Burnout Paradise Review

Posted May 24, 2008 by (100)

Burnout Paradise takes a different path than previous games in Criterion’s racing series. Rather than simply hopping behind the wheel of a classy car and driving through a series of pre-loaded racing events, you must navigate through a living, breathing city to find your challenges. Paradise City divides into eight separate quadrants, all interconnected through streets, shortcuts and overpasses. You’ll cover this terrain repeatedly, going from one part of the city to the other as you participate in numerous events.

These events vary, similar to those introduced in other Burnout games. Road Rage requires you to destroy as many vehicles as you can before you run out of time or trash your vehicle beyond repair. Routine races pit you against other drivers in a battle for a first place victory. Best of all, the new Marked Man stages offer their own unique thrills, as you attempt to survive a "point A to point B" run while avoiding other cars. There are other events that are unlockable with certain cars, but you’ll get most acquainted with these three.

Races are just as thrilling as always. You’ll swerve around corners, smash through hidden shortcuts and fly through the air with mind-boggling jumps. The gameplay is sharp, as you can easily control your car. However, be prepared for some aggressive artificial intelligence. Opponents fly out of nowhere, suddenly sending you bumper first into a brick wall. It would’ve been nice to have indicators to show where they’re at, but that would’ve taken away from the game’s raw intensity.