For a system that's been out for less than a year, the Xbox 360 features a surprisingly competitive landscape for racing games. Project Gotham Racing 3 is perhaps one of the best games that the system has to offer, while games like Burnout Revenge and Ridge Racer 6 aren't exactly slouches. With competition like this, it's no surprise that SEGA's Full Auto felt more than a little underwhelming. The game featured a solid blend of racing and combat (two great tastes that hypothetically taste great together), but when compared to the rest of the system's offerings, it just couldn't measure up. That might be part of the reason that SEGA decided to craft the sequel as a launch title for the upcoming PlayStation 3 console.

From what we saw at an event at SEGA's office yesterday, Full Auto 2: Battlelines is a lot like the previous game, but the developers at Pseudo Interactive have added plenty of features. The first thing that they told us when we walked in the door was that "destruction matters." You see, while the first game featured plenty of destruction, it didn't actually alter the gameplay very much. Now, the developers are placing more of an emphasis on that aspect of the game, as you're encouraged to drop shipping containers or commuter trains on your foes with a well-placed shot. In one of the coolest segments we saw, a large, round water tower was knocked off its perch atop a building, rolling down the street and crushing the cars ahead of the player. Finally, you'll also notice the cars themselves crumpling and deforming as they take damage.


Although Battlelines will feature a robust single-player mode, we spent most of our time exploring the multiplayer action, even getting a chance to play the game over Sony's new gaming network. After taking part in a standard eight-player race (on one of the original tracks that's been reworked for the sequel), we had a chance to check out the new Deathmatch mode, which will take place in a cordoned-off arena. In the level we saw, there were a number of crisscrossing city streets (complete with buses that'll damage your car), with some underground tunnels thrown in for good measure. As you'll be moving at breakneck speed for the majority of the time, every time you inadvertently smash into a wall and end your own life, you'll lose points. Naturally, taking out your enemies will give you a positive score.

We also got to try our hands at the new Base Assault mode, in which two teams (sporting red and blue cars) race to grab a bomb in a neutral position. Once one of the teams grabs the explosive, they've got a limited time to bring it into their opponents' base, gaining a point for each time they can successfully destroy it. The action was fast and furious, although at times it was a bit tough to see where the bomb was located. There were also a number of power-ups scattered about the level, offering everything from infinite boost to a temporary super weapon.


While it's still far too early to say if Full Auto 2: Battlelines will be one of the PlayStation 3's must-have launch titles, it appears to be shaping up nicely. The developers have added some cool new visual effects, as well as some downright exciting multiplayer modes. We were also told that the game may support the PS3 controller's tilt functionality. We don't really know how exactly that'll work, but it certainly sounds promising. We'll be bringing you more on the game as we get closer to the launch of the PlayStation 3.