Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box Review

By Richard Leadbetter Published 11 February, 2009

Where the grass is greener.

Version tested: PC

Just over a year on from its initial release, Electronic Arts has re-issued Burnout Paradise in the form of The Ultimate Box. This combines the original game with all of its download add-ons, a brand new Party mode and a range of other less headline-grabbing but equally welcome updates.

And yes, that includes a restart option.

Some might argue that Criterion has finally bowed under the pressure of its critics. But the truth of the matter is the inclusion of the much sought-after feature isn't just about appeasing The Internet; it is just one of an array of tweaks, upgrades and changes designed to make the whole game more appealing to a less hardcore audience.

In fact, most of the toolings under the hood are about expanding the game's reach. The initial stages of the game have been completely rebalanced, with an all-new, less punishing handling model dished out to the first few cars and the difficulty level lowered to accommodate less experienced gamers.

Other changes include less strenuous target times on events such as the Burning Routes and a relaxing of the tight time limits on maintaining combos in the Stunt Runs. Billboards, Smashes and Super Jumps now benefit from additional highlighting, making them easier to track down. The end result of these tweaks is that single-player Burnout is undoubtedly easier, but the difficulty level still ramps up acceptably the further you progress into the game.

Moving into the multiplayer realm, the new Party Pack is further proof of Criterion's desire to attract a more 'pick up and play' audience. It offers pass-the-controller style multiplayer gameplay for two to eight players, and a range of new challenges grouped into three different categories: stunt, skill and speed. You can design your own menu of events for each session, or you can just let the CPU decide for you.

'Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box' Screenshot 1

Then the games begin: landing difficult jumps, dodging traffic, smashing billboards - it's all here, and it's pretty good fun. Also impressive is the way that key points of Paradise City are expertly utilised for the challenges; if you're a newcomer to the game, it's a great way to get acquainted with the local landmarks.

While the events are short, sweet and entertaining enough in the party context, the appeal is limited to Burnout veterans. The overall impression is that the tasks on offer aren't actually that taxing: certainly, little skill and ingenuity are required compared to Criterion's previous party-based masterpiece, Crash Mode (surely due a return as a Party Pack in its own right).

Moreover, it's possible for the same event to crop up twice in subsequent party sessions with alarming frequency. This gives the impression - rightly or wrongly - that there's not much actual content in there. As an introduction to a different spin on the traditional Burnout gameplay, and as a new way to bring less hardcore gamers to the series, the Party Pack works, but the series' traditional audience isn't going to expend a huge amount of time on it.

'Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box' Screenshot 2

Ultimate Box purchasers get the Party Pack for free as part of the new package. Existing owners of the original launch version need to cough up 7.99 GBP on PSN or 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60) to catch up. That's undoubtedly pricey in the context of PSN and Live Arcade games and indeed Criterion's own free updates.

The other improvements Criterion has made to the core game outside of the Party Pack are all available to existing owners as a free downloadable upgrade. That means nobody gets left behind - if you want the Party content, it's there. If you don't, there's nothing else in the game that compels you to buy it. Original launch and Ultimate Box gamers can all still play online together regardless.

On to the PC version then. Developed by Criterion in-house, it's everything you would imagine - the ultimate iteration of the game, with a performance level to match your hardware budget and a feature-set that brings it bang up to date with the console versions. Any reasonable dual core CPU, coupled with a GBP 100 graphics card, basically guarantees you 60fps gameplay at up to 1920x1200.

Check out 1080p screenshot gallery grabbed from the PC build. The difference in performance between my Core 2 Quad system with the nVidia GTX295 (the world's most powerful GPU) versus the same game running an 8800GT with Core 2 Duo downclocked to 2.0GHz is barely worth comment. I also tried AMD's sub-GBP 100 entry level enthusiast card - a Sapphire HD 4830 - and it performed very comfortably at 1650x1080 with 4x anti-aliasing, dropping down from 60fps routinely if pushed to 1080p.

