Burnout 3

[MVS]

Who, pray tell dear Dr. Brainiac, made the thread?

I'm having some problems with the servers, actually, just now I was in a game, the game started and it booted me out to the lobby. I don't know who's bright idea it was to have the game log into the EA Servers after every single game, but that man has an assbeating coming his way.

I'm at about 37 of 173 done. That gives me all the cars in Compact and Muscle and a few from Coupe and Super, though, there really isn't much difference between any of the cars in any one class.

I got the Fast and Furious Piss Green Mobile and "The B Team Van" last night. And, no, sadly there is not a spoiler nor a stripe on that van.

[Mzo]

Who, pray tell dear Dr. Brainiac, made the thread?

I'm going to shut up now.

I'll be in the corner, if you need me.

[BioMechanic]

Counterpoint time! I figure since this game is getting praise left and right, it's only fair to point out some problems.

Personally, I think the IGN and Gamespot grades are insanely high. I don't think Burnout 3 is better than Hot Pursuit 2, Colin McRae, PGR, Burnout 2, or Burnout 1. 40% done and I give it around a 7.5 so far.

I should point out that I am a Burnout 2 whore. Even with its obvious flaws, I think that game's the best arcade racer I've played.

Burnout 3 problems (all offline):

1) Is it just me, or does this game look worse than Burnout 2? It moves faster, and the crashes are more spectacular, but it doesn't seem nearly as sharply detailed. I have trouble seeing where the upcoming turns are, and far too often I've crashed into civilian traffic because I couldn't distinguish it from the background. It seems much more grainy - and it's not my TV, or my eyes.

2) The constant motion blur looks really bad.

3) Why bother having high scores for oncoming and drifts when there's no way to tell during the race how you're doing? Forget the damn stars - bring back the on-the-fly counters.

4) The tracks are too narrow, and have too many blind turns. I do not suck, and too many times I've encountered unavoidable crashes. The course designs also do not seem as carefully planned as before, and don't have the same individual identities.

5) Within each class, all cars drive basically the same. What happened to the different handling ratios? The weight rating doesn't seem to make the slightest difference.

6) The boost is no longer special. You don't get that extra sensation of speed, fading out of ambient noise, and kicking up of the music. You no longer get the satisfaction of driving well enough to earn it because it's always available.

7) Road Rage and Signature Takedowns are more about luck than skill. Burning Lap is an exercise in trial and error. Both of these are largely due to the how the tracks are designed. You've got next to zero room, time, or warning to dodge traffic.

8) Crash Mode is now about finding the 4X multiplier instead of about finding the best place to make the wreck. And what happened to the faux helicopter fly-by and on-the-fly scoring? It's just sloppily done.

9) No race replays is absolutely criminal.

10) This game needs an on-screen PGR-style map. Badly. It also needs checkpoints. Badly.

11) Complete removal of risk-based score performance. No combos whatsoever. No boost linking. This kills long-term replay.

12) There's way too much shit on the screen. in terms of messaging. I don't really need to see "TAKE HIM OUT!" or "YOU ARE ONE SECOND AHEAD!" or "BOOST SHUNT!" right in the middle of the damn roadway.

13) The GPS map is poorly designed. It's hard to read, and hard to tell where you stand on which events.

Burnout 3 is without a doubt a staggering technical achievement, and I'm sure it's great online. These above are all minor annoyances, but they do add up. Thank God Criterion at least included the option to turn off the Takedown camera. I'm sure I'll end up unlocking everything, but after that, it's back to building Burnout 2 combos and Burnout 1's Survival Mode.

It's good indeed, but for me, disappointing.

[Diff-chan]

Personally, I think the IGN and Gamespot grades are insanely high. I don't think Burnout 3 is better than Hot Pursuit 2, Colin McRae, PGR, Burnout 2, or Burnout 1. 40% done and I give it around a 7.5 so far.

There's 11 reviews on GR and it has an average score of 94.5% (for PS2, on Xbox its 94.2%). Everyone is talking possible GOTY right now. I think youre in the minority here.

[Brand X]

"Is it just me, or does this game look worse than Burnout 2? It moves faster, and the crashes are more spectacular, but it doesn't seem nearly as sharply detailed. I have trouble seeing where the upcoming turns are, and far too often I've crashed into civilian traffic because I couldn't distinguish it from the background. It seems much more grainy - and it's not my TV, or my eyes."

Have you seen an eye doctor lately? You may be legally blind.


"Personally, I think the IGN and Gamespot grades are insanely high. I don't think Burnout 3 is better than Hot Pursuit 2, Colin McRae, PGR, Burnout 2, or Burnout 1."

I personally think you are bashing the game since everyone is giving it high scores. Comparing ANY Burnout game to Colin McRae and PGR is absolutly rediculous, they are completely different games. PGR having more in common with Burnout that Colin Mcrae does. What is in common? Cars and coming in first place, that's it. I love apples, but oranges are delicious, I mean seriously here!

As for Burnout 1 and 2, quit holding onto the past, I also was a Burnout 2 whore, but not for one second can I convince myself that Burnout 2 is even in the same league as 3, it is just that much of a better game. I don't know what you're smoking, but hand that shit over here!

