OD_causa45
Saturday, March 21st, 2009, 09:01 AM EDT
http://www.bitbunnys.de/files/review_teaserimage/Burnout_Paradise_Logo_0.jpg
After being a console-only brand since the first part of Burnout, the 6th version, called Paradise finally moves to the PC, though there has been a little delay for PC gamers.
Since I loved the Burnout games on the console, I really wanted to check it out how it runs on the PC, and if the feeling is the same. I didn't really plan to buy it since nobody ever talked about Burnout for PC, I just saw it in the shop and bought it :). (sorry for the german language in the screenshots, I hate games where you can't adjust the language ><)
A, Graphics
B, Sound
C, Story
D, Atmosphere
E, Insert Coin
F, Technical Aspect
G, Conclusion and Rating
_____________________________
A, Graphics:
(I play the game at full graphics, but I turned of motion blur
for better view in screenshots)
The City:
You can compare the style of Paradise City with all these Need for Speed town. Everything is shiny, if you could see people, then you would think this town has the lowest crime rate in the state =). The night does make things darker but still you will feel pretty "comfortable" in Paradise City. Personally I prefer the day because at night you will be missing all these nice Light- and Reflection effects.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/9b35d4bf8e2952da7fbfcc725b8d0b51541f90d2.jpg
Night and...
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/2a6be4d05e2d45537bdbcc4cdffb8fea845fb7f9.jpg
...Day
The town is seperated in several parts, but mainly in Downtown and Moutains though the Mountain area doesn't look pretty good compared to the city.
There are a lot of shortcuts (400) and adwalls (100), all flashing in red and yellow, crying out that you should crash in them, I think that takes the effect of a real city away pretty much. You should always remember that the designers did this lack of realism on purpose as this is an arcade game, an all dark and "dangoures" feeling wouldn't fit to the game and the music.
Cars and Bikes:
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/e9a201f066f5831e08940617ef741e326d93b8ca.jpg
Paintjobs, another nice graphical detail in the game
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/9fdb52cc27c347e5703ee8f419e22ca04cd28ff3.jpg
There are bikes too, and the animations of the driver are flawless!! (Btw you see the ingame advertisement? I don't really find it disturbing as real towns also have commercial signs, why not make commercial for sweet graphic cards? xD)
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/d94bd2277f74d228e66da6937832ed3ac978e8be.jpg
Reminds me of an other town :)
What I find most amazing of the game is the magnificent Damage model in the game. Never seen something like that before in a racing game, wow.
If a game deserves 10 points in puncto graphics, then it is Burnout Paradise, so much better than Need For Speed!!
GRAPHICS: 10/10 (Perfect)
___
B, Sound:
The engines:
The engines sound great but there is one point that is seriously bothering me. I mean these motor sounds with 100 gears that keep up shifting without halt. I hated that in the Terminator movies and I keep hating it here. This was really not necessary. :(
The music:
There are 92 (!) music tracks in the game. Sounds a lot yeah? It is, but 40 of them are real tracks with lyrics. Another 30 of them are tracks from previous burnout games without lyrics (Burnout 1 - Burnout 3) and 20 of them are classical (yes, they are used for camera flies through the city if you haven't moved your car for more than (is it?...) 30 seconds.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/748e355942d2708e6a750ff25ec3364496055b89.jpg
Is there anything else that sounds in the game? Ah yes, the crash sounds are a bit to monoton for my taste, you hear the metal of the car comprimating, but this sound effect sounds to often. Don't know, you will have to decide it that one.
The sounds are solid, but there are some things about it that could lower the experience and athmosphere a bit, nothing serious though.
SOUND: 7/10 (minor cons, nothing serious)
___
C, Story:
Heh, I was looking forward to come to this point. To be honest, there is no story. There just isn't, no story at all ;)
The only thing you could consider as story-elemental thing is your driver license that increases level over time.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/medium/254cb09fa38db74f4cf5108e260a65269119b72a.jpg
I don't really want to give the game a bad rating in this point as it is an arcade game, many arcade games have no story, and I didn't really bother me a lot.
STORY: -/- (won't be rated)
___
D, Atmosphere:
Imagine your cruising with an 60th muscle car through the moutains listening to cool music, see a jump chance and take it, no matter for losses. The next moment you see your shiny car completly broken lying on the road. You are sad.... But hey the car is still able to drive. Happy Again! :D
So or similar will you feel when you play Burnout. It is a good mix between realism and arcade style, in a perfect dosis.
What you could say against that is that you can't see any human being in the whole game. Nowhere. Looks strange if every car is driven by nobody, especially when you can clearly see it for example when the doors are open.
Other then that, you will probably feel better if you play the game =) especially when you play with controller.
