Burnout 3 Preview

By Kristan Reed Published 26 February, 2004

Kristan returns! As does Burnout, with volume three summed up like this: Bigger better faster more.

Playing Burnout 2 was enough to shake the jaded cynic out of even the most poker faced old hack. After the promising, but ultimately disappointing original no-one expected this quick-fire sequel to be anything more than that - but it was, and still is, one of the best arcade racing games ever. Needless to say, we're more than a little interested to see how Criterion can top it with the third in the series - imaginatively titled Burnout 3. Our face wobbles just thinking about the G-force in prospect.

Obligingly, EA has given the World Exclusive to Official PlayStation 2 Magazine here in the UK, which considers the game important enough to devote its front cover to the game as well as running a screenshot laden four-page feature on it - although most of these shots have been released already.

Predictably Criterion hasn't gone overboard with additions and changes - expect more cars, better graphics, you know, the usual - but has added enough tweaks to make this much more than the generic sequel it could so easily have been.

Online? Yes and no.

1

But as you may have heard already, there's good news and bad news. The good news is the enticing prospect of six-player online play - the bad news is that only PS2 owners get to indulge in this potentially fantastic mode, with Criterion bafflingly ignoring the immensely rich promise of Xbox Live (possibly a legacy of EA's stalemate with Microsoft over online). Although this is certainly a result for Sony in its attempt to tempt more of its users online, it's a massive blow for Xbox fans (and Cube fans aren't getting the game at all at this stage). On a happier note, the various gameplay modes will apparently be supported online, however, and OPSM2 reports that the frame rate and detail levels are unaffected by lag. We'll see how this claim stacks up in reality at E3, when the game's likely to be given its public debut.

One of the most surprising elements of Burnout 2 was the astonishingly fast and detailed graphics engine that made it hard to believe the game was running on a supposedly humble PS2. The fact that most developers have yet to come near to matching its technical feats says it all - yet Criterion have apparently squeezed even more power out of the Sony hardware, giving Burnout 3 the power to shift even more detailed environments at the same face-melting speed, as well as devote more detail to the cars, up the damage model and even squeeze in two extra cars into each race, meaning that you'll now be racing against five other cars - even when online.

Although it was fairly spectacular before, the damage is set to be even more insane this time; as well as improved sparks, glass shattering and the like, OPSM2 report that chassis twist, bonnets flap and crumple, doors swing open and that the whole spectacle is even more wince-making.

Crash and burn

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The on screen carnage will also be made even more chaotic with Criterion adding all manner of objects to crash into, such as boxes, baskets and market stalls - some of which may obscure a shortcut route. Let's hope they add a few hapless pedestrians to that list, eh?

The vehicle count has increased exponentially too, with more than fifty non-licensed cars to smash up this time around. The previous Burnout featured a mere 14 base models, with a further seven tuned-up models, so unlocking more than double the cars ought to extend the game's longevity far beyond B2's rather lightweight experience. Veterans of the franchise will also be delighted to learn that Criterion has stripped out all the slow 'normal' cars present in the early stages of B2, with tuned-up cars present right from the start. Later in B3, the cars featured in the ultimate Super Sports category are apparently race-tuned - at speeds that will no doubt require insane reactions to handle properly.

Rather than stick to US environs, this time Criterion has returned to a more globe trotting approach, with European and Far Eastern cities making an appearance in addition to the States. As before, they will be an approximation of real life, with B3's Golden City tracks apparently a ringer for Bangkok.

To crash or not to crash

3

The all-important Boost function has received a further tweak in B3. Most importantly, any boost earned can be utilised at any time, but any thoughts that this might make the game easier should be tempered when you realise that the game now actually encourages players to crash into their opponents. Not only do you earn boost from crashing into your opponent, but it's actually graded in terms of how much you earn. For example, a Bumper Punch, Psyche Out and Sideswipe Slam might earn you a little extra boost, but the Takedown is the where the game really rewards the player, with instant full boost for a successful manoeuvre.

According to OPSM2, each track has three or four 'signature' Takedowns where you can ram, or be rammed into a deliberately dangerous part of the course. However, the AI racers will also do the same to you, so the game stands to be much more of a Destruction Derby-style affair than previous race-oriented Burnouts. This time, also, each AI racer has their own car, so there ought to be more room for personality within the game rather than the feeling that you're racing up against faceless CPU drones.

Much like Stuntman, B3 will also feature Air Rams in its Crash mode, which enables the player to initiate a spectacular roll as they see fit, no doubt a recipe for extensive carnage on a scale that would make B2 look positively lame by comparison. Criterion is also promising 'large vehicles' and more junctions this time around - and with 30 in the Xbox and Cube versions of B2, that adds up to a lot of crashing.

