FLATOUT 2
VU Games, PS2/Xbox/PC, $49.99
Unleash your inner redneck with FlatOut 2. Demolition derbies, cars sporting the Confederate flag, and rival drivers named Randy and Sally-O–this is the racing game most at home in the backwoods of southern Mississippi. Choose your own General Lee from a list of beat-up cars and gear up for races where finishing first earns you a trophy, but taking out your opponents earns you straight cash to fix up your beater. As you win races in the career mode, new cars become available–some of them even have all their parts intact. The cars still handle like crap on the back roads, but when you hit the city pavement or storm-drain tracks you’ll feel more in control of your jalopy. When you’re not racing, you’ll most likely be catapulting your driver out of the front windshield in the popular stunt-based mini-games. With contests that invite you to crash your car into a wall and send your flailing driver through a series of flaming hoops, this mode is perfect for parties–provided your idea of a party is shot-gunning beers in your garage. Matt Bertz
www.vugames.com

Love: Sick stunt mode
Hate: Sloppy car control
Final Word: Red-state racing at its finest