Drive fast cars or big cars into jammed traffic junctions to
create explosions and mayhem and get rewarded on how much damage you
make – do sound like a wet dream in a twisted mind come true.
First of all I have one confession, I haven't really been into car
games of any type since I played Gran Turisimo on playstation 1. But
I have had some fun with a few like need for speed and such at my
friends – but it don't have a lasting apeal to me – I do
like big exp lotions though so Burnout 3 sounds like something for
me.
With high expectations I unwrapped the cover and inserted the disk
and was instantly stunned by the amazing graphics. The cars handled
well and the surround sounds was great.. Boom! This game looks like a
9/10 verdict that very instant.
Basically there are three types of games inside Burnout 3. You
earn points and medals to unlock stuff like new places to drive and
so on. The three modes are drive against time, drive against
opponents, and third crash stuff up. The crash mode had first appeal
to me so thats what I started with.
At first it was fun smashing my car into stuff and get credits,
but as you progress the game creators have screwed up. First of all
you can control the car after you crash in something called crash
time (think matrix bullet-time) to ram you wreck into more cars or
pick up various bonus icons (this is scew up part two, but I'll get
back to that). Now of course this sounds like a great idea, but
there's just one problem. The camera more often then not spins away
from your car and lives it's own life making it a matter of luck and
guesses where you actually are aiming your car in this modus. Which
make the second screw up even worse.
Though the radio dj in the game keep repeating how it is really
about making the biggest crashes it is not. To progress in the game
you need to pick up stupid icons (seen in platform games like crash
bandicote) if you don't pick up the icons you simply don't get high
enough score to progress even though you made a fantastic crash. The
icons are: x2 and x4 which multiplies your score in addition there's
a broken heart which half's your score. There are also coin icons for
extra credit and an explosion icon for additional blast. And here is
the thing if you pick up an x4 and a broken heart then you think you
get your score x4 and then cut in half? Not! You get no x4 and half
score.
Let me give you an example say you cause 300 000 in crash
damages, but fails to pick up the icons and therefore you don't get
high enough score for a medal. Now make a less cool crash, say just
90 000 in damages, but you manage to pick up the icons including the
x4 congratulation you got the medal. See my point? It's not all that
about crashing then.
This totally ruin the fun of this part of the game which was by my
opinion what was appealing with the game in the first place. This of
course also makes the lifespan of the game shorter, I mean after a
few tries on some of the junctions with perfect crashes but not
enough score due to not beeing able to guess steer your car to the
right icon you get either bored or pissed, but eventually bored.
Far better are the two other modes which are all about driving,
though one with a twist. You drive against time, or you compete, and
yes you get rewarded for smashing your opponents out of the road –
now that's fun. Because the car handles very well – though very
arcade.
All in all this game could have been a 9-/10 – it has
superior graphics, great sound, and logical controls. but the final
verdict after some game playing is that some elements just don't work
especially in the crash section of the game. I also have doubt about
the lifespan of the game so my conclusions is a 7+/10.
