Split/Second Review

Ever wished that the driver that just slid ahead of you in a race would somehow
spin out or lose control? Or that by some phenomenon something would fall from
the sky and by all miracles of miracles land on him? How about a shortcut that
suddenly becomes available for you but maybe not for others?

 

If this is you, then Split/Second is your game. BlackRock and Disney Interactive
Studios have created a racing game that keeps you keyed in from the moment you
start an event to the absolute last second of it. True to its name there are so
few moments where you can take a breath in any of the events that this game has
in store for you. The outcome of any event can and almost always does change
right up till the finish line. Just having a lead on the pack is no insurance in
this game as anything can and probably will happen to change that.

 

Split/Second uses the premise of you as a contestant on a fictional reality TV
show in which you are racing for both money and glory. The TV show has 12
episodes with each one having four unlocked events to start with. Each episode
also has two locked events with different criterion needed for each.

 

The tracks you compete on are designed to be altered and blown up. Through the
use of power plays, which you buildup using of stunts like drifting and
drafting, you can trigger explosive moves to either the track or to your
opponents. The more in your power play meter the more damage that can be
triggered including altering the course, opening a shortcut, dropping a barrel
from a helicopter, collapsing a bridge, etc. There is nothing more satisfying
than crashing a tower to the ground that takes out all of your opponents that
are ahead of you while creating a shortcut for yourself to take the lead or
piggybacking on someone else

Jets exploding on the tarmac as you drive under the wing, overpasses collapsing
as you pass under them, towers crumbling and falling across the road are all
some of the major power plays that can be triggered. Beware that some power
plays reset for the next lap while other leave destruction for the remainder of
the event. Once a level two power play has been triggered, especially those that
alter the track, they will remain for the remainder of the event.

 

Split/Second has a familiar base of an arcade racing game, even using similar
controls, it does find places to be unique. Instead of utilizing Nitro gas from
your controller you will be able to set off the power plays. The rest of the
controls for the game are instinctual and as you become more comfortable in both
spotting upcoming power play opportunities and identifying when you have enough
in the meter to use one this too will become second nature. One of the most
noticeable differences between this game and others is that there is not a track
map on screen. This is not a possibility as players have the opportunity to
change the course in the middle of an event. Again this is something that you
eventually forget usually exists.