If you enjoy racing games but feel that in general they lack something in the excitement department than BlackRock studio’s Split/Second may well be the game for you. The game is an adrenalin fuelled experience from start to finish featuring some unique game modes and ideas that combine in rather excellent fashion.

The single player experience follows racers in an explosive gameshow where the ability to use the environment in order to take down opponents is just as important as driving skill. The campaign is split over 12 TV style episodes, each comprised of 4 main races plus unlockable bonus stages and a final elite race. Bonus stages and elite races must be unlocked by earning credits and taking down opponents. Players must then finish in the top 3 of the elite race in order to unlock the next episode in the series. Credits earned also go towards unlocking new vehicles throughout the campaign.



Along with racing staples such as straight up races and elimination rounds, the game also features some unique games modes. Detonation sees players looking to set the fastest laptime using a set vehicle, all the while avoiding myriad explosions and on track events designed to smash the players car. Survival is a new take on an overtake game mode, the twist being that the vehicles players have to overtake are trucks which release a barrage of explosive barrels all over the track. Helicpter attack/revenge sees players dodging missiles fired from a chopper and on occasion turning those same missiles against the heli.

The driving experience is very much an arcade one, so much so that there is no handbrake as the cars drift quite naturally around corners by themselves. The main gimmick of the game is the ability to set off power plays which include things such as setting off landslides or causing airtraffic control towers to come smashing down onto the track. The aim of these power plays is a simple one: stop your rivals by any means necessary. In order to gain the ability to use power plays, players have to meet certain criteria such as drifting around corners or drafting behind opponents. It’s a clever system which rewards players who race in an exciting style, and it’s this main gameplay mechanic that sets Split/Second apart from the pack.

Presentation wise the game is great looking and it features some of the most superb explosions I’ve seen on the 360. Nice touches include decals on players cars appearing which correspond to achievements earned during gameplay, and the subtle yet effective way in which motion blur and camera movement combine to convey the feeling of racing at great speed. Everything about the presentation of the game, from the UI to the opening and closing sequences of each episode accentuate the illusion that players are taking part in some kind of extreme sports style TV show.

The way in which the HUD is displayed is the most impressive piece of presentation in the game. What’s pleased me the most about this generation of consoles is the way in which HUD’s have been shrunk, or included in innovative ways in games. Until Split/Second racing games have lagged behind this move to a more streamlined HUD, but this game has moved things along superbly. The entire HUD is displayed below the players car, the main advantage of this being that the rest of the screen is then free, giving a better view of the action.



I do have a few gripes with the game. The AI suffers from a rather erratic difficulty level which can vary greatly from one event to the next. This means that quite often if players fall foul of a power play triggered by a rival then they will find themselves going from 1st to last in an instant. Also, on occasion, it seems simply impossible to catch the AI no matter how well you’re driving. It’s also frustrating to see the AI corner perfectly as your own car drifts way out wide, which is quite a frequent occurrence.

The elite races which form the overall campaign leaderboard suffer from an annoying HUD feature. For some reason the devs have decided to show the names of rival drivers over their cars for the entire race. This only happens during these elite races and can be very annoying as it often prevents proper viewing of the track ahead. The fact that the rest of the HUD is so well put together serves to highlight this as an annoyance.



The game is also rather short as far as racing games go, with each episode lasting around half an hour. This means the game is able to be completed within around 6-7 hours of play. There’s also not that an extensive a selection of tracks, and once locations of power plays have been learned it’s possible for experienced drivers to easily avoid the majority of them. Yes, it’s exciting to see a bridge explode the first time around, but the 5th or 6th time just isn’t as much fun. Multiplayer does extend the life of the game somewhat but suffers from the same issue of familiarity breeding contempt.

Split/Second is not for the racing purists. It’s a kind of wham bam thank you mam of racing games. Fun at first, but quickly losing it’s charm. That’s not to say the game should be discounted. As a short term rental proposition it’s a must in my opinion, but if you’re thinking of parting with some hard earned cash for it then I would urge caution.

Verdict: 7.5/10