The name of the game is to be as reckless as possible. Players start by taking part in single races or championship tours, going against 3 other hotrods for 3 laps to see who is the fastest roadster out there. There is one little hitch: everyday traffic congests the roads. Here's where the fun kicks in, though, as hazardous stunts can be pulled off in exchange for filling the turbo meter. Once the turbo is in full swing, watch as the game goes from fast and furious to downright hair-raising in a heartbeat. If going against traffic, power sliding through rush hour, and cutting off motorists at 100+ miles per hour isn't fast enough, try pulling such feats off while using the Burnout turbo. Pure madness.

Eventually, such insane driving will cause you to wreck - hey, happens to the best of us - which will penalize you with a time deduction, loss in speed, and a draining of your Burnout meter. Yet sometimes you'll find yourself going for crash after crash. Why? Because you are even rated in this category! From every fender-bender to head-on collision, you get an insurance damage tally, a nice replay, and a chance to reach the "Worst Drivers" list. Think of it as a high score for screw-ups.

All of this is brought together in a very clean visual package. Burnout blazes at 60fps without a hint of slowdown, though performance is knocked in half during two-player races. Everything from your own car to regular traffic is modeled nicely, and environments are always crisp, clear, and visible. You'll be hard-pressed to whine about draw distances or pop-up. Visual effects such as real-time reflections and lighting also help push things into the realm of the believable, but small nuances like fake car damage keep you from being in a constant state of awe. It may not rank the same as certain other GameCube titles, but the visual flair and solid presentation really put players into the driver's seat.

You might question what in the world is playing on the radio while taking a ride, because Burnout really lacks in the music department. Only rivaled by the audio stylings of Cruis'n and Smashing Drive, the game's soundtrack embodies muzak in every sense. Corny wah-wah guitars and ambient beats assail your ears, while certain "dramatic" tunes chime in whenever time is running out. It would be much better if you found your favorite CD and turned the game music waaaaay down. The sound effects are top-notch, however, offering a wide range of thuds, crashes, engine sounds, and horns. There's also a nifty whoosh effect that goes on whenever you blast by other cars. It would definitely be worthwhile to tweak the audio so you get all of the nice sound effects, and none of the muzak.

Simply put, Burnout is something every arcade-racing aficionado will appreciate. Unfortunately, it is a bit on the short side, with only a few extras are available after the initial gorging on championships, but overall, it's well worth it. Short but sweet, and leaving you waiting for more, this game will easily take you for the best ride the GameCube has to offer.

· · · Hero