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| From: Electronic Arts
Category: Video Games
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $21.78
You Save: $8.21 (27%)
New (25) Used (16) from $21.78
Avg. Customer Rating:  84 reviews
Sales Rank: 779
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Xbox 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 15639
Model: 014633156393
UPC: 014633156393
EAN: 0014633156393
ASIN: B000MUXLOK
Release Date: January 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Fun game July 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I do like the idea of the game, where you can drive where ever you want, and start an event and any red light. But for some reason, I seem to keep driving on the same road and can't find all of the events. It's not like the map is that big, but I like to drive looking at the map, not the road. DJ Atomica is kind of annoying. Overall, it's a fun game for many hours, it just seems like I'm stuck. On races, I can't seem to slow down and make the turn on the correct street, and it seems like I always get separated towards the end of the race and it's too late. That is frustration also.
A nice change of pace July 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am not a fan of racing games. With the exception of silly ones that end with the word "Kart," I stay far, far away from this genre. That said, I AM a fan of huge explosions, causing chain reactions from said explosions and figuring out intricate ways to cause all sorts of virtual mayhem. It's because of this second part that I enjoy the Burnout series.
But Burnout has become a stagnant series, in my opinion, with subsequent sequels simply tweaking the modes and gameplay while relying on slicker graphics to attract gamers. And so it is that we have Burnout Paradise, a game that tries to completely re-invent the series by making it more about an open world.
This completely changes the way the game plays, both for the good and the bad. The freedom to traverse a beautiful city, see the sights and plan your attack is liberating and makes the game feel less like a racing game. This isn't Grand Theft Auto, so don't expect to see cops trailing you for the mayhem you cause. If anything, it's an explosion simulator.
While you're busy driving around the city, you'll come across many events for you to partake of. These events are grouped into five categories, Race, Marked Man, Road Rage, Burning Route and Stunt Run. Race and Marked Man have you racing around the city, with Marked Man having other cars chasing you. Road Rage has you attempting to destroy as many cars as you can withint a set time limit and Burning Route is a time trial, using a certain car. My favorite is the Stunt Run, which tags you with trying to string combos together with various stunts ( boosts, jumps, drifts, reverse driving, near misses, etc.).
The controls feel just right and spot on. A lot of recent driving games have felt loose to me and it was nice to "get behind the wheel" and feel like I actually had control over my car. I've already mentioned the graphics (they're beautiful in case you missed it) and the sound is also meaty, with some nice explosions and a pleasant soundtrack adding to the immersion.
Utilizing varous system-specific peripherals (Xbox Live Vision in this case), you can take a picture for your driver's license and when you take the game online, you'll show your driver's license to whoever you're playing against. It's kind of a cool feature.
Since this game has been out for awhile, you can also partake in some expansions that add a ton of different content and modes to both the online and offline game. So it's nice to see Criterion support the game post release, especially with some of the free updates.
The biggest problem is one inherent in an open-ended game. It's easy to lose focus and pacing when you're not being pulled along a more linear course. I think this change is a good one for Burnout, but, unfortunately, as far as the crashing goes I think the earlier games were better. That said, it's nice to see a company not simply coast through with minor tweaks and actually release a product that dares to be different. It's still the best place to go if you want to cause untold amount of car-related virtual destruction.
Almost Paradise July 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have every Burnout and love them all. Went out and bought this on release day, it's still in the mix of games I play. While single player can get repetitive and seriously aggravating having to go all the way back, it gives you a better chance to know where you need to go or what you need to do. Never did I get mad that I had to go all the way after a last sec crash, you just move to the next event.
The open world is great and it's seriously easy to know the areas once you've played the game enough. Which is you've done ea event at least once AND paid attention to where you are/were. Not every game city has to be a known place.
Showtime is no crash mode but is still very addictive once you get the hang of it. Way more fun than trying to launch at a certain angle or just missing that multiplier and waiting to blow you car up.
I see a lot of complaints on no traffic checking. It's not needed but you can still knock cars into your opponent from the sides. While it was fun, this game is about smoothness and that slowed it down.
Online is the main key to this game. So if you don't have friends, guess this game would suck as would most others these days. It would have been nice to have 2-4p split screen, maybe next time. Easy to get on and very little load or waiting to go from sp to online. Even though almost all the challenges are the same from 2-8p, it's gets better with more people. Unless you have someone that can't do something and you're waiting on them. The Host can create a race instead of using the preplanned ones. Best of all is they have down loadable content(dlc) coming to extend the online life. AND IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FREE!!!
FREE DLC!!!! http://criteriongames.com/ to keep track of what's coming
3 things I'd like to see in the next Burnout is local split screen, tune your car and paint you car.
So Fun My Kids Won't Let Me Play July 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've had Burnout Paradise, for XBOX 360, for some time now, and my children have loved it from day one. Of course all they allowed me to do is watch them play because they are just that excited about playing this game.
