The first Burnout game came out in late 2001. Nobody expected it to do well but it was good enough to warrant many sequels and become one of the most fun racing games out there. Burnout CRASH! is the latest game in the franchise but it unlike its many predecessors. This is because there is no racing in the game as your main focus is on crashing and collecting huge points.
Is Burnout CRASH! similar to the crash modes in previous games? Is there multiplayer in the game? Find out as we take a look at the HOTs and NOTs of Burnout CRASH!.
HOT
Simplistic Gameplay
When it comes to the controls and overall objective of the game, it’s a really simple concept that almost any gamer will understand and enjoy. There are three gameplay modes in all and all you’re required to do is just crash into an intersection, and let the traffic pile up and explode. The only buttons you will have to press if the left stick to direct the vehicle, and the X or A button to explode. The more havoc that you create, the more points that you will receive. There’s no complicated combos or button combinations to remember so it’s a game that will be easy to master and addictive to play.
Varied Gameplay Modes
As aforementioned there are three games modes that are available to play at each intersection in Burnout CRASH! The first of these is the standard “Road Trip” mode. This is the standard mode where you need to get a high score. It’s easier said than done as it’s game over if you let five vehicles escape left unscathed. The second mode is called “Rush Hour”. In this mode you don’t have to worry about any vehicles from escaping as it’s all about you trying to create as much mayhem as you can in 90 seconds. Lastly there’s the “Pile Up” mode where your objective is to keep the fire alive burning as much objects as possible. I found the three game modes to be fun and varied the gameplay. These new crash modes were not seen in previous Burnout games.
Outrageous Animations
Some games aim for realism. Not that this is a bad thing, but the Burnout games always been about fun. You won’t see anything “real” about Burnout CRASH! as the crashes are as chaotic and unrealistic as it gets. If you meet certain criteria, outside forces can come and help you create more destruction therefore increasing your points. Some of the more outrageous features include a missile truck, a meteor shower and even an alien spaceship! It may not be realistic but it sure is fun.
Cool Levels
The locations of the intersections are also varied. Unlike in previous Burnout games, the city isn’t the only place where you can create destruction. You can drive and cause mayhem on the seaside beach. If you’re good enough, a huge tidal wave will blanket the city. My favourite level is the one based in Area 51. You can destroy many military vehicles and the aforementioned alien spaceship can join in on the fun also. As I said before, it may not be realistic but it sure is really fun.
Theme Song
It’s not everyday that you see a song from your past become the main theme song from a new released video game. Since this game is called Burnout CRASH!, The Primitives’ classic song called “Crash” is used as the main theme song. I fell in love with this song when it was featured in the soundtrack for Jim Carrey’s hit movie Dumb & Dumber. Listening to it again in Burnout CRASH! always puts a smile on my face.
NOT
Quite Repetitive
In order to progress to a new level, you must first collect a certain number of stars. To earn stars, you must meet all the criteria that is listed before you start each level. This is easier said than done as getting all the points can be hard – especially when certain vehicles escape from you all the time. It may take some gamers a long time trying out the same levels in order to earn more stars. Repeating the same level three or more times can get a bit repetitive…
Long Load Times
For a game that has simplistic visuals, I was surprised to see that the game has pretty lengthy load times. The load times are not as long as those seen in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, but they are longer than in most other downloadable only games I’ve played recently.
No Multiplayer
It’s sad to see that Burnout CRASH! is only a single player game. A game of this nature should have had some sort of fun offline and online multiplayer modes. Two players together crashing at intersections could have been a very fun sight to see. The only type of competitive gameplay you can do in the game is just compare high scores from other players.
Verdict
Burnout CRASH! is a highly fun and original title. Whereas most games involving cars is just a routine racing game, Burnout CRASH! shows that there is more to cars that you can do outside of racing and that’s crashing them. The gameplay is highly addictive and its learning curve is easy enough for any player to master. Too bad it lacks any sort of multiplayer mode. Nevertheless, it’s a great new addition to the always dependable Burnout franchise.
[Editor’s Note: Burnout CRASH! was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 hardware. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