Even if you've played Burnout Paradise before on console, the PC version remains a very attractive proposition. There really is something very special about playing this game with all video settings ramped up to the max - it's similar to the feeling you get from playing the original Ridge Racer on PlayStation then returning to the original arcade version. This feels like the real deal, pristine and cutting edge. With its support for the Xbox 360 controller, Burnout PC once again makes a very strong case for a combined games and media PC taking pride of place connected to your living room HDTV, particularly if you have a full HD display.

'Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box' Screenshot 3

The bottom line is that Burnout Paradise PC is no sloppy console port: even a reasonably modest gaming machine can offer excellent graphical performance that easily outstrips the already superb visuals on console. Criterion being Criterion, there's also in-built support for crazy PC-only features including multiple monitors and even nVidia's own 3D Vision glasses, which make an incredible case for the inclusion of true stereoscopic 3D in next gen gaming hardware. (Sony is already working on it, as its recent CES demos prove.)

So, we reach the highly subjective final score. It's been just over a year since Kristan reviewed the launch version of the game, and much has changed in those twelve months. Criterion has attracted masses of goodwill through its ambitious and rewarding packages of DLC, it has improved the game in both single-player and multi-player modes through re-balancing the gameplay and adding bonus online challenges.

The bike pack on its own, included as standard in the Ultimate Box, adds yet more value, but even in the small details (i.e. adding 1080i support to the PS3 game post-launch) Criterion hasn't let its audience down. And yes, it has a restart option. Best of all, the game is still evolving through yet more DLC. It's just getting better and better, and deserves a score to match.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (70) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Triggerhappytel #1 3 years ago

    Excellent score. I'll be getting this on PS3, although it'll have to wait a while as I've got lots to play through at the moment.

  • kangarootoo #2 3 years ago

    The restart option falls into the category of "about damn time" for me.

    It wasn't a huge ommision and didn't really spoil my experience of the game (which overall is frickin' awesome). But the way in which Criterion responded to player complaints about its ommision was a sorry episode that everyone involved would do well to forget but never repeat.

    If you like arcade stylee driving games, the hours of fun here are easily worth this 9/10. I dropped the series somewhere around BO3, but this has been a series return to form in my eyes.

  • dingo75 #3 3 years ago

    Bought yesterday. Can't wait to throw it on my E8500, Radeon 4870 system :)

    Definately supporting a good PC port! :)

  • UncleLou #4 3 years ago

    I can see why people wanted the restart function, but I've got to say that I am not using it at all - the couple of times I wanted to, immediately after I lost a race, it didn't work - I assume you have to use it before the actual event is finished?

  • Widge #5 3 years ago

    "Sapphire HD 4830"

    Tempted by one of these, just gone to a 22" 1650x1050 monitor and my x800GTO2 is well old now.

  • crozon #6 3 years ago

    traded in my ps3 copy for the PC one. am a really a happy bunny now :). can't stop playing the game.

  • Erinan #7 3 years ago

    I was tempted before but this new edition definitely convinced me - I'll buy it as soon as possible!

    What's the "restart option"?

  • speedjack #8 3 years ago

    So where is this restart option of which you speak. I'm playing on the 360, don't have the party pack but I downloaded the related update ? As UncleLou said, is it only available during a race ?

  • UncleLou #9 3 years ago

    "What's the "restart option"? "

    You can restart a race if something goes wrong, "teleporting" back to the start. Originally, all you could do is drive back to the beginning of the event. The game's structure is so though that there always is the next event around the corner, anyway - you don't need to beat any specific race to progress, so I can see why they had left it out.

  • DUFFKING #10 3 years ago

    You press right on the d-pad and choose restart.

  • UncleLou #11 3 years ago

    So where is this restart option of which you speak.

    You might know this, but technically, press "right" on the digipad. I've seen it during races.

  • skillian #12 3 years ago

    Burnout PC once again makes a very strong case for a combined games and media PC taking pride of place connected to your living room HDTV, particularly if you have a full HD display.

