BURNOUT: paradise
Published by: EA
Developed by: Criterion Games
Release Date: 25/01/2008
Format: PS3/XBOX360
If I can only put one word to this title, It would be “WOW!” Burnout games of the past have been all about the takedowns and smashes. This took it to the next level, played as any other open world driving game but this offered sooooo much more. Driving to each start point is a necessary evil with these types of games, but it was too easy to get side-tracked with the mass of side content. Smashing billboards, setting best times down each street to pressing both R3 and L3 and starting ‘SHOWTIME’, your own personal disaster set piece and encouraged to keep going as long as possible to cause maximum destruction.
The gamed wowed from the very moment the main menu was brought up, you were blared with Guns N' Roses' Paradise City and the great music never stopped. The cars were light and nimble, a must have if you’re doing 360 degree barrel rolls and flying through crane suspended concrete pipe sections. Okay, they weren't customisable like other open world racers, but each car had its own personality and had to be found and taken down before being unlocked at the scrapyard.
If over 100 missions, varying from point to point races, stunt runs, rampage and marked man weren't enough the vast online multiplayer was enough to keep you busy just as long. You could just chill and drive exploring what the city had to offer or take on the hundreds of challenges. Some easy, meet up with 7 others inside the football stadium and some not so easy, jump from one car parking lot to the other across a busy street.
Later several expansion parks were added, free of charge. These offered bikes and day and night to make the experience even more complete. A premium service was also launched offering an extra island to play on, party modes, mini cars and cops and robbers. Criterion have gone onto other driving titles, each good in their own right. NFS Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted. But neither have matched the scale of fun and entertainment Paradise provided. This game is BIG and worth every minute you play it. It may be old now but it can certainly compete with later titles in this genre. A must-have for any petrol head and a must-have for any non-petrol heads too.
By Chris Sowry 10/10
Developed by: Criterion Games
Release Date: 25/01/2008
Format: PS3/XBOX360
If I can only put one word to this title, It would be “WOW!” Burnout games of the past have been all about the takedowns and smashes. This took it to the next level, played as any other open world driving game but this offered sooooo much more. Driving to each start point is a necessary evil with these types of games, but it was too easy to get side-tracked with the mass of side content. Smashing billboards, setting best times down each street to pressing both R3 and L3 and starting ‘SHOWTIME’, your own personal disaster set piece and encouraged to keep going as long as possible to cause maximum destruction.
The gamed wowed from the very moment the main menu was brought up, you were blared with Guns N' Roses' Paradise City and the great music never stopped. The cars were light and nimble, a must have if you’re doing 360 degree barrel rolls and flying through crane suspended concrete pipe sections. Okay, they weren't customisable like other open world racers, but each car had its own personality and had to be found and taken down before being unlocked at the scrapyard.
If over 100 missions, varying from point to point races, stunt runs, rampage and marked man weren't enough the vast online multiplayer was enough to keep you busy just as long. You could just chill and drive exploring what the city had to offer or take on the hundreds of challenges. Some easy, meet up with 7 others inside the football stadium and some not so easy, jump from one car parking lot to the other across a busy street.
Later several expansion parks were added, free of charge. These offered bikes and day and night to make the experience even more complete. A premium service was also launched offering an extra island to play on, party modes, mini cars and cops and robbers. Criterion have gone onto other driving titles, each good in their own right. NFS Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted. But neither have matched the scale of fun and entertainment Paradise provided. This game is BIG and worth every minute you play it. It may be old now but it can certainly compete with later titles in this genre. A must-have for any petrol head and a must-have for any non-petrol heads too.
By Chris Sowry 10/10