ATMOSPHERE: 9/10 (almost perfect)
___
E, Insert Coin:
5 racing and crashing mods doesn't sound like much ey? It ain't. Repetive racing is the case. You could have done so much with the game itself, I can think of thousands of diffrent racing mods. Nothing is there, sad that this got worse compared to the other parts.
Luckily, the PC version of the game features special content, like I said with the motorbikes at the beginning but also the party mod, a collection of mini games like "who can drift longer" or "who can keep his car longer on the road on a small racing track with boost to full". A lot of fun if you play with a friend or maximum 8 friends :).
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/69218cecb0f383c192338290bc4dd0ee8ee51275.jpg
Party mod
INSERT COIN: 5/10 (Partly not given, party mod and bikes good)
___
F, Technical Aspect:
- Personally I have big problems with tearing. I heard from others that have the game that this is not the case at them, so I won't rate this.
- Hey finally a game where you wouldn't notice that it comes from a console considering the errors and bugs some console to pc games have.
- Great to play with Controller!
- Runs great, as you can see in the table below
http://images.gamestar.de/images/idgwpgsgp/bdb/1996735/800x600_prop.jpg
- Nice Job, Criterion, but - as usual - stupid job, EA. You gotta wait 2 minutes for getting into the game, because you gotta log on some server, username password bla bla bla until you are in the game. And what is hilarious!! When you want to exit the game you gotta get to the "under the hood" menu first. How do you come there? Click two times F2!! How do you wanna know that. At the beginning I didn't know that so I had to close the game with the task-manager xD
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/2cb7f5859ee9077c588a02f276f028dfb163e266.jpg
This is what you see when entering the game...- You need permanent internet to play the game. This is something I hate most about today games in general. Half an year ago, I couldn't have played this game at all. 90% of the households have DSL, and whats with the other 10%? Thank you, EA -.-
TECHNICAL ASPECT: 9/10 (Nerving sometimes but other than that flawless)
___
G, Conclusion and Rating:
Graphics: 10 (25%)
Sound: 7 (20%)
Story: [not rated] (0%)
Atmo: 9 (15%)
Insert Coin: 5 (15%)
Tech. Asp.: 9 (25%)
-> 8(.25) Points from 10 Points (tell me please if I miscalculated)
Think it was worth the money (39€), if you like arcade racing games, then this is a must for you :)
PS: You guys should try making reviews, it fun to do it and gives others advice for what games they should buy or not buy :)
After being a console-only brand since the first part of Burnout, the 6th version, called Paradise finally moves to the PC, though there has been a little delay for PC gamers.
Since I loved the Burnout games on the console, I really wanted to check it out how it runs on the PC, and if the feeling is the same. I didn't really plan to buy it since nobody ever talked about Burnout for PC, I just saw it in the shop and bought it :). (sorry for the german language in the screenshots, I hate games where you can't adjust the language ><)
A, Graphics
B, Sound
C, Story
D, Atmosphere
E, Insert Coin
F, Technical Aspect
G, Conclusion and Rating
_____________________________
A, Graphics:
(I play the game at full graphics, but I turned of motion blur
for better view in screenshots)
The City:
You can compare the style of Paradise City with all these Need for Speed town. Everything is shiny, if you could see people, then you would think this town has the lowest crime rate in the state =). The night does make things darker but still you will feel pretty "comfortable" in Paradise City. Personally I prefer the day because at night you will be missing all these nice Light- and Reflection effects.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/9b35d4bf8e2952da7fbfcc725b8d0b51541f90d2.jpg
Night and...
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/2a6be4d05e2d45537bdbcc4cdffb8fea845fb7f9.jpg
...Day
The town is seperated in several parts, but mainly in Downtown and Moutains though the Mountain area doesn't look pretty good compared to the city.
There are a lot of shortcuts (400) and adwalls (100), all flashing in red and yellow, crying out that you should crash in them, I think that takes the effect of a real city away pretty much. You should always remember that the designers did this lack of realism on purpose as this is an arcade game, an all dark and "dangoures" feeling wouldn't fit to the game and the music.
Cars and Bikes:
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/e9a201f066f5831e08940617ef741e326d93b8ca.jpg
Paintjobs, another nice graphical detail in the game
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/9fdb52cc27c347e5703ee8f419e22ca04cd28ff3.jpg
There are bikes too, and the animations of the driver are flawless!! (Btw you see the ingame advertisement? I don't really find it disturbing as real towns also have commercial signs, why not make commercial for sweet graphic cards? xD)
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/d94bd2277f74d228e66da6937832ed3ac978e8be.jpg
Reminds me of an other town :)
What I find most amazing of the game is the magnificent Damage model in the game. Never seen something like that before in a racing game, wow.
