Score
Gameplay:	9
Graphics:	10
Sound:	8
FunFactor:	9
PlasmaFactor:	9
Overall:	9

Burnout 3: Takedown Review
November 21, 2004 by BillyW

by BillyW - September 21, 2004

Burnout 3: Takedown can be simply described as a revolutionary arcade racing game. If you have played any of the previous installments, you know that the Burnout series provides spectacular crashes. This game like other sequels, improves game play, graphics and adds features. But these improvements have gone a far way, and have made Burnout 3 a truly incredible game.

Better Than Your Average Sequel

In the previous installments of the Burnout series, the racing experience was merely average, and in Burnout 2 the highlight of the game was the crash mode. Burnout 3 has made the racing aspect of the game as fun and competitive as the other modes. As in the previous games, drivers have always been rewarded for driving riskily. Driving on the wrong side of the road, right next to cars and catching air will fill your burnout meter. The meter will enable you to boost for short or long periods of time, depending how full, and how big it is. But the best way to fill up your burnout meter is to �takedown� other racers. This can be done by shoving your opponent into a wall, rail, pillar or car. If done correctly, you get an incredibly gratifying shot of the car you just pushed into a pillar being mangled in slow motion. Not only is this insanely cool, but if you perform a takedown, your boost meter will grow substantially, and stay that way until you crash. Another way to takedown a person is by using a new feature called aftertouch. Aftertouch allows you to guide your car through the air after you have crashed. Although I was initially skeptical of the idea, it not only an additional strategic feature, it is also very fun to try to guide your car into an opponents. Aftertouch also adds depth to the crash mode which I will talk about later.

There are a couple different modes in Burnout 3. The Burnout 3 World Tour is essentially the single player mode of the game. There are three regions, USA, Europe, and the Far East. Each of these regions has a number of different challenges. Challenges differ, some are races, hot laps, tournaments, crash contests, road rage among others. The races are pretty self explanatory, try to get to the finish as fast as possible. In this mode it is crucial to takedown other drivers to fill up your boost meter. Hot lap, is basically a time trial, and to earn a gold medal you must get a specific time. Tournaments consist of 3 races. For each race, the winner is awarded a certain number of points for their place. At the end the person with the highest number of points wins. This mode usually new cars, and you will move on to the next car class. Crash is also self explanatory, try to cause as much damage as possible. But in Burnout 3, several changes have been made to enhance the gameplay. For example, pickups are littered across the crash junction. Some being multipliers, cash bonuses, instant crash breakers, and the dreaded broken heart icon, which halves your total score at the end. Another new feature is the crash breaker. It basically makes your car explode on command. But, to activate it, you must crash into X amount of cars, the number of cars varies on each junction. It is a spectacular effect, throwing vehicles away from your car, and adding to the mayhem.

Depending on the score you achieve in a specific challenge, you will earn a gold, silver or bronze medal. Earning these medals helps to earn you other rewards, such as cars. Also, winning events will add money, at certain milestones, you will unlock new vehicles. There is a total of 67 vehicles, and 6 different classes. These classes include compact, coupe, sport, muscle, super and special. There are no licensed cars in the game, but it is quite obvious that these cars have been modeled after real life counterparts.

Fast and Furious

The graphics are what help bring the game to life. In single player mode, the game runs at a constant 60 frames per second, the constant frame rate provides a mesmerizing sense of speed, one that is present in very few racing games today. The sense of speed can also be attributed to the blur effects. Although they are a bit over done at lower speeds, at high speeds it makes it feel as though you are really going 180 miles per hour. The car models look great, some better than others and the reflection effects on the cars look fantastic. It is astonishing to think that this game has such good graphics and a steady frame rate.

Immersive Sound

The sounds in the game are up to par with the rest of the game. Cars provide great noise, along with explosions, crashes and ambient noise in the racetrack. Noises like passing cars are great, and add much to the experience and atmosphere. The only downside to the sound is the music, or lack of variety in the music. When playing the game you will notice that the game has become �EA-ified� as I like to say. EA provides tracks, some good, some not so good. But the music is not very diverse, most of it being punk rock from unknown bands. I think that EA shafted Burnout, giving Madden and MVP baseball better songs and better known bands. Also, throughout the game you will notice ads for other EA games. DJ Stryker, informs you throughout the game. But his �radical� tone and �gnarly� words will make you begin to hate him. Fortunately there is an option to turn him off.

Just the Right Difficulty

As for the difficulty, Burnout 3 is not a hard game, but it is in no way a cinch to complete. You will lose your fair share of races, but it provides just enough challenge to keep you motivated. The AI of the other racers is remarkable, they will try to push you into oncoming traffic, battle for position, and do just about whatever they can to get ahead of you. Occasionally they will crash into that lone bus that is crossing the road, but this kind of behavior is very rare, and quite hilarious. Usually the AI is very good at evading oncoming traffic, and avoiding obvious obstacles.

Same Addictive Multiplayer

Offline multiplayer will provide two-player, 30-fps split-screen for main modes. You have to unlock tracks and crash junctions, but if you remotely like this game it's pretty assured that won't be much of a problem unlocking numerous locales. The online multiplayer is slightly different. All the main modes are still available, but aftertouch had to be removed. Hosts have plenty of options, including; kicking players, choose class of cars available for racing, and tweak some other important options.

 

In A Nutshell

Criterion and EA have greatly improved the Burnout series. All of the modes are incredibly fun. This game could be a candidate for the best game of the year. If you cannot buy it, rent it, I guarantee you will have fun with it.