    Honestly, if you are in any position to do this, you should. I can't tell you how much more enjoyable this has made my life over the last couple of years.

    You might not even need a new/second PC. I used to run a low-spec PC in my living room for media and old skool games, plus a high-spec PC in my bedroom for work and gaming, but now I just use my good PC for everything by running a long DVI->HDMI cable through my bedroom floor and directly into the lounge.

    It is a pretty simple set-up, but without blowing my own trumpet, nearly everyone new that comes round seems to love it! No kidding, a pizza delivery guy the other day made me unplug my TV connections just to see exactly how I had the thing set up.

    Whether you're into music, movies, tv, internet, games, whatever - it rocks. Seriously.

    edit: Just thought I'd mention I have a 720p display rather than full HD, and in a lot of ways it's better. Games run more smoothly, and text and web pages are much easier to read than they would be if it was a 1920x1080 display.
    Edited by 2 at 11/02/09 @ 14:31

  • Ryze #13 3 years ago

    Yep, they've fixed it. Bravo!

    Now I'd like a rotating mini-map, and the option to fix the right-stick camera.

    Ta!
    Edited by 1 at 11/02/09 @ 14:29

  • Feanor #14 3 years ago

    /obilgatory get-it-on-Steam-ASAP comment

  • BOFH_UK #15 3 years ago

    The restart option comes in very handy when you're doing certain races, especially later in the game, and have either completed the handful of events near some of the mountain finishing points or if you're driving something utterly useless for one of those events. That said, god knows why they put it where they did on the D-pad... if you activate it after you've finished an event you've got to go down past friends and online freeburn so more than once I've found myself online rather than restarting an event.

    One thing I would say... I think they've made the game too easy now. Certainly it feels MUCH easier, even on the later cars, than it used to and burning routes that were really challenging before the update were simple, finished on the first go events afterwards. Also, while the new graphics are welcome and do definately help the new billboards look terrible, far too distracting and they really do scream 'look at me'. Great when you're hunting for 'em, not so great when you're trying to concentrate on the more pointy bits of the scenery.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #16 3 years ago

    Its been said many times before and shall be said, by certain people, many times again: the restart option is a cop-out and goes against Burnout Paradise's design premise.

    That said, if it makes people happy/less impatient, far be it from me to throw my toys out of the pram over the slow retardation of games.

    Edit - Oh, and if you haven't already, buy this game. It is phenominal! Would recommend using the restart option only on the "one side of map to the other" events, otherwise you just won't memorise the map layout quickly enough.
    Edited by 1 at 11/02/09 @ 14:36

  • kangarootoo #17 3 years ago

    "The game's structure is so though that there always is the next event around the corner, anyway - you don't need to beat any specific race to progress, so I can see why they had left it out."

    That is fine during early play, where you can just romp on to the next junction and do something else. But as you get further through the game (or if you are trophy/achievement hunting) it becomes an increasing pain the ass.

    The thing that gets me is that adding the option has absolutely NO impact on the game experience for any player who chooses to ignore it. I would rather have the option and not need it, than need the option and not have it.

    For those who say "I've never used it so it makes no difference" I can only say "cool, glad you are still happy".

  • Thunderbolt #18 3 years ago

    Finally this game is what it should have been a year ago.

    Will I buy it again?

    Mmmmm, not sure

  • muscleblade #19 3 years ago

    With the added restart option i might go back to get the rest of the singleplayer achieves. I only have a lousy 640G on the game. This game deserves better really.

  • kangarootoo #20 3 years ago

    @Ignatius_Cheese

    "the restart option is a cop-out and goes against Burnout Paradise's design premise."

    In my opinion that is never an excuse. Nothing should come higher in the list of priorities than the quality of the final player experience. Nothing. Ever.

    If the lack of restart harmed the experience of a majority of players, then design premise be damned. Sticking resolutely to lofty values such as that, despite the paying customer clearly not enjoying the results, is poor game production practice.

    Rant over :)

    P.s. This is not to say I might add, that you should always give a player what they say whey want. Sometimes, gamers genuinely don't know what they want or what will make the game more fun.