If a game deserves 10 points in puncto graphics, then it is Burnout Paradise, so much better than Need For Speed!!
GRAPHICS: 10/10 (Perfect)
___
B, Sound:
The engines:
The engines sound great but there is one point that is seriously bothering me. I mean these motor sounds with 100 gears that keep up shifting without halt. I hated that in the Terminator movies and I keep hating it here. This was really not necessary. :(
The music:
There are 92 (!) music tracks in the game. Sounds a lot yeah? It is, but 40 of them are real tracks with lyrics. Another 30 of them are tracks from previous burnout games without lyrics (Burnout 1 - Burnout 3) and 20 of them are classical (yes, they are used for camera flies through the city if you haven't moved your car for more than (is it?...) 30 seconds.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/748e355942d2708e6a750ff25ec3364496055b89.jpg
Is there anything else that sounds in the game? Ah yes, the crash sounds are a bit to monoton for my taste, you hear the metal of the car comprimating, but this sound effect sounds to often. Don't know, you will have to decide it that one.
The sounds are solid, but there are some things about it that could lower the experience and athmosphere a bit, nothing serious though.
SOUND: 7/10 (minor cons, nothing serious)
___
C, Story:
Heh, I was looking forward to come to this point. To be honest, there is no story. There just isn't, no story at all ;)
The only thing you could consider as story-elemental thing is your driver license that increases level over time.
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/medium/254cb09fa38db74f4cf5108e260a65269119b72a.jpg
I don't really want to give the game a bad rating in this point as it is an arcade game, many arcade games have no story, and I didn't really bother me a lot.
STORY: -/- (won't be rated)
___
D, Atmosphere:
Imagine your cruising with an 60th muscle car through the moutains listening to cool music, see a jump chance and take it, no matter for losses. The next moment you see your shiny car completly broken lying on the road. You are sad.... But hey the car is still able to drive. Happy Again! :D
So or similar will you feel when you play Burnout. It is a good mix between realism and arcade style, in a perfect dosis.
What you could say against that is that you can't see any human being in the whole game. Nowhere. Looks strange if every car is driven by nobody, especially when you can clearly see it for example when the doors are open.
Other then that, you will probably feel better if you play the game =) especially when you play with controller.
ATMOSPHERE: 9/10 (almost perfect)
___
E, Insert Coin:
5 racing and crashing mods doesn't sound like much ey? It ain't. Repetive racing is the case. You could have done so much with the game itself, I can think of thousands of diffrent racing mods. Nothing is there, sad that this got worse compared to the other parts.
Luckily, the PC version of the game features special content, like I said with the motorbikes at the beginning but also the party mod, a collection of mini games like "who can drift longer" or "who can keep his car longer on the road on a small racing track with boost to full". A lot of fun if you play with a friend or maximum 8 friends :).
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/69218cecb0f383c192338290bc4dd0ee8ee51275.jpg
Party mod
INSERT COIN: 5/10 (Partly not given, party mod and bikes good)
___
F, Technical Aspect:
- Personally I have big problems with tearing. I heard from others that have the game that this is not the case at them, so I won't rate this.
- Hey finally a game where you wouldn't notice that it comes from a console considering the errors and bugs some console to pc games have.
- Great to play with Controller!
- Runs great, as you can see in the table below
http://images.gamestar.de/images/idgwpgsgp/bdb/1996735/800x600_prop.jpg
- Nice Job, Criterion, but - as usual - stupid job, EA. You gotta wait 2 minutes for getting into the game, because you gotta log on some server, username password bla bla bla until you are in the game. And what is hilarious!! When you want to exit the game you gotta get to the "under the hood" menu first. How do you come there? Click two times F2!! How do you wanna know that. At the beginning I didn't know that so I had to close the game with the task-manager xD
http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/2cb7f5859ee9077c588a02f276f028dfb163e266.jpg
This is what you see when entering the game...- You need permanent internet to play the game. This is something I hate most about today games in general. Half an year ago, I couldn't have played this game at all. 90% of the households have DSL, and whats with the other 10%? Thank you, EA -.-
TECHNICAL ASPECT: 9/10 (Nerving sometimes but other than that flawless)
___
G, Conclusion and Rating:
Graphics: 10 (25%)
Sound: 7 (20%)
Story: [not rated] (0%)
Atmo: 9 (15%)
Insert Coin: 5 (15%)
Tech. Asp.: 9 (25%)
-> 8(.25) Points from 10 Points (tell me please if I miscalculated)
Think it was worth the money (39€), if you like arcade racing games, then this is a must for you :)
PS: You guys should try making reviews, it fun to do it and gives others advice for what games they should buy or not buy :)