Get Burned Out

In racing video games of old, players were pretty much held to the track, racing around in circles and occasionally crashing into guard rails and random castle walls. All that changed when the makers of Burnout Paradise released their new game for the PlayStation 3, toting the "open-world" concept in a racing game.

Open-world concepts are actually nothing new in the world of gaming.  In fact, it seems that just about everything has an open-world these days where players are able to explore just about every nook and cranny of the virtual world.  But it is an idea that hasn't been used very frequently in racing games, particularly in the Burnout series.  But Burnout Paradise proves that open-world works wonders in these games that are more interested in crashing into things than they are in winning any records for best speeds. That means that the city's design in Burnout Paradise provides plenty of opportunities to smash and burn as you see fit, satisfying that desire to see lots of things blow up.

Burnout Paradise is one of those few racing games that is more than just a race.  There are show time events to participate in, billboards to smash up, and new cars to pick out along the side of the road to add to your ever-growing collection.  And of course, there are races that you can take part in, although they let you take your time for the most part. Reviewers caution that Burnout fans might have some difficulty adjusting to the new format, but once they do they are certain to fall in love with it.