Burnout 2: Point of Impact

"The best racer since Gran Turismo 3!!"

Burnout 2 is an extraordinary, fast and furious, racing games that is arcade at heart. That is something good to hear, judging from the sea of racers who try to be as real as the Gran Turismo series. It features fast racing, the use of nitrous, and bone-jarring crashes that put Burnout 2 on the map. This seems like the recipe for an excellent racing experience that will have you hooked!

Gameplay: 10/10
Wow. It is hard to become bored playing a game with this type of racing formula. Nitrous, fast cars, and crashes that put games like Destruction Derby to shame. Yeah, they are that intense. I was hooked and sitting on the edge of my seat through the entire race trying to dodge the traffic and keep myself from losing the lead. How do you become bored with a game like Burnout 2?

Sound: 8/10
This game has cool sound effects like the sound of the motor running and your car being smashed. It has great effects, but the music wanted me to drive my head through a car window to distract myself from the pain. I personally hate having to listen to heavy metal wannabes playing music that is just plain horrid. Other than the music, the game's sound was pretty solid.

Control: 9/10
The control was pretty solid. It has the arcade feel, which means that it is accessible to everyone. But, there are some parts of the game where there is a turn that you just can't get past. You finding yourself going into a wall while you helplessly watch all your fellow racers burn you. But that is maybe the only flaw with the game's control.

Graphics: 9/10
The effects of the crashes are so cool it is impossible to put in words! I just have one problem though: the environment graphics. They can be so much better, especially with the Playstation 2's graphical power at Burnout 2's side. Some of the stuff just looks flat and plain, but this is the only problem with the graphics. There are no frame rate problems, and that is good to see on the Playstation 2.

Replay Value: 10/10
Burnout 2 will have gamers with a need for speed coming back for more. And who could blame them? It is a unique arcade racer that any human being could play... how could you go wrong with that?

Play Time: 9/10
It is only an arcade racer my friends, so don't expect it to have a zillion racer cups like Gran Turismo 3. But IT IS ONLY AN ARCADE RACER. You can't put a game like Burnout 2 down for something like that, can you?

Challenge: 9/10
Be warned!! Your opponents will not just be left in the dust like other racing games! Each and every racer is constantly on your tale and will not let up! When you do actually win, it is the most refreshing thing imaginable(Well, at least in gaming).

Burnout 2 is worth every penny when you buy it. It has the most insane crashes that cannot be matched even by Grand Theft Auto. The racing is a straight adrenaline rush that will always have you coming back for more impact. Do not let this game pass.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/01/03, Updated 01/01/03