Burnout 3: Takedown
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| Burnout 3: Takedown | |
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| Developer(s) | Criterion Games |
| Publisher(s) | EA Games |
| Engine | RenderWare |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 / 4:3 |
| Native resolution | 480p (EDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox USA September 7, 2004 PAL September 10, 2004 JPN October 14, 2004 360 January 14, 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T CERO: B PEGI: 3+ OFLC: M |
| Media | DVD, Download |
Burnout 3: Takedown is the third game in the Burnout series of video games. Released on September 7, 2004, developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts (the first Burnout game EA published), the game drew critical acclaim and a large fanbase.
A GameCube version was planned but was scrapped during development. The game was delayed for release in 2003 because of its original publisher Acclaim Entertainment going bankrupt. The game was then picked up by Electronic Arts, the game was then further delayed as changes were made to the game. It is also the only game in the series that received a T rating by the ESRB, making it the last game in the series to be released before the E10+ rating debuted on March 2, 2005.
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[edit] Gameplay
There are five play modes, including two race modes and three crash modes. Before play starts, players choose their vehicle based on its speed and weight. In the race modes, the player gains "boost" by driving in the oncoming traffic lanes, narrowly avoiding traffic, drifting around bends, getting air time, and by causing competitors' cars to crash (called a "Takedown"). In "Race" mode, the object is to win the race around the track like a standard racing game, while in the "Road Rage" mode, the player must takedown a set number of computer-controlled opponents.
In the crash mode, the player is not racing opponents on a track. Instead, in each crash attempt, the player races at high speeds towards an intersection and tries to do as much monetary damage to the vehicles there as possible, while collecting cash and multiplier bonuses. The three crash modes are very similar. In some, you drive alone, in others you crash as a team with a combined score, etc., but the goal of doing the most damage remains the same.
In any mode, medals are awarded for achieving certain scores. These medals are used to unlock hidden tracks and vehicles.
Burnout 3 features 173 different events in the offline mode, and 67 cars to unlock, including a City Bus, Truck Cab, Fire Truck, and a Trash Truck for use in the Crash mode. There is also online play where up to six players can compete in a race, and eight players can compete in a Crash event. In online races, there is less aggression than in single player. Racers must focus on good drifts and avoiding traffic, not just takedowns, in order to win. This gives the online mode a different feel from single player. There is a racing variant known as Road Rage where players are divided into two teams. The blue team receives a three second head start and must drive a certain number of miles without being eliminated by being taken down. The red team attempts to takedown the blue team before they reach the finish line.
[edit] Locations
The game is split over three areas: USA, Europe and Far East. The exact locations of the tracks are just as differing as the tracks of previous Burnout series. A new asset to the race track environments are real-world landmarks and vehicles known famously to these locations: In the Downtown race track, Chicago's famous elevated subways can be seen, In the Waterfront race track, the San Diego Convention Center is seen, and in the Riviera race track, the Monte Carlo Casino is viewed briefly. As for the vehicular aspect, small three-wheeled taxis called tuk-tuks, which are found throughout Bangkok, can be seen in the Golden City track. The real names of these locations are never actually shown in the game, however.
