goes
on and on!
The success of your race will largely depend on
how well you can improvise shortcuts. The
competition is fierce but that's only when you
take the traditional path where the AI seems to
have the greatest advantage. Though the AI is
not employed with "rubber band" lining, which is
meant to create close competition, your
opponents can swerve through corners at high
speed without losing grip and able to shun away
from costly errors. It is as if the law of
gravity doesn't apply to your competition. So
your best option is to forge your own routes.
Rewards don't come easy in this game but when
it's time to collect, you'll open up a whole new
world of liveries, vista points, bonus
outerwear, paints jobs, radical vehicle designs,
and more! |
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PRODUCT
OVERALL RATING: 8.0 OUT OF 10 |
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Graphically,
the game looks spectacular for the most part.
The developer did a good job of carving out an
unbelievable 5,000 square miles of wasteland. It
not only provides a convincing presentation of a
post apocalyptic setting but also an immersive
channel for a multiplayer mayhem online! Most of
the vehicles are done with great effort where
such details on dune buggies and ATV's are
reminiscent of the Twisted Metal days. The
special effects give off an in-your-face reality
check with all kinds of debris hitting at your
screen. Unfortunately, the animation could use a
bit of tweaking. Don't get me wrong, the action
sequence is fine but the condensed frame rate
sort of cuts down on the heart-pounding G force.
In the audio department, the sound effects
deliver some catchy materials that truly depict
a post apocalyptic scenario. You can almost feel
the wrath of sandstorms, alerting you of an
impending ferocious tornado. As the visibility
of your surroundings turns dim, all you can hear
are whooshes of flying debris getting stronger!
It's a great sight to behold all these pieces of
atmospheric noises come alive! Sometimes you get
carried away in this wasted world of Fuel
because of how well the developer has
synchronized the gritty presentation with a Mad
Max style ensemble. The upbeat soundtracks do a
fair job of pumping some adrenaline charge into
the driving sequence, getting players into the
groove of survival of the fittest.
Fuel is a welcome concept to any racing fans.
Many of its components are inspired by Twisted
Metal, Dirt, and Pure. The good part is the ease
of the controls and the amazing environmental
effects - such as sand storms, tornadoes, flying
debris, day and night transition - that
heightens your visual senses. But the best part
is tearing through an unimaginable 5,000 square
miles of post apocalyptic landscape - from
snowcapped mountains to ruined cityscapes!
However, Fuel's main drawbacks stem from slow
loading and not getting enough speed to feel the
rush! Fortunately, the crazy challenges make for
some exciting moments. As unique as Fuel is to
the racing genre, only a handful of gamers will
appreciate its real value. |
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