Like many, I was a little unsure about Burnout Paradise and the developer’s choice to place would-be racers in an open-world. The idea had its share of pros and cons. Among the positives was that Criterion Games wanted to freshen up the gameplay instead of just relying on the established formula – something uncommon to EA titles. The negative aspect is the same with anything new that’s introduced into a popular franchise; would it ruin what we’ve come to love? While this isn’t the same Burnout many gamers have become use to, it’s still fun at its core. And the changes do work. Are you breathing a little easier now?
Even with the introduction of the open world format to Burnout: Paradise, the heart of Burnout’s gameplay is intact with a host of new features. Road Rage is still present and actually seems to have seen the smallest amount of change in the jump to Paradise. The only difference in this feature is that objects have been expanded from three to six.The expansion of Road Rage may seem small until you actually notice just how chaotic it becomes with even more cars crashing in front of you. The game has also added Stunt Runs. Imagine a mix of Midway’s racer franchise “Rush” with the focus being on chaining together tricks, ramps, and jumps like the Tony Hawk series. It seems a little daunting and silly at first, but becomes a much welcomed addition after a little time of seeing how long you can keep your Stunt Run alive. Criterion Games looked to a lot of other franchises for inspiration. This is evidenced in the Marked Man scenario as well, which has racers heading for the finish while being targeted by rivals to wreck you before you can reach your goal. Anyone remember the Driver franchise?
Many will be disappointed that Crash Mode has been dropped and replaced with Showtime, which can be activated with the top two shoulder buttons. In this mode you get points and multipliers based on the amount of damage you cause. This varies on everything from the types of cars you hit, to the environments, and even the style in which you initiate the carnage. While steering with the left analog, you can use the right to pan around and spot the highest value rides to destroy. So while the mode is different, the fun is still there and you’ll get a kick out of the damage you lay down.
Graphically Paradise is amazing. Running at a superb 60 fps truly makes everything look that much better as you’re watching it. The shine on the cars and the realistic feel of speed all translate superbly on the Xbox 360 hardware. Nothing was spared in making sure everything looked realistic. Even the street signs show genuine wear and tear adding to the realism. Race fans who have spent hours playing PGR 4 may not feel that this is the best looking racer out there, but that comparison is hardly fair. Burnout Paradise trumps all previous entries in the franchise as well as most of the racers on the market today. The only issue that may have techies up in arms is the lack of full 1080p support. The game only puts out 720p, which honestly, you won’t even notice as you barrel roll into the side of billboard truck.
The game’s sound doesn’t only do its job, it does it well. With music selections from a variety of artists, everyone will have something to listen to – even Guns N Roses fans. As for the sound effects, crashes sound like crashes. What did you expect? Vehicle sound effects vary, but don’t seem all to authentic. But that’s when you remember this isn’t GT or Forza. The usual arcade racing advisor makes an appearance while driving in the form of DJ Atomika. This annoying “DJ” is here to spin the jams and advise you on how to drive. Not super realistic as I rarely find myself driving down the highway and have the radio tell me to hit the left trigger. Of course I may be listening to the wrong stations. For the most part, the sound does a good job of complementing the game.
The best feature of Burnout Paradise has to be the impressively designed online play. There is none of that pesky - going to the main menu, going to XBL, and choosing a game - stuff here. You can choose online play on the fly while playing in a regular game simply by pressing the D-pad. Pressing right on the D-Pad opens up the online menu where you can then jump online, or invite friends into your game. You can do just about anything, all while you’re still in the middle of your own offline game. It’s almost like you’re always online and just choose to play against (or with) others whenever you feel like it.
Overall, Burnout Paradise is a game any race fan should get. The fun of the game isn’t only limited to virtual drivers as the pick up -n- play gameplay has something for a wide range of gamers to enjoy. While many have worried whether or not Paradise would live up to previous Burnout titles, they can relax knowing the game has only improved. I recommend this game as a purchase or at least rental.
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