Burnout Paradise Comments by Quintin Smith

Physics feel really nice - Arcadey but weighty - I have just spent a full ten minutes tooling around with the handbrake (e-brake, as they insist on calling it)

Haven't even done a race thingy, is quite fun just mucking about. Graphics quite stylised - overall far shinier and seemingly smoother than TDU, for sure. Haven't noticed any framerate drops here, either, but.... will see what happens in races and stuff.

Looking forward to settling in for a couple of hours MP later this evening.

Stuck at work :-(

Come on! the Crash junctions were boring, ok with 4 of you taking turns round the TV there was some fun to be had, but in single player they were just dire!

The only thing I want to hear is that the 'traffic checking' has been scrapped ie you can't drive into cars going in the same direction as you and use them like pinball's. Thats the only thing that spoilt revenge for me!

It's not us crash fans' fault you suck at crash mode. Those of us for whom crash mode was like crack will mourn it. They broke it in 3, fixed it again in Revenge, and now they've just plain removed it. Gutted

Crash will be missed, because even if Showtime is good, it's definitely single player, and not competitive - you can't run through the same challenge with everyone taking a go, which was where Crash shone - it was a drunk mate-accessible mini game worthy of the wii. But the whingers yelling no crash no sale are rather missing the point.

Still think I'll be buying it if as they say, it captures the BO feel with all new shinyness. Download tonight, and we'll see.

Edit: Downloaded, played, picked jaw off of the carpet. Subtle, it ain't. But it's bl**dy impressive and very Burnout3 meets GTA. So long Crash, we'll miss ya at parties (can always download Pain instead), but it's looking like a 9/10. Having to drive back to the start of events is a bit of a pain, but it looks like there'll be so many events to choose from, it'll be more about picking random challenges wherever you are as opposed to slavishly repeating a single event until you crack it. Graphics are great, but the sound is fabulous. Best V8 roar evah!

agreed, some kind of Saints Row style Sat Nav to find a race would be a godsend.

"But the whingers yelling no crash no sale are rather missing the point. "

No, you're missing the point. Where crash really mattered was with the online high scores. It was that "How the feck did he get 30m??" gave it a relentlessly moreish quality. I've put about 200 hours into Burnout Revenge, and 90% of that would be crash mode. I put about the same into Burnout 2.

It is not missing the point to say I won't be buying a game that has removed 90% of what I would play.

I must admit I wasn't that great at crash mode (mostly because i avoided it when possible) And I can understand the appeal with the high scores etc, but for me there really didn't seem to be any skill involved, it's more a case of luck more than anything and knowing which general part of the junction to aim for!

Just seemed pointless, can't belive people are going to avoid this because the crash junctions are missing!?? For me It's the racing (online more so) what makes Burnout so fun to play!

Crash mode = meh!

/Hides under pile of invoicing

It's not going to be as good as Burnout 2, which is all that matters really. But Downloading the demo anyway.

Seen the demo of this in action, and it looks ace. I'm probably going to buy it on the strength of the demo.

1. I loved crash mode. Though it was great.

2. So long as the game is fun, I don't give a rats ass that crash mode is absent, 'cos fun is fun whatever hat it is wearing.

3. Not playing a fun game because "its just not Burnout anymore" is pure madness.

"The only thing I want to hear is that the 'traffic checking' has been scrapped"

It's an option you can switch on and off (mentioned in the criterion podcast).

"First Impressions"? Where are they? "Quotes from the developer" would seem more accurate. Having spent a fair bit of time on the demo this morning, I'll offer up a few:

Overall, it's great: Fast, responsive, smooth, and just the sort of racing game I enjoy: A strong emphasis on fun, with none of that miserable old realism in the way. There are a few annoyances though...

Not being able to instantly restart a race might be "bold", but it's really quite irritating and I can see it being incredibly frustrating in the full game.

Watching slow-motion crashes grows tiresome quickly and makes the game too stop-start.

Given the amount of advertising in the game, I'm surprised they're not giving the game away for free.

The "DJ" is as soulless and as irritating as ever, and I'm just amazed it wasn't taken out after Burnout 3.

"Given the amount of advertising in the game, I'm surprised they're not giving the game away for free. "

Xbox 360 owners will be delighted to know that the adverts will be regularly updated, whereas the PS3 's ones are 'baked in'. I think I'd find the latter less irritating.

@ 3william56:

Showtime is 8 players online, actually.

@ Spielo:

He was taken out of Revenge and Domination.

I don't get it. I've played the demo for over an hour and am struggling to find the gameplay! Where's the compulsive progression structure? The world seems empty!

