FUEL - Openworld racer from Codemasters

[linkster]

Looking forward to people designing their own races; it's still the most interesting aspect of the game to me. Weird though it may sound, the size of the map meant the design teAm would never see even a fraction of it so making the race editor flexible was a way of ensuring it had the potential to keep producing interestng races. The chopper example I gave earlier proves the point - I knew we had to have choppers in there and the highways to cruise them but setting it at night never really ocurred to me and made straight road interesting.

[DJ KNIGHT XIII]

Went on a 2 hour ramble with 3 of my friends yesterday, we were all on scramble bikes...absolutely brilliant !

[dam_aks]

Well, I've ordered it. I think I'll be able to forgive the problems as long as I can drive like a loon around a massive landscape in a fast off-road vehicle.

[mr_woo]

Well, I've ordered it. I think I'll be able to forgive the problems as long as I can drive like a loon around a massive landscape in a fast off-road vehicle.

Just to note that it takes a short while to get some of the very speedy vehicles, it's obviously done that way to ease you in but after doing the career mode for a short while you'll get some really blindin cars.

One of my favourite races so far has been one at Tsunami Reef where the tornado was in full gear, though it didn't actually appear on my screen. Lightning kept striking the ground just ahead and hitting trees to the side, setting them on fire as I was driving past them.

The graphics, whilst not spectacular, are still really very nice at times. Sunsets and time of day changes look really nice especially.

[mackemansj1]

Just to note that it takes a short while to get some of the very speedy vehicles, it's obviously done that way to ease you in but after doing the career mode for a short while you'll get some really blindin cars.

One of my favourite races so far has been one at Tsunami Reef where the tornado was in full gear, though it didn't actually appear on my screen. Lightning kept striking the ground just ahead and hitting trees to the side, setting them on fire as I was driving past them.

The graphics, whilst not spectacular, are still really very nice at times. Sunsets and time of day changes look really nice especially.

Agree with most of this, you dont start to unlock faster cars till an hour or so in and they feel alot faster than the ones you start with. It looks really nice at times and a bit ropey others. Something not sitting well with me atm ill give it more time before i decide on selling it or not.

[Pioscene]

I did enjoy doing one of the early achievements, where you have to drive from the first camp, to the second camp, without using a helipad. Took about half an hour but was a nice chilled out experience. No threats, and being able to swap vehicles at will, made for an experience above and beyond something like galloping across half the map in Oblivion on your horse.

[linkster]

I did enjoy doing one of the early achievements, where you have to drive from the first camp, to the second camp, without using a helipad. Took about half an hour but was a nice chilled out experience. No threats, and being able to swap vehicles at will, made for an experience above and beyond something like galloping across half the map in Oblivion on your horse.

Had a great 'ooh' moment half way through that as caught a glimpse of Mt Rainier way way in the distance just as the sun went down

[p1nseeker]

Im really loving this game tbh, looking forward to the grand canyon & monument valley.

Heading to drownington next after im finished in dry rigs

[linkster]

Hehe cool. Dry Rigs has Way of the Lumberjack? I like that, the other two career races there are rubbish though.

[mr_woo]

Drownington was fantastic, really great races there. I especially love the race set around a broken bridge.

Seems to be getting harder now, especially The Ashtray, haven't won a race there yet (on expert). Keep crashing into trees!

[Dave White]

I think this is a real grower, I love online freeroaming, and the online races I have had have been seamless and really fun.

The structure is so unlike anything else it leaves you a bit overwhelmed at first, but a few hours in it all clicks.

[scissorkicks]

The bridge race in Drownington is fun.

Question about online free ride - can you go into races with other people you're free riding with? The game claims all career races can be played online, but does it only mean as stand alone events you can set up or join, separately from Free Ride? If so, is there much point to the online free ride other than just driving/riding around the barren wastelands? That might be alright if you've got friends who play it - I think Dave White is the only person on my friends list to have it - but if not it's a bit pointless isn't it? Sorry to drop the Burnout Paradise bomb again, but having the host able to pick challenges / races / modes as you all play works brilliantly - and, yes, you can just freeburn if you want as well.

I am getting a fair bit fun out of this game, but so much of the preentation, interface and especially the design decisions relating to starting / restarting races and changing your vehicle are forehead-slappingly broken. If the nature of the game means that long loads are a necessity at times, why draw attention to how long they are by making players sit through unnecessary loads? e.g when you lose a race, and you think a different vehicle might be better, why doesn't it let you choose a different vehicle when you restart? As it is you have to go to free ride (requiring a long load), select your vehicle, start the race again (requiring another long load). Also, if you travel to a distant camp with a shortcut you get a long load. Then you get the menu, and no matter what you choose at this point - you guessed it - another long load. Surely you could have the option to decide what you want to do at the other end?

[Philly]

I think this is a real grower..... a few hours in it all clicks.

Is this the problem with all the negative reviews? Maybe Edge aren't such a bunch of no talent ass clowns as we were lead to believe.

