Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360 Demo)

Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360 Demo)

Navneet Prakash, Dec 15, 2007 1820 hrs IST

Impressions of the upcoming Burnout game which has a simple philosophy -- Wreck thy Opponent!

Expert Review

The Burnout series consists of simple games; so simple that your dumb couch-potato neighbor can play them. These games don't have tall claims; instead, they have a simple ideology -- get a car, trash an opponent, and create havoc that'll put a hurricane to shame. The latest entry in the series, ironically called "Paradise", is a game that makes destruction derbies look like a mellow get-together.

There's still some time before the actual game releases, but you can play the demo if you have an Xbox 360 or a PS3. I played the demo and let me tell you, Burnout just got better.

Paradise City

The game is based in Paradise City, a city like any other. Busy with loads of traffic, billboards, construction, and a quiet beach. What's odd about this city is the number of ramps and elevated positions that can lead to many uncomfortable incidents, but then, Burnout is all about destruction.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a sadist game, it's a game that'll provide you with ample amount of opportunities to jump off a ramp, crash into a billboard, and perform stunts and reward you for that.

You start the game in a simple and slow car called the Hunter Cavalry; it's a very sturdy car and takes a lot of beating. The car is in a very bad shape when delivered to you and you've got to get it fixed. Getting it fixed is as simple as driving straight, literally. On the map you can see an auto-repair center, all that you have to do is drive straight through it and your car is instantly repaired. This simplicity of design will never slow down the game. You can refill your boost and apply paint to your car in a similar fashion, in their respective canters. This idea will be particularly helpful while racing in an event; any damage to the car during the race can be repaired without actually slowing you down. The same goes for boost; you can replenish your nitro instantly.