Points means prizes

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Another interesting addition is the use of points milestones in order to unlock new cars, modes and so on, which ought to up the replay value considerably. B2 suffered in the respect that it was relatively easy to unlock everything, and after that you were largely playing to better a high score.

For reasons still not fully explained, (although pound signs are a fair bet) the mighty Electronic Arts won the race to sign the title, which ought to catapult the franchise's commercial success beyond the relatively cult status it has enjoyed so far - who'd have thought the inferior Need For Speed: Underground would have sold so well, but it seems that EA has the commercial Midas touch these days, and who can blame Criterion for following the money?

EA has scheduled the game for a September release on PS2 and Xbox, and we expect to have a full hands-on report for you during our E3 adventures.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 8 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Wobbler #1 8 years ago

    Oooooooooh, I can hardly wait!!!!

  • DDevil #2 8 years ago

    I do like Burnout 2... I hope they don't ruin this one...

  • Dizzy #3 8 years ago

    This one is easy for me. No Live no buy! Next!

  • kalel #4 8 years ago

    Personally I'm a bit worried about them adding in rewards for crashing. this seems to be a bit of major change to th ethos of the game.

  • Blerk #5 8 years ago

    Why would you ever refuse to buy a good game just because it didn't have Live options, Dizzy? o_O

  • Dizzy #6 8 years ago

    Out of principle

    I am like a vegetarian gamer... I only eat from companies that please me. There are plenty of good games to keep me busy... if you don't make me happy I do not buy your game.
    Edited by Dizzy at 26/02/04 @ 11:15

  • Sko #7 8 years ago

    "...as well as improved sparks..."

    Oh, that's it, I'm so totally there!

  • IronGiant #8 8 years ago

    At least that means Dizzy won't be buying Bond EON !! and that's gotta be a good thing :)

  • smirny #9 8 years ago

    i'm really looking forward to this one... but lack of xbox live is more than a little annoying... come on EA pull you head out of your ass for gods sake!

  • eviltobz  #10 8 years ago

    sounds spanktastic. first driving game i've been really looking forwards to in... erm... ever.

  • tiddles #11 8 years ago

    This game will rock.

    Not bothered about Live....

  • BLACKSHEEP #12 8 years ago

    This is the game that'll get my mates online with their PS2's so i'm happy!

  • ops2 #13 8 years ago

    Hey Kristan, I had to check to see if the shirt was still on my back.

    TC

  • Tiger_Walts #14 8 years ago

    There is an outside chance that Criterion will include sys-link and thus online gaming via tunneling software.

  • Dizzy #15 8 years ago

    >it's the control freak nature of M$ to blame over EA games not being available to play on XBL.

    Hahaha! Get a clue.

  • brutal #16 8 years ago

    sorry but thats completely wrong imho

    well, at least for this generation. EA are supporting Sony online out of their own pocket, and for now (at least) they are not charging for it.

    So what have they got to lose by adding functonality now? Nothing. Whilst both service are free (xbox subscriptions aside) they should support both. If in the future they dont want to do it because they're money grabbing bastards then fine.

    But for now, all they are doing is hurting themselves and making people hate them. It's their own fault.

  • chacha #17 8 years ago

    it may well be a business to EA but it us poor gamers that will suffer if EA get there way
    the fact that EA want to close game services once a new iteration of a game is out is just damn right out of order........ i for one fully support microsofts stance on this as with the MS model it us gamers who will benefit unlike EA's model

    the reason sony do nothing is because the online service is pants to put it mildly, i have both live and sony online but i dont remeber the last time i went online with sony, not only is it a cumbersome system to use it seems to very poorly implemented............. frustarating and thats me being kind

  • brutal #18 8 years ago



    repeating post.. damn
    Edited by brutal at 26/02/04 @ 14:27

  • Dizzy #19 8 years ago

    >Ea want control over content and the ability to close services when they release new versions

    So.. the clue is that it's the control freak nature of EA that is to blame for games not being able to be played on Live.

    Don't you hate it when people make incredibly deep remarks without arguing why ;) Anyway... your second post would not have triggered my remark.
    Edited by Dizzy at 26/02/04 @ 14:30

  • smccafferty #20 8 years ago

    Woo Hoo .....!

  • brutal #21 8 years ago

    but they are getting the consumer to pay Ł35 for the use of your wife in the first place....

    MS have spent and are continuing to spend an absolute fortune on Live. Why should they support EA as well? they're big enough to look after themselves. They should see this as a new opportunity. But thats now what EA are all about. Its all about teh money. Make it at whatever cost. Whoever it hurts. Whoever they have to buy.

