Another surprise within Microsoft's Xbox 360 area at CES 2010 was the debut of Scrap Metal, a brand-new game from Slick Entertainment, the studio who worked with Metanet Software to bring N+ to Xbox Live Arcade. Scrap Metal is essentially RC Pro Am-meets-Twisted Metal.

There wasn't too much of Scrap Metal to show at CES (it doesn't even have a release date yet, just sometime in 2010), but there was promise to be found. I've seen other folks comparing Scrap Metal to David Jaffe's PlayStation Network downlodable Calling All Cars, which is pretty fair. Scrap Metal doesn't appear to be as open-ended as Calling All Cars' environments and there appears to be far more variety to the gameplay in Slick Entertainment's effort.

It's not just about racing around a track or blowing up other cars. The mode with the most potential had me running laps as cars chased me around, Grand Theft Auto-style. Every time you cross the finish line, another cop car starts chasing you. Eventually,  a nearby rep told me, a small army will be doing their best to ensure your destruction (unfortunately, I only made it three laps). It was already enjoyable solo, but it's easy to imagine the fun multiplying with three others.

And keeping with the CES theme, Scrap Metal had a 3D mode. It wasn't the "new" 3D, though, but the old, janky, headache-inducing 3D. Sure, it worked, but I turned it off immediately.

I'll be following up for more on Scrap Metal after CES. Stay tuned!

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