Despite the greatness of Burnout 3's no-nonsense arcade crashfest racing, Burnout Revenge one-ups its critically-acclaimed predecessor by introducing a single new mechanic that renders past installments of the series all but obsolete.
That wondrous new addition is the ability to smash your way through races by using smaller vehicles moving in the same direction as yourself like a battering ram to push your way through obstacles, larger vehicles like tankers and delivery vans, and yes; rival cars. This new feature really does revolutionize the game and fits in perfectly with the awesome control scheme from Burnout 3.
As a result, the race events of all stripes are fast-paced and addicting beyond belief. It's pure digital crack that hooks you on your first hit, regardless of your affinity or affection for the racing genre as a whole. The crash events, unfortunately, are even more constricting this time around. Crash events are one-shot events where you guide a single car like a missile at oncoming traffic to cause as much mayhem as possible.
Sadly, what should be a thrilling game of explosive dominos plays more like a puzzle mode, thanks to the higher medals requiring a precise path to reach their target damage levels. Despite this, crash events still serve as fun diversions from the twitch-based racing circuits, but allowing players more leeway in creating their own scenes of carnage would be much appreciated in future installments.
All told, Burnout Revenge is the best game in the series yet. EA's usual slick presentation joins with refined gameplay and a meaty online component to form one of the year's greatest titles. "Revenge is sweet." The old wisdom never held so much truth.
-George
Create an Account
Member Login