    I seriously doubt that MS will make any profit out of live. Certaintly not in this generation. Maybe in teh next.

    But for now, why cant they all just be friends?

  • BravoGolf #22 8 years ago

    Crap, I need to get my doorstop of a PS2 back to play this....

    :)

  • groovychainsaw #23 8 years ago

    As long as I can get drunk and play the crash mode with a gang of friends, im happy.... just get the damn game released, ea!!

  • Kengro #24 8 years ago

    F... Bastards Now i'm really sttarting to hate ea. So i'm dropping this game, and the rest of ea games. Whos to blame i give a darn in. I'm NOT getting a pissstation 2 no matter

  • Dizzy #25 8 years ago

    >pay per download premium content

    Goes to the makers of the game (only MS has used premium content I admit but...)

    You know.. using a $ in the name of MS doesn't give your remarks much credibility. Try /. for more support.

  • valli #26 8 years ago

    How about €A then?

    Both MS and EA behave like children. And MS are fools for letting Criterion slip to EA. This game will sell twice as much as NFS:U and be 1000 times better. Is that even possible?

  • funk #27 8 years ago

    make a pc version please

  • bungalooBunny #28 8 years ago

    MS are the one's providing and hence taking all the costs of XBox Live, EA isn't spending a penny and wants to make money out it? That's ridiculous. EA makes online games for the PC and only makes money on sales - why should it be different with consoles?

    For all you naive out there it's all about being able to force users to play the latest rehash of FIFA or whatever - They only change the player's names nowadays so most people would be happy to stick with the previous installment.


    I agree with whoever said that MS are too slow and should have taken Burnout series to themselves before EA - they seem to be wanting to reinvent the games making process and are losing a lot with that.

  • prettyboytim #29 8 years ago

    Man, that sucks Satan's fat cock.
    It blows donkey balls.

    That's got me right miffed.

  • mal #30 8 years ago

    Noone's playing online anyway - at least in the UK, with our broadband prices. Who cares about Live?

    Personally I found B2 to be too unfocussed in the main race (should I race? should I crash? oh, I don't care) and too random in crash mode. Sounds like this may be a little more concentrated on using the crashes for more than eye candy.

    As always, we shall see.

  • bungalooBunny #31 8 years ago

    While I was still living in the UK there were plenty of servers for PGR2, MotoGP, Midtown Madness 3, etc. Lots of people were from the UK.

    As to MS making money with EA's intellectual property that will ALWAYS happen as long as EA publishes games for the XBox, since the platform licencers get around 4 quid for each copy sold.

    If EA wasn't so stupidly greedy they'd make their games XBL compatible simply because they would make more money OUT OF INCREASED SALES!!

    Look at Ubisoft - PoP and BG&E went mucher higher in the sales charts after getting released for Cube & XBox, ie, Greedyness does not equal intelligence.

  • inpHilltr8r #32 8 years ago

    Did EA halp pay for R+D of the xbox/ps2/gc?
    Did it provide funds for setting up XBL?

    Yes. That's what the licensing fees are for.

  • beep #33 8 years ago

    I'm NOT getting a pissstation 2 no matter

    I thought the proper juvenile substitute term for 'Playstation 2' was 'Gaystation 2'. Also: Xbox = Suxbox, Gamecube = Lamecube, etc, etc.

  • dynarama #34 8 years ago

    \o/ More rubber-band AI \o/

  • inpHilltr8r #35 8 years ago

    think how many XBox owners aren't going to buy Burnout3 (myself included) because it's not online.

    Somewhere between 1 and the Live installed base. I'm guessing it's much closer to the 1 end of the scale...

  • duffster #36 8 years ago

    No cube version planned - not surprised, but I am gutted...

  • onezeonx #37 8 years ago

    hi guys !!!! n e way. i work in a game store and i have been told by an E A rep that one of the main reasons for not doing xb live as of yet is that when they relase a game they want the power to close ALL of the severs when the NEW updated version comes out. there by making everyone by the new game as well !!!!!!!!!!!!! nice one ea. so far u suck

  • IronGiant #38 8 years ago

    Yeah just look how damaging Need4Speed Underground not being LIVE enabled was to it's sales.. don't buy Burnout3 then and miss out on a potentially awesome game. Your loss not EA's.

  • William #39 8 years ago

    "So what makes EA speshul enough to..."

    EA is the best selling Xbox publisher, with probably 5 out of 2003's top 10 best selling Xbox games. Almost every MS published Xbox title with an EA equivalent is outsold by that EA equivalent (NFL / NHL / NBA / street racing).
    Consoles without EA support typically are doomed (remember Dreamcast).

    Is that special enough?