Review: Split/Second

It’s been a long time since a racing game like Split/Second has come along and created the sort of experience where you’re constantly shouting at the TV out of both excitement and pure joy. From the developers of Pure, Black Rock Studio took the standard lap-based arcade racer and turned it into something completely new by allowing you to take out your opponent using various explosives rigged alongside the track. These explosives range from simple ones like cars along the track to huge explosions that cause buildings to collapse on top of your rival. Some might see this game as a “gimmicky” title but it is anything but. Split/Second has a variety of modes that uses the destruction mechanic in such a way that you will experience something new almost every time you play the game.

The basic premise of this game is to race through a track taking out your rivals using explosions that are rigged around the track. To get the ability to activate explosions called Powerplays, you have to drift, draft or hit jumps. The bar on the bumper of the car displays the amount of Powerplay you have at your disposal. There are different levels of Powerplays: the first level triggers smaller explosions while the second level triggers the jaw-dropping explosions. Choosing when to use which one is key since you don’t want to take yourself out when using the Powerplay and saving up for the big explosion can be costly if you are too far behind the pack.

Pulling off the drifts and drafts isn’t as hard as one might think. Like most arcade racers the game is meant to be a “pick up and play” title. The controls are pretty simple and standard for today’s racing games. The cars control more like an arcade racer than a simulation but it is possible to spin out trying to take a corner too fast or trying to pull off a long drift. Still I think it is an easier game to play, for those who aren’t good at racers, than any racer I’ve played in a long time. Even when speeding across the track it’s easy to maneuver through the debris flying across the screen.

Split/Second’s single player mode is loosely tied together by a reality show. You play a contestant on this reality show where you compete against other drivers during a 12 episode season. Every episode will be set in a different location and will contain 6 events that range from simple lap-based races to time trials and other modes like Elimination. Each episode will have you go through a set of qualifying events to reach the final race of the episode called the Elite Race.

The events leading up to the final race serve as a way to unlock cars and to prepare you for the tougher Elite Race. Some might not want to play through all 5 events but each event gives you credits towards new cars which you will eventually need to compete against the AI. Though each episode features a new track, some events will take place on a track you’ve played before but it takes nothing away from the enjoyment of the game. Even if you begin to learn the Powerplay locations and how to avoid them, there will be moments in the game where a Powerplay will trigger something you haven’t seen before. The amount of explosions on each track is simply amazing, which is the reason every race won’t be the same.

During the season you will come across various game modes to break away from the standard racing events. Air Strike is a mode where a helicopter shoots missiles at you as you make your way through the track. Avoiding them will grant you points and your goal is to pass the score set by the AI. The missiles show up on the ground ahead of you so you know where you have to move to avoid them. The longer you stay alive the harder it gets and you can’t simply slow down to avoid them either since the helicopter will be able to aim better when you slow down. Speed and control is the key. Conversely Air Revenge is the same premise but this time avoiding the helicopter and drifting allows you to use Powerplay to attack the helicopter and the goal is the take out the helicopter as fast as possible.

In Survival mode you’ll have to pass a truck tossing out explosive barrels, each time you pass the truck you gain points and the goal is to pass the point marker set by the AI. This mode, seemingly inspired by T2, is very intense with all the explosives being thrown around and the AI cars exploding around you. Elimination is one of the most exciting modes in the game. This mode is basically a race but there is a countdown and once it hits zero the person in last place will be blown up/eliminated from the race. The same Powerplay rules apply but you have to be smart with when to use it because you never know when you could end up in last place. There’s been a lot of races where I was about to be eliminated but passed the AI with only a few seconds to spare.

Detonator is the classic time trial mode with a twist. The explosions are triggered for you and you must avoid them to hit the target time. Just like any time trial mode there is a lot of trial and error and restarting. The only problem with this mode is that the explosions occur in the same place every time and there isn’t a ghost to race against which is frustrating when you’re trying to shave a couple of seconds off the time.

With all these modes in single player you’ll need to find out what car type works best. There are over 25 cars available in the game with 3 different car types: the strong but slow truck, the fast but fragile sports car and the drifting cars. Something I really like is the number on the car represents your ranking on the show which also applies for online play. There are also decals that appear on the car which represents the achievements/trophies earned. This is a really nice touch and makes the cars look even better. Sadly the only customization is with color choice, I would have definitely liked to have been able to control which decals appear on it. This along with the lack of replays is one of the few complaints I have with the game. With a title that creates such exciting moments of escaping a crash or with the elaborate explosions, it seems like a perfect game to have a replay mode similar to Halo.

The single player is lenghy to say the least. It slightly depends on your skill level but getting through all 12 episodes can take some time. The AI can be a bit unfair at times and can make poor decisions when using the Powerplays but for the most part they are every bit as challenging as a human player. If you wanted more of a challenge, two player split-screen is available. Though I would have loved 4 players, it’s fair to say the game wouldn’t run as well with 4 people on the same console. You can play all the modes in split-screen other than the Air modes. Elimination is by far my favorite mode to play split-screen since most of the time it will be you and your friend fighting for the final spot.

Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players and you can play Race, Survival and Elimination. Survival actually doesn’t work that well when you have so many people on the screen fighting to get past the truck but Race and Elimination provide some intense experiences. The only issues I had with online play is the fact that the only cars you can use are those you unlock in single player and the matchmaking doesn’t seem that good yet. People who have much better cars were getting matched up with those just starting out. Those matches are terrible since it’s basically a race to see who gets 2^nd place. Other than that online ran smoothly with no apparent issues.

Finally Split/Second is visually stunning and the sound effects will make you love your home theater system — this is definitely a game that you want to play with the volume up. The different environments from the airport to the docks to the downtown areas all look beautiful. Then you have the explosions that send debris flying at you creating an effect much like that of when you get shot in Modern Warfare. There are even points where the camera will slow down and focus in on the opponent you just wrecked. The big explosions of the train crashing down, jet airplanes crashing down, buildings collapsing, boats flying off the track, all look stunning and best of all it shows no sign of the framerate issues seen in earlier builds. The fact that they used no HUD other than right behind the bumper also adds to being able to enjoy the aesthetics. Everything from the menu to the overall presentation of the game looks amazing.

Split/Second is every action movie fan’s dream come true. Think of all the chase scenes in your favorite action movie, multiply that by ten and you’ll get Split/Second. Where else can you detonate power plant cooling towers to take out the other drivers? Even after putting in countless hours of game time I still come across areas where I haven’t been or explosions I haven’t triggered. With a lengthy single player and great multiplayer both online and off, it’s hard to argue that this game cannot be enjoyed time and time again. Split/Second is a game where even people who aren’t playing get just as excited as the person playing. It is unlike any racing game I’ve ever played. The sheer level of destruction and intensity creates the most exciting racing game of this generation. This is the perfect game for those who generally aren’t into racers and for those who love arcade racers, you won’t want to miss out on this one.

Split/Second
PlayStation 3 (Reviewed), Xbox 360, PC
	Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios Developer: Black Rock Studio Genre: Racing Release Date: May 18, 2025 MSRP: $59.99 ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)