Release Archives: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 13, 20059.13.2005 Burnout Revenge Dev. Criterion Pub. EA MSRP: $49.99 Systems: PS2, XBox The epic Gran Turismo and it's Xbox associate Forza Motorsports have both seen release since Burnout 3, and I'm thrilled to say that even they can't hold a candle to it, or it's mighty son Burnout Revenge, which we're here today to discuss. Sure, there are other games coming out this week, like Ninja Gaiden Black and Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes. Both great games, both worth buying at once point or another. But really, your attention shouldn't be on them when such a wondrous time is upon us with the release of this hallowed racing game. In my opinion, Burnout is the best racing series of all time, by a wide margin. And I don't like racing games, that's the beauty of it. It's so simple, so brilliantly fast and so utterly rewarding thanks to the aggressive drive mechanic that anyone will love it, not just grease monkeys (or oil apes, your call on the funny). The idea, as usual, is to drive as dangerously as possible: running other racers off the road, barely missing oncoming traffic and basically doing every badass, life-threatening maneuver in the road rage book isn't just fair game, it's encouraged (as it rewards you with valuable boost to use). Revenge adds the requisite new tracks, cars and ways of destroying your opponent (that's where the titular feature comes into play), but also a ton more shortcuts per track, a handful of new modes (Traffic Attack being the best, and not coincidentally most destructive one) and a wonderfully welcome three times more car deformation (as in, the cars crush real purdy). Speaking of crashes, the well-adored Crash Mode is back for the attack, with new multi-layered, more dynamic crash junctions to run up a bill in. New multiplayer modes make the rounds as well, and online play will surely rock yet again. I'm not sure what else to say, really...if you have yet to play the series, stop reading these releases until you do, as you are doing yourself (and me) a great disservice. Not that EA needs any more money or patronage, but if it means this series will never go away, so be it. You can thank me at mail@g-pinions.com. - Nick |