  • Beano #21 3 years ago

    Kudos to EG for re-reviewing the game... and the game fully deserves a 9 :)

  • UncleLou #22 3 years ago

    Restarts is a beginning, but no split-screen = it's not burnout, and thus, no sale.

    From what I understand, that's not really possible technically in an open environment that's streaming from a disc. Probably safe to say that it's MS' fault for not having a mandatory hdd.*

    *(Actually, I have no idea if it would be possible to do it from a hdd or otherwise different hardware.)

  • Ignatius_Cheese #23 3 years ago

    "If the lack of restart harmed the experience of a majority of players, then design premise be damned."

    With all due respect, I believe you will find Burnout Paradise sitting in 9th place on the EG Reader's Top 50 of 2008. That majority of players is looking smaller and smaller by the minute ;oP

  • Eighthours #24 3 years ago

    With all due respect, I believe you will find Burnout Paradise sitting in 9th place on the EG Reader's Top 50 of 2008. That majority of players is looking smaller and smaller by the minute ;oP

    I think that if you asked all those people whether they wanted a restart option, the vast, vast majority would say yes. Anecdotally, I don't know a single person with Paradise who didn't want one.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #25 3 years ago

    Anyway, rather than derailing this comments thread into a debate about the quick restart option, people should just pick this up and find out for themselves which way they prefer to play.

  • menage #26 3 years ago

    I didn't buy it first time round, just bought it fromk PSN

    I didn't even notice te restart option, still think it's awesome value for money now.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #27 3 years ago

    And yes, that includes a restart option.

    And for that, Criterion, you have earned yourself a sale.

  • kangarootoo #28 3 years ago

    @Ignatius_Cheese

    "people should just pick this up and find out for themselves which way they prefer to play."

    On this we fully agree :)

  • UncleLou #29 3 years ago

    On the game itself: I like it a lot, but I don't love it as much as I loved Burnout 2 (the last I played). I am not quite so sure the open structure can compensate for carefully designed tracks.

    And I miss crash mode, terribly. Showtime isn't a sufficient replacement. I wonder why they haven't announced it as DLC, as I have the feeling lots of people felt the same.

  • kangarootoo #30 3 years ago

    I agree, crash mode is a real loss.

    It was really Burnout's answer to party games. Lots of people can be involved, quick turnaround of rounds, entertaining to watch as it well as play.

  • figgis #31 3 years ago

    Worth getting just for the sterling job Criterion and EA have done with the DLC.

  • paulf #32 3 years ago

    great game, and even better a year on (looks great on the pc at hi-res), and dlc that is free or actually worth buying

    if you haven't got this yet you are missing out

  • Sar #33 3 years ago

    1080p is not a PC resolution!

    FS.

  • paketep #34 3 years ago

    I think that the fact that this has NO LAN Play should be mentioned in the review.

    It was enough for me not to buy it. We should refuse to give money to the companies that are taking things away from us (and I also mean you, EA, with your NFS, even if the last one is an unpolished turd).

  • kangarootoo #35 3 years ago

    "1080p is not a PC resolution"


    ZZZzzzzzz
    /snort
    Sorry, what?


    Seriously though.
    [link url=http://www.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/A0461126?cidp=Fro ogle
    ]http://ww w.pcwb.co.uk/catalogue/item/A04...[/link]

    There are literally hundreds of others out there. As if it really MATTERED.

  • kangarootoo #36 3 years ago

    @paketep

    Does it have online play?

  • smelly #37 3 years ago

    I bouhgt this game last week on the 360 for a whopping $20 (10 quid) BARGAIN with all the DLC (unfortunately the dlc takes up over 1.5 gig though).

    My only complaint is that there's too few variety on the events and it gets repetitive quite quick.


    >1080p is not a PC resolution!

