[Homebuilt PC]

After about 4 hrs playing this, I can say I definately like it. (I really didn't need 4 hrs, that's just how long I played it.)

The moment I put the disc in, and G'n'R started to play, I knew this would be a good game. Definately better than the demo.

Although some of my favorite racing types have been dropped, somehow they made up for it. You would think, with it being a 'free-roaming' style game, that it would be slow. Long periods of driving around between races. Not so. It is surprisingly fast paced, I rarely go more than a minute between races. Speaking of races, here's a breakdown of the race modes......

Race: This is your standard point A to point B race. Takedown your opponents to gain boost. No exploding cars, or trying to control your crash to wipeout the others. This is fast-paced, seat of your pants, balls out racing. Nothing to slow the action here.

Road Rage: Speed around town, ducking traffic, and trying to takedown X number of cars before time runs out. Again, no exploding cars or crash cams, it's all action.

Marked Man: This is the new race mode. Your objective is to get from point A to B without getting totalled. You will have several cars chasing you, trying to take you out. After a few failed first attempts, I really got into this. The trick is to use a large, agressive car, and get them before they get you.

Stunt Run: Haven't done this outside of the demo. Race around hitting ramps and doing stunts untill time runs out. Must beat a certain score to win. This really isn't something I'm interested in, but I'll bet it's where all the online action will be.

Burning Route: This one is a little different than the previous game. Each car is designated one burning route course. You can only race that course with that specific car. If you beat it, your car is upgraded.

During a race, you may come across an opponent that revs his engine at you. If you can take him out, AND win the race, he will be driving around town looking for you while you are 'free-roaming'. If you see him driving around, take him down. Once his car is wrecked, you can go pick it up at the junkyard.

While you are driving around, whether it's 'free-roaming' or racing, you will come across junkyards, repair shops, gas stations, and paint shops. Use them during races to repair your car, and re-fill the boost. It's also important to memorize the streets, I've lost many races because I turned on the wrong street.

The music is just incredible. I don't remember the last time I played a game where I just wanted to sit and listen to the music. GTA:Vice City, maybe. So many good bands in here, and a few I've never heard, but now I want to go buy thier albums!

The achievements are, well, achieveable. Big difference from the last game. They are also entertaining. How would you feel when you upgrade your license, and at the bottom of the screen it says: "Achievement Unlocked - Keep Trying"

The goal, of course is to get your rank to Elite status. You advance by winning X number of races. Once you advance, you race history is cleared, and you can race those same events again to rank up.

I haven't tried the online play yet, probably get to it this weekend. Why don't you guys and girls pick it up and we can all try online together?

[GiGi709]

Nice review, Homebuilt. I'm picking this up tomorrow and a lot of my friends already have. I don't think anyone will have problems finding someone to play with.

[FantasyBarb130]

ok now i really don't want to wait for my b-day! shit I told people to buy this for me...Damn I guess I'll just have to play cod4

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

at firsrt i didnt like the demo but i gave it another go and actually got online with it and played about with other people(very much like you do in test drive on the island of hawaii and midtown madness 3)..i started to have a lot of fun online,so i have 20quid on my GAME card and i will take a few titles with me tomorrow and exchange it all for Burnout

there are that many titles coming out soon,and i have no money...bully,lost odyssey,maybe devil may cry(depends how the demo is)...but my main title is GTA 4 april 29th.....its coming that i buy a game,play the hell out of it and then exchange it....mario galaxy hasnt grabbed me like i thought it would so i may exchange that as well

[wnchstr96]

Well by the time I get my 360 back they'll be in the bargin bin. haha

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

i got burnout........

i played it last night and i liked it,but watched American pie while having a beer....i spilt the beer on my controller.....wiped it.....then this morning i got up to play burnout and everything keeps going left...selections keep gfoing left,cars keep going left,in call of duty I keep going left!!...so thats my controller fucked.....got my spare controller of my sister(wired)...and will get into burnout today...but anyway,i like what i have seen up to now

[wnchstr96]

metallicorphan, on Jan 26 2008, 03:47 AM, said:

i got burnout........

i played it last night and i liked it,but watched American pie while having a beer....i spilt the beer on my controller.....wiped it.....then this morning i got up to play burnout and everything keeps going left...selections keep gfoing left,cars keep going left,in call of duty I keep going left!!...so thats my controller fucked.....got my spare controller of my sister(wired)...and will get into burnout today...but anyway,i like what i have seen up to now

Well save that controller for a NASCAR game.

[FantasyBarb130]

I heard you have to sign up with EA and give you your email address to play online. Can anyone verify that? I hope that doesn't become a trend. I think activision did something where they gave you a free map if you signed up with them... but to play online... that would really suck... time to get fake email addresses

[GiGi709]

I didn't have to do this. One of the achievements say to sign into the EA website for details as to what it is. I did this and it just told me what you had to do but you don't have to sign up with them.

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

i signed up a long time ago,perhaps maybe for timesplitters 3..and it still has my details and whatever since then(i went on the burnout page to check the achievements as well)..but i cant say whether those details were needed for burnout

its a fooking joke if they are,who does EA think they are...i dont even know why they they provide servers...burnout 3 which is now available on xbox live to download cant be played online because EA closed the servers ages ago