The tracks are:
| Location | Track Name | Real-life Equivalent |
| USA | Silver Lake | Rocky Mountain Nat. Park: a crystal-clear and silent lake surrounded by granite cliff faces and neighbored by a sleepy Main Street town. |
| USA | Downtown | Chicago: the tight alleyways and congested avenues of a major city and send your opponents into the elevated train track supports. A circuit built for precision thinking and fast reflexes against heavy traffic. |
| USA | Waterfront | San Diego: a fast-paced track filled with tight coastal turns, busy thoroughfares, and an intriguing tram system through the Gaslamp Quarter. |
| USA | Kings of the Road | A linear race from Downtown, through the highway section of Waterfront, and into Silver Lake. |
| USA | Lakeside Getaway | Silver Lake - Waterfront |
| USA | Mountain Parkway | Silver Lake - Downtown |
| Europe | Alpine | Autobahn: a long, wide highway system past glorious castles, snow-capped peaks and perilously constructed toll booths and gas stations. A long track with a fast glimpse of Europe. |
| Europe | Vineyard | Avignon: traversing the beautiful winding roads of southern France and zoom by the ancient Papal Palace and the surrounding sidewalk cafes of Avignon. |
| Europe | Winter City | Vienna: St. Stephen's Cathedral, the U-Bahn and the Hofburg Imperial Palace line the snow-covered track. |
| Europe | Riviera | Monaco: based on the fast based Monte Carlo circuit and filled with twisting roads and tunnels. |
| Europe | Coastal Dream | Riviera - Vineyards |
| Europe | Continental Run | Vineyards - Autobahn |
| Europe | Alpine Expressway | Winter City - Riviera |
| Europe | Frozen Peak | Winter City - Alpine |
| Far East | Golden City | Bangkok: a fast paced track through ancient and neon-clad marketplaces and modern, sleekly designed monorails and highways. |
| Far East | Dockside | Hong Kong: a track around the steep roads and winding scenic routes just outside of central Hong Kong, passing a busy docking harbor, a vulnerable ferry terminal, and the Lippo Centre towers. |
| Far East | Island Paradise | Ko Samui: a wide, scenic track featuring off-road areas through the jungle and packed coach terminals. |
| Far East | Tropical Drive | Island Paradise - Golden City |
[edit] Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Burnout 3: Takedown featured 44 songs, including "(We Are The) Lazy Generation" by The F-Ups, I'm Not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance, Breathing by Yellowcard, Saccharine Smile by Donots, Always You by Amber Pacific and came complete with commentary from DJ Stryker from alternative radio station KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. Alternatively, Burnout 3 supported user created soundtracks on the Xbox with the usage of the Xbox hard drive.
[edit] Reception
The game was very well received by critics, with an average score of 93% on Metacritic.com. IGN gave it a rating of 9.4/10.
[edit] Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Best Racing Game - Golden Joystick Award Achievement in a Racing Game; Technical Direction - BAFTA Video Game Awards #27 of Top 100 Games of All Time - IGN Game of the Year - 1UP.com Best Racing Game - E3 Game Critics Awards Best Driving Game - Cargo Magazine Game of the Month - Boys Toys Magazine Multiplatform Game of the Year - Electronic Gaming Monthly Editor's Choice: Gold Award - Electronic Gaming Monthly Gold Award (10/10), Hot 100 - Official PS2 Magazine Can't Miss Holiday Games #1 - GamePro Best Game of its Class: Driving; Best Xbox Game - GameSpot Racing Game of the Year: PS2; Top 10 Game of the Year - GameSpy Game of the Month - GameSpy (Sept.) Game of the Month - IGN (Sept.) Best Racing Game - Jive Magazine Best Racing Game - Lawrence.com Editor's Choice - OXM (Oct.) Must Buy Silver Award: Buy or Die - PSM (Nov.) #4 of Top 10 Games - Official PlayStation Magazine Best Driving Game; Most Addictive Game - Spike TV Video Game Awards Top 10 Video Games - Time Magazine Game of the Month - XBN (Oct.) |
| 2005 | Editor's Choice Award: Xbox; Editor's Choice Award: PS2 - GameSpot Console Racing Game of the Year - AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards Best Racing Game - G4 Video Game TV 10 Essential Racers - Official PlayStation Magazine #2 of Top 40 Console Games - Pelaaja Magazine Best Game; Art and Sound; Technology - IGDA Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year; Best Driving Game 2004 - Official PlayStation Magazine Platinum Award - PS2 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Burnout Wiki, an external wiki
- Official Burnout 3: Takedown website
- Burnout 3: Takedown at MobyGames
- Burnout 3: Takedown at Game Rankings
- BurnoutAholics fansite
- Operation Burnout fansite
- Xbox.com Burnout 3: Takedown Game Detail Page
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