Burnout 2: Point of Impact

"Start your engines... it's time to Burnout!"

Guildford (UK)-based Criterion with their middleware software, Renderware, have brought the likes of Grand Theft Auto III & Vice City, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 & 4, and Pro Evolution Soccer 2 to PlayStation 2 in a way that was far easier than the developers saw possible when they first began programming on the PS2. However, Criterion isn't just a middleware provider; they have games division and have previously brought us the likes of Trickstyle, Airblade, and most importantly, Burnout. The last one being a high octane racing game, that has been carrying the crown of best arcade racer until now.

Enter Burnout 2: Point of the Impact, the sequel to last year's PS2 release (and this year’s Xbox and GameCube release), which has improved on the original in every way. One of the original's main concerns was the length of the game; the tracks weren’t hugely varied, and there was little to do beside a 4-car race, a one on one race, or multiplayer. But Criterion has listened, and in this sequel they bring us six different locations, based upon areas of the United States, bringing us a total of 32 stages, along with 21 cars, plus customised versions, along with game modes such as Championship, Pursuit, Face Off, and an even better multiplayer mode.

When you begin the game, you first have to complete Driving 101. If you’ve heard of this American-style concept, then you might know that this means you learn the basics of driving – but this is driving Burnout-style, and includes power sliding, driving on the wrong side of the road, closely negotiating traffic, and using the all-important turbo. If you're a Burnout veteran like myself, then you may find this a bit too simple, but newcomers will be pleased to be able to slip into this fast-paced game without too much difficulty. Once you've mastered these skills you unlock the Championship mode. This is the core of the game, and as you progress through this you'll unlock new tracks to use in a single race or multiplayer (the other modes unlocked after Driving 101) or extra game modes. These modes become part of the Championship, and you have to complete them in order to unlock them for use individually. The modes include Pursuit; you're in a police car chasing a criminal and trying to take out his car, Face-Off; race one-on-one to unlock extra cars for use in other modes, and probably best of all, Crash. The Crash mode has a simple concept; drive your car really fast and try and crash it in a way that earns you the highest score, i.e. the biggest insurance bill. It's a concept that's so simple, and represents the fun that shines through Burnout 2. Two player also represents the fun of the game, and as well as being able to carry out single races between you and a mate (and up to 2 AI-controller cars), you can compete against each other in Crash, or play cop and robber in a 'one against the other' pursuit mode.

Another aspect of the game that's had a good tweaking is the graphics. The PS2 version really shines, it looks like something from the Xbox, with smoke, sparks, flying parts, glorious surroundings, and all running at an amazingly fast 60 frames per second (yes, a 60Hz mode is again included). Not forgetting the excellent car damage, of course, which still, oddly enough, disappears when you 'respawn'. Speaking of the crashes, the game's replays are more impressive than ever, they still appear after every crash, but are nowhere near as irritating. It's not only the in-game graphics that have been improved; the game's menu system has been much refined. The dark menus are gone and replaced with a more easy-to-use brighter-looking system, which is part of the game's overall presentation improvements.

Burnout 2's every squeak on every turn and every power slide is presented to great effect. Hear the metal crunch as you crash your vehicle into the barrier, and hear the turbo roar as you build up to a burnout. The music is also right on key; the music booms as you speed along, and is entirely appropriate for the action on screen. The change in tempo of the music, and the changes especially noted when you turbo, add to the gameplay experience.

If there is one compliant about the game, it has to be about the cars. A nice as the range is, they do feel rather generic, and there are no licensed cars to improve this. There is also no real customisation of these cars, only changing the colour is possible. But then this is an arcade game, and although the ability to make the cars your own it is missed, it does not distract too much from the thoroughly enjoyable experience that Burnout 2 offers.

Graphics - Looking amazing for a PS2 arcade racer - 9
Gameplay - Every race is intense, exciting and enjoyable - 10
Lifespan - Plenty of modes and races to keep you going - 9
Audio - Thumping music and excellent sound effects - 9
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OVERALL
From your first race you will be sitting on the edge of your seat demanding more and loving every bit of it
9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/02, Updated 12/02/02