Burnout (video game)
| Burnout | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Criterion |
| Publisher(s) | Acclaim |
| Engine | RenderWare |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 GameCube Xbox |
| Release | PS2 Nov 11, 2001  Nov 16, 2001 Xbox March 4, 2002 May 5, 2002Gamecube April 29, 2002 May 3, 2002 |
| Genre(s) | Arcade style racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Burnout is a series of high-speed racing games for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube game consoles. The game series was developed by Criterion Games and published by Acclaim and later EA Games. This and Burnout 2: Point of Impact drew critical acclaim and a large fanbase in Europe, however it was not until the release of Burnout 3: Takedown that American gamers took to the series.
The Burnout series is well known for its emphasis on aggressive driving and high sense of speed. In-race rewards are given to the player if they take risks such as driving towards incoming traffic or deliberately attempting to make their opponents crash. In Burnout 3: Takedown the latter action, referred to in game as "Takedowns", was showcased extensively and gave perhaps the most extensive rewards when successfully performed.
It was not the racing element of the game but the slow motion replays of crashes that show the cars being deformed realistically that brought Burnout to the attention of the public. Criterion picked up on this and introduced a special "Crash Mode" as part of Burnout 2. In this mode players are instructed to cause as much damage as possible by crashing their vehicle into traffic in a specially designed level featuring "crash junctions", areas where a large amount of vehicles are passing by (such as a highway). It also introduced a Pursuit mode, where you chase other races in special police cars. This mode was discontinued due to it not fitting in with the series, but was in Burnout Legends
The takedown element of Burnout 3 is what differentiates it from other racing games. It is an essential strategy for winning races, especially in single player. There is also a "road rage" mode in which the object is to takedown as many opponents as possible.
Like its sequels, Burnout uses the RenderWare engine. Burnout Paradise was announced on August 29, 2006 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Burnout Dominator was announced on December 5, 2006, only to be released for the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable and will not include the crash mode.
A very predominant Burnout trademark is the series' collection of race tracks. For every one of the series' games, each track is based on a real-world location:
| Area | Track Name | Real-Life equivalent |
| USA | Interstate | Route 66: the open highway welcomes you, but be prepared for a bombardment of big rigs, tractor trailers and buses that may send your car into the gas pumps. |
| USA | Gridlock USA | New York City: heavy traffic and soaring skyscrapers give one's self a big-city feel. Look closely for a spin-off of neon-clad Times Square. |
| Europe | River City | Paris: enter a European city of tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafes and tight alleyways; don't stare too long at the architecture, though! |
| Europe | Harbour Town | Costa del Sol: Sun-bleached cliff faces and one ancient walled city welcome you on this twisting track along the Mediterranean Sea. |
| USA | Hillside Pass | Napa Valley: Rolling pastures and vineyards pass you by on this wild circuit that will occasionally lead you off-roading onto the dirt. |
Each location is connected in the first Burnout installment in what are called "Sprints", so hypothetically one could drive from River City (Paris) and end up in Harbor Town (the Costa del Sol) in a matter of seconds. Each location has a distinct colleciton of traffic vehicles that determine one continent from the next: i.e. American taxi cabs versus European taxi cabs and so forth.
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