My Burnout Paradise review.

I know I'm a little late on this, but who cares.

In the world of gaming, the Driving/Racing Genre seems to have always had a hard time trying to take the pole position in the video game market.  When a game called Burnout was released back in 2001, it seemed to follow the same route as most Driving/Racing games that came before it.  However, it was the slow motion replay's of each crash which realistically deformed the cars was what brought the game to the attention of the public.

From then on Criterion's Burnout game series would continue on with new features being implemented in each game (along with a different set of cars) from the Crash Gameplay in Burnout 2: Point of Impact to the Takedown/Road Rage in Burnout 3: Takedown and Burnout Revenge.

Burnout Paradise is the newest addition to the burnout family of games, but does it stand out on it's own, or does it fail to burn some rubber on the pavement?

Story
The story of Paradise pretty much straight forward and to the point.  The narrator (aka DJ Atomika) helps you as you explore every nook and cranny of Paradise City as well as offer you some advice, but after a while he becomes pretty annoying.  Thankfully though as you progress through the game, the narrator plays a less important role.
7.5/10

Design
Unlike its predecessors, Paradise uses the Sandbox design for Never-ending Gameplay which makes Paradise perfect for online gaming.  This works great for those of us who have grown tired of the menu screens.  As well as using the Sandbox, users can also choose any offline event at any time by going to any of the 120 traffic light intersections and taping the brake and accelerator simultaneously.  This feature does away the load screen that fans have dreaded in previous Burnout games.

Although some of the events are ones that are trademarks of the series, Paradise adds 2 new events to the fray which make the game even more challenging to the player.  I also like the fact that they did away with the Bronze/Silver/Gold method and replaced it with the License Upgrade system which you have to win every event in first place in order to upgrade your license.  What's also nice is the way you get each of the 80 cars by not only winning events in order to "shut them down" in sandbox mode, but also by winning the burning routes which allow you to win a more beefed up version of your car in the event you win each burning route.

Also new is the Road Rules feature which in offline mode, the player can "Rule" each road in Paradise City via by time, or by Showtime.

Showtime is the newly remodeled version of Crash that you can start at any time by clicking the Right and Left Tab buttons simultaneously on your controller.  Showtime seems more of a step backward than more of a step forward for the Burnout Series.  The whole process of showtime seems more of comical than the entertaining that Crash Mode originally brought us.  Shame on you Criterion!!  You should know better than to try to fix something that wasn't broken in the first place.
9.5/10

Gameplay
The Gameplay of Paradise is by far excellent.  The controls of the game make it very easy for any player (whether a first time novice or a hardcore veteran) to use.  Of course this game was made for online multiplayer, with online challenges and "mugshots" (you must have the XBL Vision to use this feature) for each online takedown.  That, along with the all the smashes and billboards as well as the 50 offline/online achievements, you can be playing this game with your friends over and over again and never get bored.

10/10

Graphics & Sound
Paradise has some of the best damage graphics than any other Driving/Racing game that's currently out on the market (even better than Gran Turismo Prologue . . .).  The way the game slowly shows your car being crumpled in a head on collision with another car or a solid object makes each crash more entertaining to watch.

I mean seriously, if this isn't realistic to you, I don't know what is?

As for sound, along with tires screeching, horns blowing etc.  Each car has it's own unique engine sound.  From the roar of the American looking muscle cars, to the high-pitched reeving of a formula one racer.  Of course what game isn't complete without a soundtrack.  Ever since Takedown, the Burnout series has incorporated an excellent soundtrack with each new game incorporating bands like Yellowcard, Jimmy Eat World, etc.  Paradise is no exception with not only incorporating the Original soundtracks from the first two Burnout games, but also adding artists Seether, Airbourne, Guns N' Roses (as soon as I heard Paradise was announced, their song Paradise City came immediately to my mind), and many more.  The only Gripe I have about the soundtrack is this:

WHY IN THE HELL DID THEY ****ING PUT AVRIL LAVIGNE'S SONG GIRLFRIEND ON THE SOUNDTRACK???

Thankfully I can have that stupid song taken off the playlist thanks to the EA Trax system.  Well played EA/Criterion . . . well played.
9.75/10

Overall
Burnout Paradise is without a doubt the best Driving/Racing game this series has to offer so far despite the loss of Crash Mode.  With XBL updates and more DLC in the works (which also includes new locations within Paradise City and new cars ), Burnout Paradise will truly make it's mark in the Burnout Series.  Criterion sure knows how to make a Driving/Racing game.

Average Score: 9.18
Dman82's Score: 9.9