Time to download demos for 360 and PS3, see which wins out for my cash.

@Prox: I'd imagine that most of the structure comes from all the missions that are "not available in demo".

@bbiaj: Thanks for the info, I haven't played a Burnout game since 3! Why on earth have the re-instated the DJ?

DJ !! :-( :-( :-(

Burnout 2 is still unsurpassed.

"Given the amount of advertising in the game, I'm surprised they're not giving the game away for free."

I don't mind a bit about the adverts, 'cos they all seemed appropriate to the situation. An advert for Smokin' Aces up the side of the Mount of Olives is not appropriate, but a billboard at the side of a road is. Whether they are real products or made up ones on the board makes no difference to my gaming fun. I only get annoyed by stuff that actually annoys me.

"Where's the compulsive progression structure?"

In the full game perhaps?

I'm very disappointed with this. It just doesn't "feel" right. The city feels a very unimaginative and soulless place. It feels a bit like NFS: Most Wanted with some ramps thrown in it.

Personally, I won't be buying this unless I read some really glowing reviews and hear about lots of interesting and cool features that are implemented in the full game.

reminds me of the getaway, which refused to have a HUD or map just for the sake of it... bad decisions...

and no instant restart option? thats going to be really annoying

these things exist for a reason, dont throw them away just for the sake of it

"I must admit I wasn't that great at crash mode (mostly because i avoided it when possible) And I can understand the appeal with the high scores etc, but for me there really didn't seem to be any skill involved, it's more a case of luck more than anything and knowing which general part of the junction to aim for! "

@Anthony_UK

I totally disagree. The crash mode was 80% skill and 20% luck. Multiplayer online crash mode on Revenge is still being played as I type this. It was the only reason I played Revenge for a year. Also, Crash mode in Revenge on 360 has one of the most friendliest communities on Live and you can't cheat either :)

Crash Mode is still my #1 pissed up drinking game.

No crash mode, NO SALE.

Showtime sounds interesting. I’m still looking forward to Paradise, but I’ll really miss Crash mode. I was expecting them to create what I came to think of as accident blackspots in the the city. Junctions where high speed traffic from across the city comes together. The vehicles always just miss each other until a rogue element (the player) is introduced. These accident blackspots aren’t marked on the map, you have to find them. When you do, your GPS warns you to drive safely as you are approaching a notorious accident blackspot. That is your cue to drive like a maniac and cause as much damage as possible within that area. Once found, each blackspot is marked on your map and can be revisited. I thought it would be pretty easy to build crash junctions into the city using this method. It could be fun, in an open environment, you could spend ages, prowling round the blackspot area looking for the best approach. Maybe in the next Burnout...

/promotes igol to Head of Crash Division for project Burnout: Purgatory.

Sounds ace, mate.

I could do with a promotion :-)

Thanks

"Out to get you are a pack of tough black cars that are as insane as they are vicious, and they'll dog you right up to the finish line"

Sounds like that car chase from Condorman. Sold!

@ FenderMaster.

Paradise does have a HUD and a map. o_O

I never really liked crash mode so good riddance! As long as there's plenty of high speed racing, I'm there.

i think after playing thr demo im unsure...fore some reason it feels too different, i know that should be good but as mentioned i feels mor NFS now like its lost its burnout identity... just my opinion

Its proper shit, sad but true

'arjan' speaks the truth!

I admit I'm a crash addict, IMO no crash junction can better the one in PoI where you crash into 2 rows of buses. But Burnout is more than the crashes. It about speed. How fast, how close, how far can you push driving like a maniac? I loved the races with the view from the bonnet, it made your eyes bleed!

Getting rid of crash is proof that Criterion have taken a few 'brave pills', and good on them for doing something new. They could of done another Burnout like revenge but tweaked it here and there - which would've been fine a year or so ago. But we've waited long and hard for a new burnout and I'm glad they've not done the easy get out of tweaking it here and there and have (at least it seems like they have) put a lot of thought and effort into renewing burnout.

If you want crash junctions that bad, play them on Revenge and if you haven't got Revenge anymore get it cheap preowned in game or somewhere!

Now, where's Timesplitters 4?

Hail to the King xD
This Game will be a blast ^^

btw:
Who needs a crash mode ?
I mean it was nice but its always been about racing like a maniac and thats all i have to see in a burnout.

Played the demo last night and got real bored of it real quick. Feels like an empty sandbox with no objectives.

Very very dissapointed. Have loved the burnout series but this just doesnt feel like burnout at all.

igol, that's a great idea, accident blackspots.

