Burnout Legends

"Burnout 3 on the PSP...no Stryker, though..."

Tagline Restatement: Burnout 3 on the PSP...no Stryker, though...

Best Features: The gameplay of Burnout 3 in your pocket, classic Burnout cars and tracks from the previous two games

Worst Features: Fails to actually be as captivating as Burnout 3, soundtrack merely a shortened version of Burnout Revenge's

Burnout, up until now, has been a console-only experience. The speed, risk-reward, and crashing has been a privilege that only gamers who stay at home could enjoy. Well, no more! Burnout finally arrives in a take-along version in the form of Burnout Legends, which can be can be described as a portable Burnout 3: Takedown. But does the handheld game live up to its crash-crazed console relative?

Graphics: 7
While I'm not going to compare the game to its console brethren (which have reached "incredible" status since Burnout 3), Burnout Legends still fails to actually impress graphically as a PSP title. The game's graphics only run at approximately 30 fps and sometimes look as if they were programmed for an Flash game. Luckily, its not all bad. The animation is solid and the spark effects are still present. However, as a whole, it feels like the game was scaled back graphically. They aren't bad but I believe the PSP can push out better as well.

Sound/Music: 7
The sound effects here are substantial for a handheld Burnout. The metal-on-metal sound effects that you'd expect from Burnout but aren't as good as if it were on a stereo system. But I won't mark it down for that since we are talking about a handheld game. However, I will mark down the category for its lack of variety in the soundtrack. The music here is lifted directly from Burnout Revenge. What you have here is a shortened soundtrack of songs that all appeared in BR. While they aren't all bad, the fact that EA didn't go out of their way to acquire a new soundtrack for this game is a disappointment and makes them look unusually lazy.

Control: 7
The control in Burnout has always been top-notch and Legends doesn't fool around with what's right. Easy yet mind-blowingly stylish drifting is easily accomplished here as is the quick-reaction controls. However, the PSP's physical shape doesn't lend itself too well to the overall gameplay. EA actually included different control settings in this one (unlike the console Burnout games, which force you to use EA-assigned controls) but you only get 2 presets (the standard Burnout scheme and a PSP-optimized setting). I'd personally like to stick the boost button on the Square button since it seems to be the easiest to reach. I fault Sony more than EA on making this game so unwieldly to control since they didn't include enough meat on both sides of the PSP so you can't get to the buttons at the bottom of the controller.

Gameplay: 8
Once again, solid Burnout gameplay wins the day. Risk-reward is the name of the game, as you charge and boost your way into oncoming traffic, catch big air, and slide around turns to earn boost in your Burnout bar. The Aggression system from Burnout 3: Takedown allows you to attack and check your opponents to make them crash. By doing so, you'll get a full charge of boost and your Burnout bar will double, triple, and finally quadruple in size from its original length. Crash mode takes a vehicle and asks you to smash it into traffic, causing a huge pileup. Like Burnout 3, you'll find crash pickups and the almighty Crashbreaker (the ability to detonate your wrecked car once enough traffic has crashed). New to this installment is old: classic Burnout cars and tracks return in the revamped Burnout World Tour (and you'll also find Burnout 3 vehicles and courses as well). You'll be able to race on tracks like Airport Terminal 1 & 2 and Harbour Town from the previous games. Finally, hook up with another Legends burner with the PSP Wi-LAN capabilities and you can challenge them for an exclusive garage of cars that can only be won in wi-fi multiplay. The downsides are the same as Burnout 3. The lack of options hurts what you can actually modify in the game to make the experience more enjoyable. The Takedown cameras (special slo-mo camera shots that capture the action of taken down rival) can annoy if it happens at a crucial moment. But otherwise, its a good experience.

Replay Value: 7
The World Tour here seems to be as long and involved as Burnout 3's featuring a full menu of Crash and Race events. You progress through the game and unlock a bevy of new rides to drive, just like 3. Problem is its too MUCH like B3. If you've devoted a lot of time to Burnout 3 already, doing it all over again doesn't seem too enjoyable. The classic tracks add some spice but the game still feels too much like Burnout 3. If EA used the ranking structure from Burnout Revenge (and maybe some of its cars and courses), the game may have been more interesting. Add in the fact that 4 cars in every class must be unlocked by playing other Legends players adds a lot of headache in getting 100%. Its still a good game but its longevity seems somewhat shallow.

Overall: 8
Burnout is still Burnout no matter where you put it. This game doesn't miss the boat on any Burnout features but somehow, it still seems to lack the spark of its home counterparts. You may wonder why all my categories except for "Gameplay" have been given 7s, yet I still insist this game is 8-worthy. Burnout Legends still a great game (made even better if you haven't played Burnout 3 too much) but series vets may feel unfulfilled at the end. However, if you need another PSP racer, might as well put this rocket in your pocket.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/18/05