In the world of high-octane racing, road rage is usually frowned upon. However, in the world of Full Auto 2: Battlelines, a nasty case of road rage is essential for racers who want to finish first. Becoming a speed demon outfitted with rockets, machine guns and a nasty disposition is terribly good fun. In fact, when you're able to bolt a few high caliber cannons onto the hood of your racer that would make Dick Cheney blush, you'll quickly forget to ask why you're doing this in the first place. Which is good, because if the story that was cooked up for this one is anything, it's just that…Forgettable.

"Go That Way, Really Fast. If Something Gets in Your Way, Turn."
Full Auto 2: Battlelines is by no means a technical racing game. In fact, one might say it's the antithesis of games like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport. Racing events in Battlelines are more akin to a stampede through a twisting canyon than to an actual "race". Rather than trying to stick to a racing line, you'll find yourself bouncing off walls, aiming for the shortcuts that litter the levels with the accelerator permanently pinned to the floor and a death-grip on the trigger. Of course, all that bouncing around and crashing makes for lots of sweet eye candy. Concrete will be ripped from the sides of buildings. Corner stores will be gutted. Owners of serene sidewalk cafes will cower in fear, because they know you're going to plow right through all of their pretty little tables.

Full Auto Too?
Don't let the "2" in the title fool you, this so called sequel to the Xbox 360 launch window title, Full Auto, does little to set itself apart from the original. Perhaps the biggest difference between the original Full Auto and Battlelines is the story tacked onto the single player mode. S.A.G.E., a computer "sentient", has summoned you to save Meridian City from a gang called the Ascendants. Apparently, the police are helpless and the only way for you to stop the Ascendants is to infiltrate their gang by "crashing" their races and winning! Seriously. This plot is thinner than Kate Moss on a cocaine binge. Regardless of the criticism leveled at the original Full Auto for its lack of a story, Battlelines would have been better off if they just said "A bunch of dudes decided to strap machine guns and rocket launchers on their cars! Go race 'em!"

Tacked on story aside, the single player career will keep you busy. Made up of point-to-point and circuit races, arena battles and the occasional escort mission you'll tear around six different districts within Meridian City unlocking new cars and weapons as you go. Each event is guaranteed to have more stuff blow up than a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Large, destructible environments (mostly), strategically placed explosive barrels (you gotta have the explosive barrels) and death defying shortcuts abound at nearly every turn. So why isn't the game a balls to the wall must play experience? The game just kinda fizzles out after a while. As the Franken-lovechild of Burnout and Twisted Metal, Battlelines doesn't really do justice to either. It handles both racing and wanton destruction adequately but by the time you're a few events into the career mode, you'll feel like you've played all that Battlelines has to offer.

Is There Anybody Out There?
In theory, the five multiplayer modes in Battlelines—including deathmatch, base assault and cat-and-mouse—should compliment the repetitive career mode nicely. However, for this to be fun there has to be other people out there to play with. Perhaps it was due to the relative scarcity of the PS3 or the work of evil network goblins, but I found it difficult to find any games to play. Only after sitting in the lobby for what seemed like an eternity was I able to get into an online game. To make things worse, once a game actually started it really felt like another single player event, except half of the players would leave a few minutes into the match. Disappointing, to say the least.

Leave it in Neutral
It's hard not to relish blowing **** up while driving at breakneck speeds. In that respect, Full Auto 2: Battlelines succeeds. Unfortunately, the thrill only lasts so long. Despite the gorgeous settings and seemingly nonstop action, Battlelines has a tough time sustaining interest over the long haul. As a sequel, it falls utterly flat. Taken in short bursts, Battlelines' mostly brainless gameplay, but snazzy graphics will keep you occupied. If you pick this one up, make sure it's off a shelf from Blockbuster, not Best Buy. Better yet, just wait and download MotorStorm from the comfort of your couch.

- teal