    Erm.. er... well what is it then? :-)

    It's a resolution, the pc runs at it.. therefor it's a pc resolution.
    Edited by 1 at 11/02/09 @ 16:47

  • jimboton #38 3 years ago

    Restart option is ok I guess but I don't see how relaxing time limits and extra-highlighting ramps and shortcuts is an improvement over an already easy game.

  • Razz #39 3 years ago

    1920 x 1080 1080p is not a standard PC resolution. 1080p is a HDTV resolution.

    I falls somewhere between WSXGA (1680 × 1050) and WUXGA (1920 x 1200). However, in recent years an increasing amount of graphics cards and computer monitors have begun supporting it.

  • wobbly_Bob #40 3 years ago

    I love this game, I have put in over 120 hours into it... and I'm still playing it. Defo 10/10 game IMHO!

    I can understand where the devs were coming from with the no restart. Yeah people want it, but that's because most gamers are impatient and lazy sods of the 20 second attention span MTV generation. Not having it there forces you to learn the map which you REALLY do need to do and I urge people not to use the restart unless they really, really have to do it. OK, that's my 2 groats :-)

  • IneptPercy #41 3 years ago

    Just what I have been waiting for, good to see budget cards can run this well, but this isn't a problem for my 4870. As with mosty multiplatform games now PC is the way to go if it can cope with it.

    As for 1080p not being a PC resolution... I just checked and my PC is outputting at 1920x1080 and it is progessive so isn't that 1080p?

    Just because a lot of PC monitors are 16:10 (1920x1200) doesn't mean it isn't a valid resolution, given the choice of a 22" 1920x1200 monitor or a 40" 1080p TV I know which I would pick (and did pick)

  • Darren #42 3 years ago

    The PC version is good but unexceptional. Like the console versions it's a game that I still feel is ultimately a disappointment and certainly doesn't deserve a 9 in my book, although the developer support for it has been outstanding admittedly.

    The racing itself is fine and the sense of speed is impressive but the lifeless city and lack of traffic give this game a dull feel. The open world format makes the shortcomings of the environment all the more obvious IMO since you have time to examine the surroundings and there really isn't that much of interest nor is there much variety. A few hours playing this and I had seen pretty much all this game had to offer. It then got boring very quickly even with the free DLC.

    Compared with Midnight Club: L.A. for example, Burnout Paradise is a soulless, empty experience and not a patch on the wonderful Burnout 2 or 3. It's a game that seems more geared toward multiplayer, something I've never really been struck on, and the single player is just a bit too drab and unexciting for me.

  • Razz #43 3 years ago

    1920 x 1080 1080p is not a standard PC resolution. 1080p is a HDTV resolution.

    It falls somewhere between WSXGA (1680 × 1050) and WUXGA (1920 x 1200). However, in recent years an increasing amount of graphics cards and computer monitors have begun supporting it.

  • tardo #44 3 years ago

    I've not played a Burnout game since on the Gamecube, so I'm a bit interested in this now. But is it correct that there is no splitscreen- you can't race someone else on the same console at the same time? Hmm?

  • kangarootoo #45 3 years ago

    @Razz

    What is a standard PC resolution? I understand that VGA, SVGA XGA et al refer to specific resolutions, but unless time is standing still in PC land other resolutions (such as HD resolutions) can be added to the list, right?

    I mean, is this really going to turn into a PC resolution purist argument. "VGA and SVGA were good enough in my day, so there is no need to change them"?

    Frankly I can't believe I even asked the question.

  • roz123 #46 3 years ago

    This talk about PCs not being made for 1080p is just a joke. The thing about PCs are that everything is customizable if you have the right tools and know how.
    The review dosnt mention it but on the PC you can get ridiculous resolutions using the game stretched across more then 1 monitor or TV. Great for ppl who already have 3 monitors. One looking left, one looking right and one down the middle. I dunno what the top resolution is but its at least 5040x1050 in this mode.
    Edited by 2 at 11/02/09 @ 18:38

  • secombe #47 3 years ago

    Have Criterion ever hinted at a back-to-basics Crash mode reappearing in the Burnout series?

