Burnout 3: Takedown

Let me start off by saying that Burnout 3 is NOT a racing game--at least not in the conventional sense. It has the appearance of a superb arcade racer. It�s got great graphics, a huge selection of cars, and licensed songs from popular artists. And it has an incredible sense of speed, but once again I tell you that this game is not about racing. It might fool you with its breathtaking racetracks, incredibly tight controls and phenomenal sounds, but Burnout 3 is about one thing--destruction.

Beautiful, spectacular destruction.

The main focus of the racing component of the game is acquiring "Boost," which pushes your car past its standard top speed. When using Boost, a blur effect occurs that causes a sort of tunnel vision that makes a player feel like they�re going even faster. Drivers get Boost by driving dangerously. Driving in the wrong lane, bumping other cars, or driving precariously close to other cars. Without hazardous driving, there is no hope for the player to win the race.

The greatest aspect of Burnout 3 is its crashes. It is such a large component of the game that all the game modes centre on it. A typical race goes like this: drive until you�re near an opponent while gaining Boost. When you pull up near an opponent, plow him into another car, the side of the road, or whatever else happens to be around. Causing your opponent to crash will earn you more Boost so that you can race up to your next opponent and do the same thing.

Sometimes you will crash, either by player error, or by being victimized by an opponent. At this point, other racing games would show you the crash animation and put you right back on the road. Burnout 3 however allows you to enter a slow motion view of your crash called "Impact Time." While in Impact Time, you can influence the direction your wreck is sliding/flying in through "Aftertouch." If you can manage to maneuver your wreck into an opponent, you can score an "Aftertouch Takedown," which causes mass chaos, and often chain reaction crashes. It also earns you more Boost.

Getting the hang of using Aftertouch is important to maintaining a winning position. In fact, the art of crashing in general is as much a key element to the gameplay of Burnout 3 as racing, maybe even more so. And even racing poorly is rewarded with spectacular accidents and chaos.

Each of the game modes takes a slightly different approach on how to use crashes to your advantage. In traditional Race mode, taking down opponents helps you gain the lead. In Road Rage Mode, you drive and take down as many cars as possible before your car takes too much damage. In Crash Mode the objective is to cause as much mass mayhem and damage as possible without the hassle of trying to drive. Each of these game types are available in single player mode, multiplayer mode, and "Burnout 3 World Tour," the standard career mode where you unlock cars, earn cash, and rule the racing world.

Burnout 3 has been polished about as far as any racer I have seen. The tremendous sense of speed that you experience when playing is among the best of any action racer. Flying down the highway at 200 mph actually feels like it. The gorgeous graphics sometimes get lost though, since you�re moving so fast. I would liken it more to games like Wipeout or F-Zero rather than games like Need for Speed.

Burnout 3 is very accessible. It�s easy to pick up and play, but trying to get gold medals on every track is a difficult feat. There are other fun things to do, Signature Takedowns, which are like special moves where you run an opponent into a truck (this is called the "Truck Torpedo"). After every Signature Takedown you get a photo for you album depicting the takedown.

Although multiplayer Burnout 3 is a lot of fun, Impact Time is completely missing. I do understand that it would be annoying to make every player wait while one person finished his Aftertouching, but it still would have been nice if Criterion could have figured out a way. Other than that there is very little wrong with Burnout 3.

If you�re looking for a hardcore racing simulation, this isn�t it. There are no real cars, no customization, and driving skill is hardly a requirement. However, this is one of the best games I�ve ever played involving cars, asphalt and disregard for public safety. It is a must have for any gamer�s collection, anybody who ever had fun smashing hot wheels cars into each other, or anyone who likes destruction. Once again, Burnout 3 is not a racing game. If you�re looking for a racing sim, get something like Forza Motor Sport.

But get this too.

-Review by Justin Kwok

Justin Kwok is a student enrolled in the Video Game Design & Development program at the International Academy of Design & Technology.

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