Fatal Inertia

Infobox VG
title = Fatal Inertia
Fatal Inertia EX


developer = Koei Canada
publisher = Koei
engine = Unreal Engine 3
Foliage - SpeedTree
resolution = 720p (HDTV)
480p/576p (EDTV)
480i/576i (SDTV)
released = Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

genre = Racing
modes = Single-player, Multiplayer, System Link (Xbox 360), Online Multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E10+)
PEGI: 3+, 7+
platforms = Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
media = DVD-DL, PlayStation Store download
requirements =
input =

"Fatal Inertia" is a futuristic hovercar racing game from Koei. Originally an exclusive for the PlayStation 3, it was released for the Xbox 360 in 2007 and then released on the PlayStation 3 on May 29 2008 in Japan, June 19 2008 in North America and July 15 2008 in Europe as a download on the PlayStation Network under the title "Fatal Inertia EX". The PlayStation 3 version was initially delayed because of difficulties with the Unreal Engine 3 on the console, due to the cell processor's architecture. [ [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15784 Gamasutra - Koei Confirms PS3 Fatal Inertia , Anticipates 2008 Release ] ]

The game is set in the mid-22nd century Earth, and a handful of immense corporations control virtually all business, politics, and entertainment. Extreme sports have become one of the main sources of entertainment with Fatal Inertia as the most popular.cite web|author=Shoemaker, Brad|publisher=GameSpot|date=2006-10-22|title=Fatal Inertia First Look|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/fatalinertia/news.html?sid=6134675] Competitions take place far from cities due to the high level of danger. cite web|author=HEXUS.gaming|publisher=HEXUS|date=2006-10-22|title= Review|url=http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=9742]

There are six different racing environments that are divided into fifty-one courses cite web|author=Alexis Dunham|publisher=ign.com|date=2007-08-31 |title=Fatla Inertia goes Gold|url=http://games.ign.com/articles/817/817345p1.html] .

Race Craft

Fatal Inertia has four main Craft types, each one having advantages and disadvantages over each other:

*Phoenix Class: craft that, though they do not excel, are well balanced on most parameters.
*Aurora class: the fastest of all the classes, though with questionable reliability. Suited for adept or advanced players.
*Mercury class: light, fast accelerating vehicles with superior handling in contrast to other classes.
*Titan class: massive machines that can demolish the competition with its heavy armor and greater fire power, compensating for its poor handling and acceleration.

Though there are only 4 classes there are numerous upgrades that can tune each class to its own unique look, stats, and handling.

Weapons and Items

Fatal Inertia has a set of non-lethal weapons, mostly centered around magnetic behavior. Most of the weapons have primary fire which projects forwards, and a secondary fire that is projected backwards.

*Magnets: Small magnetic spheres that attach to the hull of the targeted vehicle and weigh it down which, in time, overload and explode, damaging the craft. A craft may use a barrel roll to remove any attached magnets.

*Cluster Magnets: A canister of magnets, with a metal proximity sensor that explodes near to one or more crafts, unleashing a barrage of magnets.

*Rocket: A thruster weapon that, when fired at an opposing craft, attaches to it, igniting the thruster and throwing it off balance. The secondary fire uses the thruster as a booster to your own vehicle, propelling it forward.

*Force Blast: a bomb that, when projected forward, unleashes a powerful wave of energy which violently disrupts the course of any craft within the blast radius of the explosion. Secondary fire works a boost to your craft and also shakes off any weapons attached to it.

*Smoke Bomb: creates a smoke screen to blind opposing pilots, either in front of your craft (primary fire) or behind it (secondary fire).

*Cable: Elastic cable that can be used for multiple purposes. Primary fire releases a magnetic-ended cable, for example to stick enemies together, whilst secondary fire releases a spike-ended cable, which can be used for attaching to an enemy craft and then anchoring them to the terrain.

*Force Field: provides temporary protection from magnetic weapons and minimizes damage from environmental impact.

*EMP: generates a spherical field disrupting any electrical and magnetic forces, deactivating any magnets and shutting down any nearby crafts.

*Time Dilator: slows down time for all opponents.

Trial Versions

On August 2, 2007 a playable demo of Fatal Inertia was released on Xbox Live Marketplace cite web|author=Major Nelson|publisher=MajorNelson.com|date=2007-08-02|title=Demo: Fatal Inertia|url=http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/02/demo-fatal-inertia.aspx] .

On May 29, 2008 a multi-language playable demo of Fatal Inertia EX was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store [ [http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/jp0106npjb00004_00fatalinertiafull.html Fatal Inertia EX] ] .

On July 15, 2008, the same day as Europe's release, a trial version was also available on the Playstation Store as a free download [ [http://threespeech.com/blog/2008/07/psn-store-update-16 Playstation Store Update 15th July 2008] ]

Fatal Inertia EX

The PlayStation 3 version of the game is a download-only title, and appeared on the Japanese PlayStation Store on May 29, 2008cite web|author=Patrick Klepek|title=Exclusive: ‘Fatal Inertia EX’ Arrives Via PlayStation Network Next Month|url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/29/exclusive-fatal-inertia-ex-arrives-via-playstation-network-next-month/] in North America on June 19, 2008, and in Europe on July 15, 2008, as part of PlayStation Network's E3 2008 release plan. A number of tweaks and improvements have been made to the title, notably the difficulty level; to this end, EX includes a training venue with eight new tracks, known as the "Fatal Inertia Proving Grounds Facility", as well as a Master difficulty level for veterans. The development team have also adjusted gameplay, including weapons and physics. Controls support the DualShock 3 along with SIXAXIS tilt control for craft steering.

Reception

The reception for the Xbox 360 version was mixed, with a Metacritic average of 61 out of 100. [cite web|author=Metacritic|title=Fatal Inertia (xbox360: 2007): Reviews|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/fatalinertia] The Playstation Network release received a slightly improved score of 63 out of 100. [cite web|author=Metacritic|title=Fatal Inertia EX(ps3: 2008): Reviews|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/fatalinertia]

ee also

* F-Zero (series)
* Wipeout (video game series)

References

External links

* [http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/fatal/ Fatal Inertia EX Official Website (Japanese)]
* [http://www.koei.com/fatal_inertia/ Fatal Inertia EX Official Website (English)]