    We STILL end up playing Burnout 2 (Gamecube disc via the Wii) on 'party nights', taking in turns on the various Crash junctions just never gets boring, both from a playing and watching perspective.

    The later versions got too fiddly (aftertouch, blowing up your car etc), I would love a whole new load of Crash junctions.

    We can't be the only ones, right?
    Edited by 1 at 11/02/09 @ 18:59

  • squeakyg #48 3 years ago

    Question: does this new Ultimate box have an extraordinarily long initial load time, like my regular Xbox 360 version with the bikes download? Once those bikes were downloaded, the whole game had much much much worse load times. It would almost be worth starting again with a fresh Ultimate disc, if the load times are back to normal.
    Edited by 1 at 11/02/09 @ 20:39

  • kangarootoo #49 3 years ago

    @secombe

    I really hope they put crash mode back in, and I too that that if they do it is a pure form. The bells and whistles of crash in BO3 were a nice distraction, but they changed the mechanic completely. It became far more about hitting the multipliers than hitting a high number of vehicles. I fondly remember trying plan after plan in BO2 in the pursuit of the (sometime) seemingly impossible gold medals. And when you somehow managed to find another 60,000 points from god knows where, it makes it all the sweeter. BO3 crash mode seemed a lot kind of "consistent" and flat by comparison.

  • Ryze #50 3 years ago

    @Ignatius_Cheese

    'Its been said many times before and shall be said, by certain people, many times again: the restart option is a cop-out and goes against Burnout Paradise's design premise.

    That said, if it makes people happy/less impatient, far be it from me to throw my toys out of the pram over the slow retardation of games.

    Edit - Oh, and if you haven't already, buy this game. It is phenominal! Would recommend using the restart option only on the "one side of map to the other" events, otherwise you just won't memorise the map layout quickly enough.'

    I understand your views - they could have been mine 15 years ago, but these days I don't have the time or patience for having to trek back to the start of a race that I finished second place in, and only due to there being no rotating minimap for me to navigate to the finish line. Even trying to look left results in looking right, which can put me off and lead to a crash.

    I bought this game a month after launch, and gave up on the races within 3 months, as I simply don't have the time considering that so many losses are due to me not having time to learn the map, and hitting a corner due to looking at the static map and trying to get my bearings.

    The restarts don't affect you, as you don't have to use them, but they've made me pay attention to the single player game again.
    I've not even mentioned Burning Routes yet. After my first few annoyances with racing, I didn't even bother to enter a single burning route. For a year since I bought the game. I like 360 controllers, and my TV, and I'd have only destroyed both by trying to beat time trials under the conditions that the (broken) design has forced since launch.

    Again - if you've got the time and the patience in your life - then no problem. I on the other hand have not - and would have ended up abandoning the game, and thinking twice about buying any sequels - just like with San Andreas and Vice City with their broken save systems, which force a reload and a trek across the map to get back to a (trial-and-error) failed mission.

    Unnecessary - my games don't load from a VHS tape, so there's really no need.

  • HolyJebus #51 3 years ago

    I like your style Ryze. I too am old.

  • smelly #52 3 years ago

    The restart option DOES seem to make this easier though.

    Reading some of your comments about the amount of time you lot have put into this.

    I didnt start playing until the latest patch was released on Friday.

    .. i'm 8 hours in.. have just 4 super jumps left to find, 10 bill boards and a handful of gates.

    I'm a Class A driver with just 8 events to win to get to the next level (dunno what it'll be)

    So it seems the game MAY be easier now? Or does it mean i'm better at racing games than you lot? That'd make a change - as im shite at fps games! :-)


  • smelly #53 3 years ago

    +1 on the "Can we please have a crash junction mode without all the extra shit like aftertouch and car blowing up" pleads.

  • asphaltcowboy #54 3 years ago

    Easily my game of 2008 - I'm still playing it! BURNOUTEERS UNITE!

