| I love arcade-style racers, me. I’ve been playing them for as long as I can remember. As hardware has grown more powerful, games have gotten faster and better looking, with greater and greater high-octane thrills. This generation of consoles has, at least for me, been pretty much ruled by the Need For Speed games. Other racers just haven’t measured up.
One example was Burnout 2. I bought it (stupidly, for the PS2) a good while back. I found the actual racing part to be somewhat lacking. Driving through oncoming traffic was quite a rush at first, but after a while it all seemed a bit bland. But there was still the fantastic Crash Mode to turn to – although the PS2 version had only 15 scenes (told you I was stupid). So, after a while, even that started to bore me, and the game was soon relegated to its place as a handy dust collector.
That’s great, luv. When you’re finished there, could you
give my games a quick going-over? Ta. (At least you
didn’t say ‘joystick’. Or ‘cock’ – Ed).
It was obvious that any sequel would need big changes to even keep up with the pack. In Burnout 3, Crash Mode is still as awesome as ever; more so in fact, due to its huge expansion, but now it’s just one big smash in a more overall satisfying wreck.
The racing, thank Christ, has improved beyond recognition. There’s now an ace combative element that simply makes it more fun. With Burnout 2, it was all about getting from A to B. Now you’ve got goals and aims every second of the way. Even if you crash, there’s the potential for nabbing extra Burnout points by steering into other vehicles, so you’re involved all the time, and it’s fun all the time. And then there’s Road Rage…
That’s not going to help my insurance premiums…
Road Rage is the new bad boy on the block. Basically, you crash your car into as many opposition drivers as possible, sending them skidding, tumbling, flipping, and sometimes flying off the track (‘Takedown!’). If you take too much damage, your car will collapse in a steaming old heap and it’s game over.
Propellerheads may complain about the lack of licensed cars in this game, but if there were licenses involved you just couldn’t have the Road Rage aspect. So, thank fuck there aren’t any licenses, because racing up the road after other cars at 150MPH with your car door hanging off is more fun than any human should even be entitled to have.
The speed is exhilarating. Zooming between two oncoming cars at top whack and hearing an almighty “Whooomph!” as they/you zoom by is incredibly gratifying. Oh, and don’t expect the grin that appears on your face when you Takedown three cars at once to subside for several hours at least.
Fred tries to slow the drivers in Burnout 3, moments
before the red Assassin Coupe sends him 80-feet into
the air.
Burnout 3 is so good, it interferes with your life. The other day, I was in my real-life car, stopped at traffic lights at a 3-way junction. I actually found myself saying out loud, “This would make a perfect Crash Junction…”
Sleeping is proving difficult too. Not only do I find it hard to tear myself away from this game at night, but when I do, I just lie there, visualising ways in which I could manage more Takedowns in Road Rage, or how I might swing a Gold in that bastard Eliminator (a series of laps, whoever’s last gets kicked out of the race). Invariably, I end up putting the game back on for another go.
Christ, would you look at that? There must be a million up for grabs if you time that crash right…
There are minor negative points, although they do feel a bit churlish in the face of such an all-round instant classic. The most obvious is the fact it’s been saddled with the usual EA shit-rock soundtrack. The DJ is a wanker, too. You’ll be turning his incessant drivel off within three minutes. And then, at times, it feels a little too easy to zoom around a course without crashing into the scenery. Oh, and the heartbreaker anti-bonus/power-down is stupid and only serves to detract from the generous serving of fun. None of these, however, are nearly enough to stop you coming back again and again, hour after hour.
So, for years I’ve been playing arcade-style racers on my consoles. Burnout 3 is not an arcade-style racer; it’s an arcade game in your home. For forty quid or less, why are you sitting reading this when you could be out there, unlocking like a loon?
PAULEMOZ, September
2004.
RODENT CASH RATING -
Burn all your possessions.
"More carnage than a night out in Leith."
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