They did give Halo a 10.

Starting to grow on me too. Diamond in the rough?

[therev]

Finished off everything in Tsunami Reef and decided to head on over to the base camp in Dry Rigs. Took longer than I thought it would, but what a drive! Got my 500km free ride achievement along the way, too.

[Dave White]

Philly that is fucking rad! made me chuckle there!

See reading the posts, travelling here and there, unlocking this and that, its really sublime and lets you do whatever. Its got something for all racing fans, lap races and the likes, but the real pleasure is being allowed to go anywhere, make a race in the nicest spot you have played and invite your friends in.

As soon as Federer wins the French open Im in lets all have a little jam

[mr_woo]

Philly that is fucking rad! made me chuckle there!

See reading the posts, travelling here and there, unlocking this and that, its really sublime and lets you do whatever. Its got something for all racing fans, lap races and the likes, but the real pleasure is being allowed to go anywhere, make a race in the nicest spot you have played and invite your friends in.

As soon as Federer wins the French open Im in lets all have a little jam

I'd be up for that, would be great to have some free ride online races with some of you fellas. Shall be on today, so if anyone fancies some online racing gimme a shout. I'm sure we can arrange a time for everyone to play at.

[linkster]

Question about online free ride - can you go into races with other people you're free riding with? The game claims all career races can be played online, but does it only mean as stand alone events you can set up or join, separately from Free Ride? If so, is there much point to the online free ride other than just driving/riding around the barren wastelands? That might be alright if you've got friends who play it - I think Dave White is the only person on my friends list to have it - but if not it's a bit pointless isn't it? Sorry to drop the Burnout Paradise bomb again, but having the host able to pick challenges / races / modes as you all play works brilliantly - and, yes, you can just freeburn if you want as well.

Thing is I neve enjoyed Free burn as much as I did TDU's roaming because in FB there was pressure to do something. TDU had the ability to link you into a quick race and it was always Fuel's intention to have that as a minimum but I don't think it actually made it. Free roaming with strangers I agree is therefore less effective than it should be, other than when you see someone with a vehicle or livery you might want, or just talk to them about where they've been.

I am getting a fair bit fun out of this game, but so much of the preentation, interface and especially the design decisions relating to starting / restarting races and changing your vehicle are forehead-slappingly broken. If the nature of the game means that long loads are a necessity at times, why draw attention to how long they are by making players sit through unnecessary loads? e.g when you lose a race, and you think a different vehicle might be better, why doesn't it let you choose a different vehicle when you restart? As it is you have to go to free ride (requiring a long load), select your vehicle, start the race again (requiring another long load). Also, if you travel to a distant camp with a shortcut you get a long load. Then you get the menu, and no matter what you choose at this point - you guessed it - another long load. Surely you could have the option to decide what you want to do at the other end?

The presentation is poor, there's just no argument there. Plenty for them to get right the next time.

[Dave White]

so you can hang out on Freeride, but you cant stick together and race, you have to leave the session and your friends? and after every race you lose your friends? I am playing with Alan Arndale and the frustrations are so incredible.

Its like so close to perfect, in this state its going back

Linkster tell me this is wrong?

[linkster]

so you can hang out on Freeride, but you cant stick together and race, you have to leave the session and your friends? and after every race you lose your friends?

Linkster tell me this is wrong?

At the end of every race you SHOULD join an online free ride session with everyone from that race. It certainly happened to me yesterday morning with a bunch of strangers.

However, I couldn't swear to it but I'm pretty sure there's no way to go straight from an open or private free ride session to a race. All you can do is set up a race and send invites to your friends list. If true yes it is rubbish and partly why the game is getting savaged in certain quarters.

[Pioscene]

I've rinsed the first two zones 100%, some tough career races on Gold there. Just done the career race in some kind of Hurricane Alley, there were some real shit-in-my-pants moments there, especially when the

oil rig comes rolling down the track towards you

!

Unlocked the zone in the bottom right, the picture shows the skywalk thing from a couple of years ago. Cool.

[Dave White]

At the end of every race you SHOULD join an online free ride session with everyone from that race. It certainly happened to me yesterday morning with a bunch of strangers.

However, I couldn't swear to it but I'm pretty sure there's no way to go straight from an open or private free ride session to a race. All you can do is set up a race and send invites to your friends list. If true yes it is rubbish and partly why the game is getting savaged in certain quarters.

I have had 3 races where I just go to offline free ride and my friend is nowhere to be found.

How the fuck can this get by the testers?

[linkster]

I have had 3 races where I just go to offline free ride and my friend is nowhere to be found.

How the fuck can this get by the testers?

I don't imagine it did, but then neither they nor the developer make the decision to release the game.

Going to try and find out if any plans to patch.

[Dave White]

God it's such a shame!

the barebones online is so broken, I am so disappointed, the intent, the environment and everything is awesome.