  • squeakyg #55 3 years ago

    Oh man -- I just saw that the update is 800MB! I only have a 20GB hard drive, and I need the last 4 or 5 GB free to install one game at a time. I can't believe some graphics and gameplay tweaks are 800MB! I don't think I can spare the space for this. Dammit, that's reason enough to buy the new disc.

    Question: is a save file for the original disc going to work with the new disc?

  • smelly #56 3 years ago

    yeah i had same problem.. i just deleted everything else :-)

  • Ryze #57 3 years ago

    @squeakyg

    I reckon they've sneakily included all of the cars that they're about to sell to us over the next few months.

    Otherwise, upon release of each car pack, EVERYONE would have to download all of the cars to continue playing. Better to get the content out in one go via a mandatory update, eh?

  • khaz #58 3 years ago

    @ Darren

    The game starts without any traffic as you're a newbie in the city. With each upgrade on your license, traffic in the city goes up a notch. By the time you reach B, you're dodging a LOT of traffic.

  • Darren #59 3 years ago

    @khaz - I know there is more traffic as I played the PS3 version for over 20 hours until I got truly bored of it.

    However, there's still a lot less traffic than, say, Midnight Club: L.A. and that coupled with the odd lack of car drivers and pedestrians makes the game feel empty and lifeless. Even the racing isn't particularly that exciting anymore for me but maybe that's because I've played all the Burnout games up to now and the series no longer appeals to me as much. I found the open world structure actually distracted from the game, it seems to have lost a lot of its arcade feel.

    It seems to me that the focus of this game was multiplayer first, single player last and it shows in the dullness of the offline racing. If you love online gaming then it probably isn't a problem but I've never been and never will be a big fan of multiplayer gaming so I judge games by their single player components only.

  • muscleblade #60 3 years ago

    Personally i enjoyed this game very much. But for me Burnout Revenge on the 360 is the best Burnout without doubth.

  • Darren #61 3 years ago

    Well I think Burnout Revenge on the 360 actually has better graphics than Paradise IMO but then it isn't an open world game so that's probably why. I certainly enjoyed that game far more than Paradise too even though it isn't as good as either Burnout 3: Takedown or Burnout 2 on the Xbox.

  • Ryze #62 3 years ago

    I still play Takedown on my 360. Every now and then I play online with someone who generally kicks my arse.

  • ebony69 #63 3 years ago

    Just started playing after the patch on PS3. About 3 hours in. As a complete newbie to BO and having DL the game (with no instructions), the biggest issue I have is "what do I do?". I like the structure of PGR/Forza/GT, this openworldyness is great I guess but its not entirely clear what I do other than drive to the next set of lights and start another race.

    I suppose that the point?

    PS. an I'm way too old to work out what multiplayer is all about.

    PPS. My point is in general download games need more of a manual to accompany the game.

  • pikemon #64 3 years ago

    The gameplay is pure bliss, except it's hard to learn the map. Can't wait to get my RESTART on.

  • dryden555 #65 3 years ago

    i applaud the restart option! Not the best game in the burnout series though. The engine is a technical marvel but your enjoyment will peter out after 4 hours or so. Sure its an open city but too much of it all looks the same. Sure there are lots of cars but there are 3 major different types of cars and all handle the same within each class, except some go faster. I wanted to like it.

  • asphaltcowboy #66 3 years ago

    Well, I just want to say that my enjoyment still hasn't petered out and my in-game clock reads 150+ hours!

  • darc #67 3 years ago

    Awesome. Just picked up a used (non-Ultimate) copy for $16 last night, and will patch with DLC.

  • vaxilys #68 3 years ago

    i really enjoy this game its wide gameplay and its easy ways to use any mode from single to multyplayer

  • smelly #69 3 years ago

    "Well, I just want to say that my enjoyment still hasn't petered out and my in-game clock reads 150+ hours! "

    Mine reads 10 hours and i've almost completed it?

    Or are you playing online lots?

  • IneptPercy #70 3 years ago

    Just got this on my PC, 1080p with 8x AA looks great, quite liking the gameplay too. Glad I waited for the PC version.