Shortly after I received Burnout Paradise I saw one of Wyclef's music videos, and imagine my surprise to see him simulated into the game. It was awesome. The same graphics in the video, is the same graphics in the game.
The more you play the more this you earn to change your car. Burnout Paradise can keep a child out of his parent's hair for a few hours non-stop. I recommend it to parents and children alike. Neither will be disappointed in what they see or play.
A step up in the series, but mistakes were made in areas they shouldn't have been. May 29, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
In the world of gaming, the Driving/Racing Genre seems to have always had a hard time trying to take the pole position in the video game market. When a game called Burnout was released back in 2001, it seemed to follow the same route as most Driving/Racing games that came before it. However, it was the slow motion replay's of each crash which realistically deformed the cars was what brought the game to the attention of the public.
From then on Criterion's Burnout game series would continue on with new features being implemented in each game (along with a different set of cars) from the Crash Gameplay in Burnout 2: Point of Impact (Developer's Cut) to the Takedown/Road Rage in Burnout 3 Takedown and Burnout Revenge.
Burnout Paradise is the newest addition to the burnout family of games, but does it stand out on it's own, or does it fail to burn some rubber on the pavement?
Story
The story of Paradise pretty much straight forward and to the point. The narrator (aka DJ Atomika) helps you as you explore every nook and cranny of Paradise City as well as offer you some advice, but after a while he becomes pretty annoying. Thankfully though as you progress through the game, the narrator plays a less important role.
7.5/10
Design
Unlike its predecessors, Paradise uses the Sandbox design for Never-ending Gameplay which makes Paradise perfect for online gaming. This works great for those of us who have grown tired of the menu screens. As well as using the Sandbox, users can also choose any offline event at any time by going to any of the 120 traffic light intersections and taping the brake and accelerator simultaneously. This feature does away the load screen that fans have dreaded in previous Burnout games.
Although some of the events are ones that are trademarks of the series, Paradise adds 2 new events to the fray which make the game even more challenging to the player. I also like the fact that they did away with the Bronze/Silver/Gold method and replaced it with the License Upgrade system which you have to win every event in first place in order to upgrade your license. What's also nice is the way you get each of the 80 cars by not only winning events in order to "shut them down" in sandbox mode, but also by winning the burning routes which allow you to win a more beefed up version of your car in the event you win each burning route.
Also new is the Road Rules feature which in offline mode, the player can "Rule" each road in Paradise City via by time, or by Showtime.
Showtime is the newly remodeled version of Crash that you can start at any time by clicking the Right and Left Tab buttons simultaneously on your controller. Showtime seems more of a step backward than more of a step forward for the Burnout Series. The whole process of showtime seems more of comical than the entertaining that Crash Mode originally brought us. Shame on you Criterion!! You should know better than to try to fix something that wasn't broken in the first place.
9.5/10
Gameplay
The Gameplay of Paradise is by far excellent. The controls of the game make it very easy for any player (whether a first time novice or a hardcore veteran) to use. Of course this game was made for online multiplayer, with online challenges and "mugshots" (you must have the XBL Vision to use this feature) for each online takedown. That, along with the all the smashes and billboards as well as the 50 offline/online achievements, you can be playing this game with your friends over and over again and never get bored.
10/10
Graphics & Sound
Paradise has some of the best damage graphics than any other Driving/Racing game that's currently out on the market (even better than Gran Turismo Prologue . . .). The way the game slowly shows your car being crumpled in a head on collision with another car or a solid object makes each crash more entertaining to watch.
As for sound, along with tires screeching, horns blowing etc. Each car has it's own unique engine sound. From the roar of the American looking muscle cars, to the high-pitched reeving of a formula one racer. Of course what game isn't complete without a soundtrack. Ever since Takedown, the Burnout series has incorporated an excellent soundtrack with each new game incorporating bands like Yellowcard, Jimmy Eat World, etc. Paradise is no exception with not only incorporating the Original soundtracks from the first two Burnout games, but also adding artists Seether, Airbourne, Guns N' Roses (as soon as I heard Paradise was announced, their song Paradise City came immediately to my mind), and many more. The only Gripe I have about the soundtrack is this:
WHY IN THE HELL DID THEY FRICKIN PUT AVRIL LAVIGNE'S SONG GIRLFRIEND ON THE SOUNDTRACK???
Thankfully I can have that stupid song taken off the playlist thanks to the EA Trax system. Well played EA/Criterion . . . well played.
9.75/10
Overall
Burnout Paradise is without a doubt the best Driving/Racing game this series has to offer so far despite the loss of Crash Mode. With XBL updates and more DLC in the works (which also includes new locations within Paradise City and new cars ), Burnout Paradise will truly make it's mark in the Burnout Series. Criterion sure knows how to make a Driving/Racing game.
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