Fatal Inertia
{{Short description|2007 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Fatal Inertia
|image = Fatal Inertia front.jpg
|alt = Fatal Inertia
|developer = Koei Canada
|publisher = Koei
|engine = Unreal Engine 3
|released = Xbox 360
{{vgrelease|JP|September 6, 2007|NA|September 11, 2007{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=July 2, 2007 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fatal-inertia-slamming-360s-in-september/1100-6173455/ |title=Fatal Inertia slamming 360s in September |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623194735/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fatal-inertia-slamming-360s-in-september/1100-6173455/ |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}|EU|September 14, 2007{{cite web |author=Purchese, Robert |date=August 13, 2007 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/koei-dates-games-demos |title=Koei dates games, demos |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129095213/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/koei-dates-games-demos |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}|AUS|September 20, 2007}}PlayStation 3
{{vgrelease|JP|May 29, 2008|NA/AU|June 19, 2008{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=June 11, 2008 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/11/fatal-inertia-ex-coming-exclusively-to-playstation-store-on-june-19 |title=Fatal Inertia EX Coming Exclusively to PlayStation Store on June 19 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811101422/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/11/fatal-inertia-ex-coming-exclusively-to-playstation-store-on-june-19 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}|EU|July 15, 2008{{cite web |author=Purchese, Robert |date=July 7, 2008 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fatal-inertia-ex-gets-euro-date |title=Fatal Inertia Ex [sic] gets Euro date |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305081716/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fatal-inertia-ex-gets-euro-date |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}}}
|genre = Racing
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|platforms = Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
}}
{{nihongo foot|Fatal Inertia|フェイタル・イナーシャ|Feitaru Ināsha|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} 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 Australia, and July 15, 2008 in Europe as a download on the PlayStation Network under the title {{nihongo foot|Fatal Inertia EX.|フェイタル・イナーシャEX|Feitaru Ināsha EX|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} 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.{{cite web |author=Gamasutra staff |date=October 8, 2007 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/koei-confirms-ps3-i-fatal-inertia-i-anticipates-2008-release |title=Koei Confirms PS3 Fatal Inertia, Anticipates 2008 Release |website=Game Developer |publisher=Informa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007184228/https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15784 |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}
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 |date=October 26, 2005 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fatal-inertia-first-look/1100-6134675/ |title=Fatal Inertia First Look |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008132302/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fatal-inertia-first-look/1100-6134675/ |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}} Competitions take place far from cities due to the high level of danger.{{cite web |author=Williamson, Steven |date=August 31, 2007 |url=https://hexus.net/gaming/reviews/xbox-360/9742-fatal-inertia-xbox-360/ |title=Review: Fatal Inertia - Xbox 360 |website=Hexus |publisher=The Media Team Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115025349/https://hexus.net/gaming/reviews/xbox-360/9742-fatal-inertia-xbox-360/ |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}
There are six different racing environments that are divided into fifty-one courses.{{cite web |author=Dunham, Alexis |date=August 31, 2007 |url=http://games.ign.com/articles/817/817345p1.html |title=Fatal Inertia Goes Gold |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905132532/http://games.ign.com/articles/817/817345p1.html |archive-date=September 5, 2007 |url-status=dead}}
Gameplay
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 their heavy armor and greater firepower, compensating for their 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.
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.
Development
On August 2, 2007 a playable demo of Fatal Inertia was released on Xbox Live Marketplace.{{cite web |author=Hryb, Larry |date=August 2, 2007 |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/08/02/demo-fatal-inertia/ |title=Demo: Fatal Inertia |website=Xbox Wire |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812174713/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2007/08/02/demo-fatal-inertia/ |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}
On May 29, 2008 a multi-language playable demo of Fatal Inertia EX was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://threespeech.com/blog/2008/07/psn-store-update-16 |title=PSN Store Update |website=Three Speech |date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718131246/http://threespeech.com/blog/2008/07/psn-store-update-16/ |archive-date=July 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 7, 2021}}
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, 2008,{{cite web |author=Klepek, Patrick |date=April 29, 2008 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2456720/exclusive-fatal-inertia-ex-arrives-via-playstation-network-next-month/ |title=Exclusive: 'Fatal Inertia EX' Arrives Via PlayStation Network Next Month |website=MTV |publisher=ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624004321/http://www.mtv.com/news/2456720/exclusive-fatal-inertia-ex-arrives-via-playstation-network-next-month/ |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2024}} in North America and Australia 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
{{Video game reviews
| PS3 = true
| X360 = true
| na = true
| MC_PS3 = 63/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fatal-inertia-ex/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=Fatal Inertia EX critic reviews (PS3) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007190521/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/fatal-inertia-ex |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2024}}
| 1UP_PS3 = C−{{cite web |author=Gallegos, Anthony |date=July 8, 2008 |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/fatal-inertia-ex |title=Fatal Inertia EX PS3 Review |website=1Up.com |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603175337/http://www.1up.com/reviews/fatal-inertia-ex |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2021}}
| Edge_X360 = 6/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Fatal Inertia |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issue=180 |date=October 2007 |page=95}}
| Fam_X360 = 29/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1280&redirect=no |title=フェイタル・イナーシャ |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008124134/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1280&redirect=no |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2024}}
| GI_X360 = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |author=Miller, Matt |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/5D16A719-B2C2-4DFB-8D59-C07CFEA3C8FF.htm |title=Fatal Inertia |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |issue=174 |date=October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111135547/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/5D16A719-B2C2-4DFB-8D59-C07CFEA3C8FF.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 7, 2021}}
| GT_X360 = 5.8/10{{cite web |url=http://gametrailers.com/game/2188.html |title=Fatal Inertia Review |website=GameTrailers |publisher=Viacom |date=September 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307194438/http://gametrailers.com/game/2188.html |archive-date=March 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 7, 2021}}
| OPMUK_PS3 = 3/10{{cite magazine |title=Fatal Inertia |magazine=PlayStation Official Magazine – UK |publisher=Future plc |issue=22 |date=August 2008 |page=104}}
| OXM_X360 = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Fatal Inertia |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Future US |date=November 2007 |page=97}}
| rev1 = 411Mania
}}
Both Fatal Inertia and Fatal Inertia EX received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu X360 gave the former a score of two sevens, one eight, and one seven for a total of 29 out of 40. GameZone gave the Japanese version of the latter an average review, about a month before it was released in the United States. Cameron Lewis of GamePro said that Fatal Inertia "does not sink to bottom-of-the-barrel status, but neither does it ever manage to rise above merely average."{{cite magazine |author=Lewis, Cameron |url=http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/133968.shtml |title=Review: Fatal Inertia |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=229 |date=October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204173826/http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/133968.shtml |archive-date=February 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the Xbox 360 version 3.75/5 for graphics, 2.25/5 for sound, 3.25/5 for control, and 2.75/5 for fun factor.}} Later, however, Andrew Gori called the EX version "a fun game. The learning curve is gradual but the action starts from your first race and never lets up. Fans of racing games will like this title[,] especially ones who want a little something more."{{cite magazine |author=Gori, Andrew |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps3/games/reviews/193848.shtml |title=Review: Fatal Inertia EX |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=239 |date=August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626083929/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps3/games/reviews/193848.shtml |archive-date=June 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation 3 version three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound.}}
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See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/58437/fatal-inertia/}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:Science fiction racing games
Category:Unreal Engine 3 games
Category:Vehicular combat games
Category:Video games developed in Canada