Split/Second has a lot going for it, including accessible controls, easy-to-use mechanics, and possibly the cleanest heads-up display ever seen in a racing game. Anyone who's played a racing game should be able to jump right in. The control scheme doesn't make use of too much, because it doesn't need all that much to begin with.
Split/Second's signature mechanic (which I'll explain shortly) is mapped to a single button. The entire H.U.D. is actually superimposed onto your vehicle.
Races in Split/Second are won by clever use of the environment. As I mentioned earlier, each track is rigged to blow. You have direct control of what happens to certain parts of the environment... sometimes. A tri-segmented power meter rests underneath your vehicle. By drafting, drifting, and jumping, you earn power. When you fill one or two segments of your power meter, you gain the ability to execute a Power Play. This mechanic triggers some impressive (and deadly) destruction moments. Level 1 Power Plays use up one segment of your power meter, but Level 2 Power Plays require a full bar.
