FUEL

Developer: Asobo Studios
Publisher: Codemasters
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Systems: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, PC
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

In a nutshell: Where we're going, we don't need roads...
0:00 A racing game with an incredibly huge, open post-apocalyptic world? Yes, please!

0:01 A super-quick downloadable update and we're on our way. The camera does a super-zoom through some vivid, colorful desert scrub. The title comes up at the end, followed by what looks like an advertising trailer. "These were once fertile lands, 'til weather waged war on man. The seas rose, the sun scorched the Earth, and the people fled. Some ... remained behind." A car and bike bouncing around the wasteland. Eventually, a huge tornado starts chasing them. A huge explosion sets the tornado ON FIRE as the buggy flips out in a spectacular wreck. Intense!

0:02 "Take a 15-minute break every hour," says the loading screen. "The game isn't going to vanish is it?" But how do I know it won't vanish? HOW DO I KNOW?

0:04 A cargo chopper carries a dune buggy to a relatively nice military-looking camp on the coast. "Offshore Shack" is the name of the place? Or the mission? Or something? I dunno...

0:05 "Start your engines! To start a career race within an unlocked zone, select career." Wow, thanks, super-obvious instructions! There are three available missions to start with ... I'll take "01 The Leap of Faith." It's a checkpoint bike race on "mostly offroad surface." Let's do it!

0:06 "How confident are you?" Oooh, I LIKE the way they phrased the difficulty question there. Rookie, Expert or Legend ... let's go with Expert. Even though it's not the hardest level, I like being able to say I'm an expert =)

***-->CONTINUE READING AT CRISPY GAMER<--***

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