The demo sucks. Looks great, but it's a hollow experience.

I'm happy for all you crash haters. You always had the choice to not play them. They weren't really required to progress through the racing.

But now they've been removed, I've lost the choice of being able to play them. If 90% of my gameplay is playing crash mode, why would I buy this game?

I too think the demo is slightly barren, but lets be honest here, it IS only a demo! There's a race, a time trial and the stunt 'race'. Ok there's no 'showtime' which is a pity because we ALL want to give that a go, but it does exactly what a demo should do. It gives you a taste of things to come.

Yes it's annoying you get the 'event unlocked in full game' message at nearly every junction, and yes it doesn't feel as burnout-y as the other games but lets be honest here - whats the point in tweaking burnout revenge to make a sequel when it was so damn good in the first place? Who'd be happy with shelling out £40-50 quid for a few (probably) minor improvements?? Not me for sure.

I'm happy with the demo, it gives a damn good idea of what to expect in the full game, without having as much as what the full game will have. The crash effects are superb and the speed is eye-watering on full boost (especially on the bonnet-camera).

Not too bothered about that annoying DJ tbh (I always made my own burnout soundtrack through the mp3's on my pc), but one gripe I have has ben mentioned somewhere - finish a race and you have to physically drive back to the start to restart it - TDU (if i recall correctly) had a button you could press for instant restart, so I can't see how it couldn't be implemented here (although with every traffic light junction an event there's always going to be something else to try!).

One last thing - from playing the demo I can't see me being too bothered about the stunt challenges. Unless you know where to go for the big stunts its not going to be that good IMO. Although I can see this being the new 'crash' mode in future installments.

Overall, on the strength of this demo, I can see me buying it as soon as it hits the streets.

I can see this getting 8 out of 10...

"Having to drive back to the start of events is a bit of a pain, but it looks like there'll be so many events to choose from..."

Ah, but what about the end-game, when you'll be trying to beat the last remaining, frustrating, hardest race? And then be forced to drive back to the start of the race every time!?!? Criterion guys can't be THAT stup... err, bold, can they?

I got the retail version of this yesterday and spent most of the day playing around with it.

The free roaming element has it's good and bad points. The whole freedom thing where you can do what you want when you want - it's pretty cool and a kind of GTA for cars. The lack of any menus isn't too off putting considering you just drive to the option you want so it's easy to navigate. The visuals and audio are top notch and there's not much in it between the 360 and PS3 versions. The inclusion of Junkyards (to select cars etc), Repair Shops (for repairing your car), Gas Stations (for instant boost) and Paint Shops (to get a new look) are OK and help to anchor down the city into sections.

The bad points are more to do with useability than anything else. The lack of menus means that you cant restart a mission straighaway if you fail - this means driving back to the start which can take a while - you'll end up taking on another challenge to get you back but then it's all too easy to forget where the challenge starts from. This is hugely frustrating - especially if you've only a few missions to left to complete. Although there are something like 10 or 11 repair shiops in the city, you need to find them first for them to appear on the map - fine you say, a bit of a challenge. But when you are speeding along in a mission etc. you don't really want to stop to use the reapir shop etc for it to appear on the map. You will need to take some time out and roam around aimlessly looking for them before you start any challenges.

The city is quite big and there are lots of stuff to do. The various game modes are equally fun and do get a lot harder as you upgrade your Licence. The HUD display is very well done with a mini map on the bottom left and the street you are on up top - the upcoming juction names are also displayed and get more prominant as you approach them. In a challenge these street names can aid in navigating the city as the correct route is highlighted by flashing junction signs.

Online mode is a blast. When you arrive in the city - i.e. go online, you can choose to roam freely and takedown some other gamers, or you can decide to try and gain some of the records i.e. longest drift, most air time etc. This gives the game a competitive edge as you try and outdo the other cars. Co-op mode is brilliant as you team up to complete a challenge. Head to head mode is fun as you are pit against other racers to individually win a challenge or race.

The open-ness of the world and online play allows anyone to create a challenge and then invite others to participate. You can select start/end points, mid-way check points, number of rounds etc. Its all very well done.

However, I must get back to the frustrating single player mode. The biggest drawback is the fact of having to start missions/challenges from a particlar point on the map. This may be exaggerated by the fact that I haven't had time to really memorise the city too much and maybe it won't be too bad afterwards but not being able to restart instantly is going to be a bit of a barrier for some people.

The lack of the traditional Crash mode doesn't really bother me - Paradise is a completely different Burnout game and Showtime is a good enough substitute - it's crazy online by the way.