[Chux]

For Bio

1) If by grainy you mean sharper, yes.
2) The motion blur only occurs when you hit a certain speed, and I don't mind it one bit.
3) Right at the top of the screen your score will pop up, but I guess I agree with you about the counters.
4) I've not had a problem with the wide corners, and I've come to terms with expecting a car right on the other side as soon as I drift around a corner, it keeps the game frenzied.
5) The weight ratio makes a HUGE difference. Take a 1 Weight car and Ram it into a 3 or 4 Weight car, tell me how that works for you.
6) While they've watered down the effects of boost, and made it more readily available by not having to get a full bar, I still think it's special, and can make or break a race for you.
7) Road Rage is gods gift to racing, and Signature Takedowns are listed so that you know what you have to do.
8) While it might be about the 4x, getting to it with crashbreakers and instant explosions make the game fun.
9) Hit the B Button after the race, and you'll see a replay.
10) I agree with the map, but there is sorta a checkpoint, you just don't know when you're coming up on it, but it'll tell you how far ahead or behind you are.
11) I don't like the removal of boost linking, but you can stack oncoming onto a drift while boosting to get more points.
12) If by the middle of the roadway you mean above your car, in the sky, then yes, you're right.
13) It could have been better.

[Rumpy]

Counterpoint time! I figure since this game is getting praise left and right, it's only fair to point out some problems.

1) Is it just me, or does this game look worse than Burnout 2? It moves faster, and the crashes are more spectacular, but it doesn't seem nearly as sharply detailed. I have trouble seeing where the upcoming turns are, and far too often I've crashed into civilian traffic because I couldn't distinguish it from the background. It seems much more grainy - and it's not my TV, or my eyes.

Looks a lot better than 2. Car models are much better, the physics are better, there is much more in the background, a lot more variety in the other vehicals, some great lighting. Doesn't feel as static. But...

2) The constant motion blur looks really bad.

This I agree with. My problem is that it seems to be on all the time. It makes a weird tunneling effect as you can't see clearly all they way to the edge of the screen.

3) Why bother having high scores for oncoming and drifts when there's no way to tell during the race how you're doing? Forget the damn stars - bring back the on-the-fly counters.

Is it really important to know all that while you race? I thought I'd miss it but I don't. I'm usually concentrating on the road, not looking at any counters.

4) The tracks are too narrow, and have too many blind turns. I do not suck, and too many times I've encountered unavoidable crashes. The course designs also do not seem as carefully planned as before, and don't have the same individual identities.

I need to play more of the tracks to make judgement.

5) Within each class, all cars drive basically the same. What happened to the different handling ratios? The weight rating doesn't seem to make the slightest difference.

This does seem weird. While BO 2 had like 30 cars, they all controlled differently. Here it seems like while there are 60+. only 12 of those will really control differently.

6) The boost is no longer special. You don't get that extra sensation of speed, fading out of ambient noise, and kicking up of the music. You no longer get the satisfaction of driving well enough to earn it because it's always available.

It changes the game quite a bit. It doesn't feel like you really have to work for it any more. I like being able to use it any time, but it feels like it replenishes too easily and if you max out the bar it's like it will never run out (in the past you had to be really good to be able to do that).

7) Road Rage and Signature Takedowns are more about luck than skill. Burning Lap is an exercise in trial and error. Both of these are largely due to the how the tracks are designed. You've got next to zero room, time, or warning to dodge traffic.

Road Rage is awesome, and I think the Sig Takedowns are really just meant for something to collect. SSX3 had something like that. If you did the right combo of tricks, you'd get it logged and hear a tone. Sig Takedowns seem to just encourage you to try and think of different ways to take people out (right now I just have Piller Driller).

8) Crash Mode is now about finding the 4X multiplier instead of about finding the best place to make the wreck. And what happened to the faux helicopter fly-by and on-the-fly scoring? It's just sloppily done.

I'd agree with the multiplier complaint. It makes getting gold much easier. Could have either taken it out, or jacked up the scores for the medals. Crash mode is still a lot of fun though. And I could care less about the helicopter count. The replacement does the same thing...to each his own I guess.

9) No race replays is absolutely criminal.

Just really, really weird. Like I said, I can't recall a racing game that hasn't had one. Considering the mayhem in this one, the replays would be awesome.

10) This game needs an on-screen PGR-style map. Badly. It also needs checkpoints. Badly.

I'd agree with a map, but the last one didn't have one either. I memorized those courses so I think I can do the same here. Checkpoints would be nice too (wonder why they didn't put them in?)

11) Complete removal of risk-based score performance. No combos whatsoever. No boost linking. This kills long-term replay.

I agree with no boost linking, but there are combos. (Near misses + oncoming traffic). It adds them up at the end.

12) There's way too much shit on the screen. in terms of messaging. I don't really need to see "TAKE HIM OUT!" or "YOU ARE ONE SECOND AHEAD!" or "BOOST SHUNT!" right in the middle of the damn roadway.

I agree, I don't need sentences popping up when I drive. At least make them more transparent. I liked the time split from passed games just fine.

13) The GPS map is poorly designed. It's hard to read, and hard to tell where you stand on which events.

I don't think it's that bad. Just a matter of figuring it out. It tells you how many events are in a track and then when you select it, it gives you a break down of each event there and what medal you have or what you need to do to unlock the other events.

[Roufuss]

Is there a freeway level on this one?

That was my favorite of the previous Burnouts, nothing like zipping up an on ramp into oncoming traffic. I hope the level is in there somewhere =/

[Chux]

Several

[Sl1p]

Since I was too tired to actually go out and pick it up last night, I'll be going over to EA and picking it up tonight after work.

Mzo won't be playing until Friday I can't wait to hear him cry like a girl every time I take his ass DOOOOWWWNTOOOOOWN~

SUCKAAAAAAAAAAH!


"The belt looks great on Booker" - Jeremy

There, I spared us all a post.