Lamborghini FX puts pedal to the metal

Publisher/developer Titus, a company that already has the likes of Crazy Cars, Automobili Lamborghini and Lotus Challenge under its belt, is making a new foray into the racing genre scene with PC and console game Lamborghini FX. The title is being developed by Italy-based Milestone, the studio said to be offering petrol heads a fast-paced, arcade-style experience packed with crazy stunt action and naturally rather slick Lamborghinis.

Titus co-founder and President Eric Caen tells us more.

What are Lamborghini FX's key features that build on general racing game gameplay?

Caen: It's an arcade racing game where players earn objects to improve their cars while performing stunts with a Lamborghini.

Lamborghini FX is heavily arcade orientated - what about the presence of realism elements? What can we expect from the game in that regard?

Caen: Our goal is to procure fun more than realism except for the shape and look of the cars. Even the colours used are official Lamborghini colours.

How do we acquire FX Tokens, and what are they used for?

Caen: It depends on which game mode you're in. Players acquire tokens either as pick-ups to be driven through, or earned after the race depending on where you finish, and specific stunts performed.

There's talk of weaponry to take out the opposition - what's that all about? Are weapons kept permanently once acquired, or do they have a time limit attached to them?

Caen: Not weaponry but pick-ups; you can use them either to go faster like the nitro boost, or to affect opponents' handling by unleashing a mini-earthquake. Your Lamborghini can only carry one means of disruption at a time, and once that's been unleashed you need to be on the lookout for another...

Tricks - what types can we pull off/perform, and how do we pull them off?

Caen: One of the unique features of Lamborghini FX is a stunt system, which allows you to perform breathtaking manoeuvres and be rewarded with items that are used to slow down or damage your opponents. You have Two Wheeling, Perfect Landing, Vortex, Power slide, Slipstream, In Air Control.

Others stunts can be discovered playing the game... Concerning the buttons you hit, it depends on the platform but they are easy to perform.

Any other ways in which players can improve/boost the powers of their cars?

Caen: Players can pick up a variety of tokens during a race to earn cash including Nitro (for speed) to improve the powers of the cars in addition to bonuses. Nitro is particularly handy when performing the game's biggest stunts - you then have a better chance of earning items.

Numbers, numbers - how many different car types and how many tracks are you including?

Caen: Almost all the Lamborghini models, from historical models like the Miura or the Countach to the latest productions (Diablo, Gallardo...). At the moment we have 14 different models of Lamborghini with six genuine liveries scanned from real paint chips, almost the complete range of the world-famous brand.

Expect 16 Challenging tracks filled with spectacular opportunities for stunts (banked turns, huge slopes, long jumps...) where you can control your car in mid-air.

How many competitors take part in each race, and can we expect anything special from opponent AI - grudges, revenge attacks, that sort of thing perhaps?

Caen: Four competitors take part in the Quick Race Mode, the FX Mode and other race modes. Multiplayer mode features up to four players who participate in split-screen action. You'll be astonished by the aggressive AI of your opponents, who won't hesitate in trying to damage your car or cut you up.

Can you elaborate on Lamborghini FX multiplayer?

Caen: As I said before, multiplayer is one of the key features of the game. You can play on Xbox and PC up to four players and up to two players on PS2. What you can expect from multiplayer mode is fun, addiction and excitement.

Lamborghini FX is expected this Summer.

Stuart Bishop