Burnout Paradise Updated Hands-On
We get a load of Criterion's ripping new installment in the Burnout series, as well as check out offline and online gameplay.
By Ricardo Torres

Criterion was on hand at EA's press event today to show off the latest and greatest version of the upcoming Burnout Paradise for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game made a splashy showing at this year's E3 Media & Business Summit, and our positive impressions of the speedy, gorgeous racer haven't really changed. At today's event, we had a chance to check out the online and offline challenges. Not surprisingly, these challenges involved much fun and crashing.

The big hook to the game are the options open to players as they go online. When hopping online, you'll be able to jump into a challenge match that scales according to how many people are in a game, ranging from two to eight. The challenges are fast, fun cooperative experiences that have you performing stunts, catching a set amount of air, or other quick and easy tasks. Though the game isn't done, Criterion reps on hand said the plan is to have well over 100 challenges for players to try, ensuring a hefty and varied amount of challenge. Besides actively playing with friends, you can send out passive challenges as you play via the "road rules" feature, which gives you different timed challenges to try on every street. As you complete them, your accomplishment is noted and sent out to friends via a ticker that appears at the bottom of the screen as you play.

Besides the gameplay features, Criterion reps also touched on some other enhancements since we saw the game last. The camera support in the game has been tweaked a bit to offer more functionality. Whereas the game would initially use the PlayStation Eye or Xbox Live Vision camera to snap a victory picture when you'd take a player out, the support has been beefed up to include taking a picture of you for your in-game license. As you progress through the game, you'll be able to take new ones to reflect your growing prowess--or ego. Another unique feature discussed that was unique to the PlayStation 3 version of the game is the EZ Drive feature, which lets you hop online with three quick presses of the D pad.

The visuals in both versions of the game were pretty much what you'd expect from a Burnout title: gorgeous, detailed, and fast. The massive open world and destructible cars are a wicked evolution of the Burnout experience, revving up the hefty amount of fun already offered by the game. There really is nothing quite as satisfying as the seeing the graceful and painful crunch of your car making like an accordion when you hit a wall. The same holds true of the shower of debris that kicks up as you have close shaves with walls and other cars or slam head on into them. However, the most impressive aspect of the game's visuals is the blistering sense of speed that feels, at higher levels, like you're just barely in control. That impressive rush is helped by motion blur and other special effects that help sell the insane rates of speed you tear off at in the game. For those looking for any performance differences between the two platforms, it looks as though you'll be hard pressed to find anything glaring. The game pops on both systems and runs very smoothly, with the standard odd hitch that's to be expected in work-in-progress software.

Audio in the game deserves a special call out because it offers a satisfying mix of engine roars and painful crashes. The visceral crunches and screeches coupled with the robust engine revs do a great job of sucking you into the experience, especially during the epic crashes.

Based on this brief taste of Burnout Paradise's offerings, we're anxious to get our hands on a fuller version of the game. Everything we want out of a Burnout game is included, as well as a bunch of smart, fun enhancements to the experience that only add to its appeal. Fans of the series, as well as anyone looking for a tight online experience that supports smack talk and bragging with photos, would do well to keep an eye out for Burnout Paradise. It ships this winter for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Official trailer:

E3 trailer:

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I've owned Burnout 3 and Dominator. Both blew my fucking head away. Knowing EA's reputation for consistently putting out quality games, there is little to no chance that this will disappoint us. I'm keeping a close eye on this one.

The last one was great. I'll definitely be into this.

I didn't play 4 because I downloaded it and didn't have time to play it. 3 is what got me hooked. I can't wait to hear the soundtrack too.

I made my own soundtrack.

These games are brilliant. Do you think it'll make it to PC? I'm too hungover to read the article, sorry.

I love these games. This will be a first day purchase for me.

EA Revs Up Burnout Paradise with Innovation and Style
By Electronic Arts
Press Release -- This Content Was Not Created By GameSpot
Posted Sep 21, 2007 1:30 pm PT

Chertsey, UK - September 21, 2007 – Paradise City awaits. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed the unique feature set that will define Burnout Paradise – the next-generation of Burnout. With true open world freedom, seamless 'EasyDrive' online multiplayer, four unique single-player events, and hundreds of online Freeburn challenges, Burnout Paradise thrusts gamers into an incredibly vivid HD world that pushes the limits of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 videogame system. The white knuckle action explodes as players pull up at any stoplight and spin their wheels to jumpstart the action.

Spectacular bone-crushing crashes and an unparalleled sense of speed will always be a hallmark of Burnout games but Burnout Paradise ups the ante with an all new game design that expands the experience into a deeper, ever more immersive driving dream. Some of the key features that set Burnout Paradise apart include:

True Open World Freedom – The entire city will be available from the outset, giving players the freedom to explore this immersive world known as Paradise City. Experience open world driving Burnout style as the action begins with you, but it doesn't have to end. EasyDrive Online Social Gaming – See your friends online with the EasyDrive Friends List and connect with them instantly without having to wait or exit your game. Burnout Paradise is revolutionizing the way players jump on and offline, making it as simple and quick as possible. Single-player Events – Choose from Race, Marked Man, Road Rage, and Stunt by pulling up to the numerous stoplights in the game to initiate the event. The action isn't forced any longer, as players have the freedom to start and even end a challenge at their leisure.

"This is the true beginning of next generation racing. On PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360, we are delivering a game that brings brilliant graphics into HD at 60 frames per second. Burnout Paradise does something that no other Burnout game has ever done – it gives the player full control on how to play the game," said Alex Ward, Creative Director at EA Criterion Studios. "At Criterion, we have a long history of delivering stand-out software on the PlayStation consoles. The entire team is fired up about the opportunity to carry that heritage into the PLAYSTATION 3 generation."

Burnout Paradise will have you feeling every bump, crash, scrape, and collision using Sony's new DUALSHOCK3 Wireless Controller with rumble feature for the PLAYSTATION 3 . The EasyDrive online Friends List keeps the action flowing on the PLAYSTATION 3, as players get into a challenge with three easy taps of a button. Once the competition heats up, players can grab snapshots as they rip through opponents and collect candid Mugshots of friends and foes alike using the PLAYSTATION Eye. The Xbox 360 version of the game features Mugshots using Xbox LIVE Vision.

Burnout Paradise has not yet been rated by the ESRB and PEGI. Developed by the award-winning team at EA Criterion in Guildford, the game will ship under the EA brand this Winter. For more information about the Burnout franchise, please visit http://burnout.ea.com or the EA press website at http://info.ea.com.

About Electronic Arts Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS, EA, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO. In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.