Full Auto 2: Battlelines

A significant improvement over its predecessor on the 360.

While it's got a couple of nagging problems - the animation quality drops when there's too much action going on, for one - it's pretty clear that Battlelines is one of the better early PS3 titles.

Battlelines for the PS3 is actually far superior to the original Full Auto game introduced on the Xbox 360 and is one fun ride well worth your money.

A good solid offering with lots of action and attitude and thanks to the multi-player modes, there’s a great deal of replay value to look forward to.

If you weren't a fan of the original on the Xbox 360, don't expect this sequel to set your world on fire. But there are enough tweaks and perks to keep car combat fans happy, and it's an overall improvement on the first game.

All-out destruction that actually adds to the racing makes this great fun. [Mar 2007, p.65]

With a much improved frame rate and new gameplay modes, the racing and action are more interesting and fun.

Improves on its predecessor in almost every way imaginable. The destructible environments work well and actually change the flow of every race and the battle arenas add variety. What's more, the game runs smoother and looks better than its older sibling.

The racing is now roaring with excitement, but unfortunately, the game has gone flat in another way. The newly implemented arena battles resemble Twisted Metal in design, but play so poorly that it feels like someone is dragging your face across the pavement at 100mph. The dunce enemy AI, frustrating targeting system, and annoying level designs will make you dread these stages when they pop up in your career.

With a solid online component, a vastly improved career mode, and plenty to unlock Full Auto 2 is a great addition to the PS3 library, let’s just hope the developers take their time and give us a true sequel next time around.

Arrrrg, still angry. I know Pseudo is close, and it's clear that they have the technical prowess to make a pretty game. It's just in major things like balance and creating a game that is clearly defined that they seem to be having issues.

Full Auto 2 improves on its predecessor, although not in an extreme way. The sheer destructiveness will make anyone feel truly bad to the bone.

Looks and sounds good, but the game feels like it was designed by a committee. Gameplay is just too boring, repetitive and old-fashioned. [Feb 2007]

Unfortunately, the destruction seems a bit random, not really taking advantage of the power of PlayStation 3, but the game offers mindless fun that's worth experiencing.

It's too bad that the entertainment value is still skewed by the lame arena battles, but overall this is a much more viable diversion than the original Full Auto.

As a slightly improved sequel to this year's car-carnage racer on Xbox 360, the Playstation 3-exclusive Full Auto 2: Battlelines looks better, plays better, feels better....just enough to please current fans of the series, yet further bore the haters. [Jan. 2007, p.64]

This is 100 percent rental material, which considering the poor quality of a lot of the PS3-exclusives so far, is saying something. Just don’t expect a completely new game, or to play it online.

Sega adds an arena mode and some gameplay tweaks to inject some depth to the original Xbox 360 flop, resulting in a decent arcade racer for the PS3.

Full Auto 2 is a deeply satisfying and rewarding experience. It’s fun as a pure racer, but include the massive amounts of carnage you must inflict upon your competition and the game ascends to a new level of satisfaction. [Feb 2007, p.121]

Full Auto 2 is a missed opportunity and comes over even more badly when compared to "MotorStorm." Buy that instead, or wait for "Burnout 5" to spectacularly crash the party.

Whilst it's not what we imagined for the console, it's enough fun to justify its existence. [Issue # 149, p.64]

Better detailing, smoother frame rate, and a more fully realized Career Mode. But in many other ways, it fails to advance the new series to new heights and in the end, it's very much the same game with a slightly flashier wrapping. That's not what we wanted or expected from this game, but even so, Battlelines does have plenty of appeal.

Full Auto 2's like an arcade game -- fun in short spurts. And the tough secondary objectives in career mode (finish without dying, destroy certain crates, outscore your foe, and so on) help in keeping me coming back in order to unlock the secret cars and weapons.

Full Auto 2 is certainly worth a rental, if only for the high-resolution destruction, but it's plagued by too many other irritating issues to be a true candidate for purchase.

The fuzzy A.I. and lack of more spectacular weapons work against the game's great sense of speed and carnage. [Feb. 2007, p.82]

Full Auto 2: Battlelines might be battling for your gaming dollars, but it's in your best interest to draw a line in the sand. Say no to a wealth of issues with the presentation and controls, as well as a distinct lack of basic multiplayer features.

Shooting up a building/tanker/rival definitely looks good as you drive by at 135 mph, or maybe reverse time to get a second, closer glimpse, but both the combat racing and arena-style battles have been done to death and back by other games, and better. [Feb. 2007, p.88]

Unless you are desperately craving something new for your brand new shiny PS3, you’ll probably want to hold off.

Battlelines appears to be much more polished than its predecessor, but the improvements are only skin deep. Many of the issues found in the original Full Auto have not been addressed, and the changes made to the single-player experience render it both ridiculous and frustrating.

This feels an awful lot like the Hollywood blockbusters it's trying to out-kaboom - look past the pyrotechnics, and you'll see Full Auto 2 hasn't got a lot of soul. [Apr 2007, p.116]

It's a gas tank full of frustration that could leave you fuming, but Full Auto 2's explosive graphics help to keep it on track.

Full Auto 2 is an incredibly shallow, mildly entertaining experience.

Full Auto 2 is technically proficient, but almost every aspect of this car combat game's gameplay is messed up in one way or another.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines barely improves upon its average predecessor.

There's nothing here that you haven't seen before. Expect more from your PS3. [Apr 2007, p.59]

While suspension of disbelief can stretch to accommodate the odd genuine flaw – inconsistencies between what objects you can and can’t punch through, for example – the sequel has too many to hide. [Feb 2007, p.80]

Full Auto feels dead in the water. It's okay - not awful enough to slam, and not good enough to recommend. But with a year to build on its predecessor, it needed to be a lot more than "okay".

Despite its sequel status it's largely the same game that Xbox 360 gamers have been playing for over a year and the new additions do little to enhance the game as a whole - in some cases they make it a more frustrating game.

Full Auto 2 tries so hard to be enjoyable with its arsenal of weapons and distinctive car designs. It is very much like a combat version of NASCAR, with large numbers of cars going around a bland circuit at high speeds. It may appeal to a minority, but this is no Destruction Derby.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines may be the only driving combat game available for the PS3 at this point in time, but remember: backwards compatibility is there for a reason.

Cars skid for no reason. Frames slow down just as the action heats up. Full Auto 2: Battlelines spins its wheels keeping the same controls and not improving the over all experience.