Review: Burnout CRASH!

Burnout Crash is Criterion Games’ latest entry in the franchise. This time around however, the focus is less on racing dangerously and more on the crash mode mini-game that debuted in Burnout 2 back in 2002. A mode that blew the minds of many because it allowed you recreate the dream of multiple car accident in the comfort of your own home. Criterion Games took an alternate approach with crash mode making it colorful and the camera top down. Also, the quickly changing sounds and music are reminiscent of a retro arcade machine. With the lashes and offense this game has taken since its announcement, does this game stand up to the big wall of expectations that the current generation of gamers has set up?

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There are three modes games in Burnout Crash: road trip, rush hour, and pile-up with 18 intersections to crash that span Crash City, each having their own amount entertainment value depending on your: preferences. Road trip is based on the old crash mode most of us have come to enjoy in the past. If you are not familiar with the concept, basically the level has you starting at the end of a street and you have to drive your way up to the intersection and crash into the closest vehicle you can find in order to start the carnage. If you let five cars slip by undamaged, it’s game over and the current score you have will be used. However , if you let an ambulance slip by you are given a reprieve for the previous car you let escape.

Rush Hour, similar to Road Trip starts off the same way. However, you have 90 seconds to cause mayhem during the chaos of a normal work day rush, basically more cars for more destruction. The pizza truck is introduced to this mode, when crashed, it enables a roulette machine that gives you an opportunity to gain power ups or multipliers. Pile Up was my least favorite mode especially in a game with crash in the title. Like the preceding modes you start of down the street and must crash into the first car you can find in order to start raking in crash bonuses. But, this mode has fewer cars compared to Rush Hour and Road Trip which was a bit discouraging since the main objective is to start a pile up and get the highest multiplier and score you can.

Each level is riddled with bonuses to increase your score whether it is a golden car or cop car. New to the series is destructible buildings which give a handsome amount of crash points when fully destroyed. Criterion made it capable enough for newcomers to the series as well as veterans. Which is neither a good or bad thing since the main directive is to leaving nothing standing. Just like previous Burnout titles progression takes time at the beginning. Each intersection has the maximum 15 stars to earn, with each mode having 5. I was often forced to revisit levels to increase my score to gain enough stars to unlock the next car or level. It was a bit frustrating to be unable to seamlessly progress through a game as enjoyable as this one. I like an initial playthrough of any game to be break free which allows me to come back later on and fully complete a level without worry.

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Music and Sounds in Burnout Crash are amusing. I admit I had a giggle here and there anytime the many stereotypical hosts on the radio were either talking about how gnarly the waves were on the ocean or to take down your laundry off the strings outside because a tornado is coming. When an ambulance is driving through you’ll be rocking to Dr.Beat, its theme song and each level finishes with the much-loved Hallelujah hymn which is not only rewarding but can be uplifting…. at times.

Graphics for Burnout Crash are cartoon-ish and disappointing especially when you look back to when the mini-game first started and how impressive it looked for the technology back then. On the other hand menus are sleek and simple to navigate, from level selection to vehicle selection, once you boot up the game you will be on the streets in no time.  It also features an aerial top down style camera which at first was questionable, but once the flow of crashes gets going it gives an advantageous seat to the destruction. I was almost always satisfied to see multiple cars being launched into buildings and oncoming traffic after an ‘after touch’ burst. Burnout Crash may not be the best looking in the series, but more does happen on screen than previous game.

If people are disappointed with how it looks or how it plays compared to previous Burnout crash modes they will have no reason to be impressed, unless you enjoy crashing cars no matter what. However, looking at it from a different point-of-view can reward you with hours of twisted metal and destruction to satisfy the crash junkie in you.  For a game that tries to appease both the casual and hardcore crowd at a price of 10$ (800 :MSPoints:) it’s a bargain.

 

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