But its so buggy and not the 4 wheeled versions

What a fucking shame

[mr_woo]

It saddens me greatly when I see people give up in the first few hours complaining that the game is boring (not really talking about here, other forums and general opinion). After the first camp or two the races start to get really really fast and big, I'm loving them.

Doing Pinewheels Ridge at the minute and it's a blast, some of the jumps and the speed of the races are fantastic.

It's taken a while for the game to heat up but I do love it. Not tried online yet having tremendous fun with the world. I reckon if there's a sequel they should start the races from very fast and just get faster from there.

Any plans for DLC linkster, be it more vehicles, more tracks or maybe stick up some top rated circuits from fans etc ?

[Rushy]

Finished inFamous so I thought I'd jump onto this. I'm on the PS3 version and initial install is quite ridiculous, I stared at the screen until it got to 10% but I decided to go to the supermarket to fuel my car up, and when I had got back the installation was still going! And even once the install is over there is a couple more loading screens before you even get to start racing. Not a great start.

I then played the first few races, and they failed to excite. The handling felt flat (why don't the bikes lean at all?), the audio is awful (and stutters - using optical output dolby digital) and the frame rate is a surprisingly inconsistent. The worst part of it was just that I never felt I was participating in a race, the AI just seemed to ignore me and follow their splines.

I'm not going to give up on this though, I've read quite a few comments that the few first hours are a bit slow. Hopefully it'll pick up soon - I'll try out online once I got through a bigger slice of the single player.

[Sigourney Beaver]

Finished inFamous so I thought I'd jump onto this. I'm on the PS3 version and initial install is quite ridiculous, I stared at the screen until it got to 10% but I decided to go to the supermarket to fuel my car up, and when I had got back the installation was still going! And even once the install is over there is a couple more loading screens before you even get to start racing. Not a great start.

Do you live next-door to the supermarket?

I do agree that it's really odd to see a screen saying press start, only for a loading screen to show when you do, followed by the autosave warning, then the proper menu screen.

[mr_woo]

Finished inFamous so I thought I'd jump onto this. I'm on the PS3 version and initial install is quite ridiculous, I stared at the screen until it got to 10% but I decided to go to the supermarket to fuel my car up, and when I had got back the installation was still going! And even once the install is over there is a couple more loading screens before you even get to start racing. Not a great start.

I then played the first few races, and they failed to excite. The handling felt flat (why don't the bikes lean at all?), the audio is awful (and stutters - using optical output dolby digital) and the frame rate is a surprisingly inconsistent. The worst part of it was just that I never felt I was participating in a race, the AI just seemed to ignore me and follow their splines.

I'm not going to give up on this though, I've read quite a few comments that the few first hours are a bit slow. Hopefully it'll pick up soon - I'll try out online once I got through a bigger slice of the single player.

Oooooh wait until you are later on, the fucking AI just love to nudge you out of the way, bastards. Can't say I've noticed many framerates problems with the 360 version, there was one race where it was maybe a bit dodgy but it's one of the things that's impressed me in general, never really noticed the framerate slip much at all.

Once you get to Tsunami Reef and beyond I do genuinely believe the game gets a lot of better. If there's a sequel they really do have to design the start a bit better to drag you right into the game.

There are times I wish though that there was a screenshot button on the controller, some beautiful shots I'd love to take on the fly, usually during the wonderful weather or night/day changes.

Basically for a sequel I'd like:

Better engine sounds.

Much better damage (not sure if it's possible due to the scale of the game but it would be great), burnout style crashes would be great though just actual vehicle damage appearing on screen would be good.

Cockpit view.

Better music

Better presentation

More environment destructability - again not sure about this due to the size of the world

Better online implementation (i haven't tried it but going by what Dave and others have said could do with more work)

Some of those would add greatly to the game I feel, though I generally do like driving with the music off anyway. Just the sounds of your vehicle and the envionment, really immersive.

[Rushy]

Do you live next-door to the supermarket?

Yep. It about a 30 second drive

Still, the install procedure was about 10 minutes, which is excessive for a console game in my books.

[layten]

Finished inFamous so I thought I'd jump onto this. I'm on the PS3 version and initial install is quite ridiculous, I stared at the screen until it got to 10% but I decided to go to the supermarket to fuel my car up, and when I had got back the installation was still going! And even once the install is over there is a couple more loading screens before you even get to start racing. Not a great start.

Are we talking about FUEL or the loading times for FUCKING ANYTHING on Motorstorm?

Glass houses and shit.

[Dave White]

Mr Woo

Single player is awesome fun, but its the online I really wanted it for.

The online with friends is useless in so many ways, I played online and it was great, but online with your friends is beyond shit.

you set up a freeride with your party, only to have to leave it to race, and the feature of putting you back at the start after the race finishes with your party, hasnt worked for me. Discussing this with Alan Arndale, we are both gob smacked how this could get out in this state.

The reason for purchasing this has been crushed.

Dont get me started on the other bugs. Game will start in 5 seconds, yeah after another 30 on a loading screen

Pathetic