Burnout 3: The Takedown is one of the best games you can have in you PlayStation 2 collection.

User Rating: 9.8 | Burnout 3: Takedown (Dutch) PS2
The Burnout series returns in it's 3rd installment, Burnout 3: The Takedown with more additions, better gameplay, and more, more crashes!

The Burnout series has quickly created it's own sub division of racing games. It focuses on speed, crashing, intensity, and craziness, rather then other titles that focus on simulation, or drifting, or a game without realism. In the last title, we saw the addition of crash mode. Takedown, takes that idea and expands it much, much more with lots of different modes. Burnout 3, combines the best of the arcade element created in the first game, with the best of the crash element of the second game, to create the most spectacular and pulse pounding game, arguably, ever.

The first gameplay change you'll notice, is the revamp in the crash system -- they are much more detailed, much more spectacular. When you crash you'll be able to use "aftertouch", the R1 button, to guide your car with the left stick into other cars, possibly taking out opponents, gaining and aftertouch takedown, in the various racing modes which adds boost to your meter. In crash mode, or a crash junction as it's referred to now, after you crash a set amount of cars, you'll gain the ability to use "crashbreaker" which explodes your card up to cause more damage, and reuse aftertouch to knock into other cars or bonuses.

Second thing you'll notice is the modes. Lots and lots of modes. In Burnout 3: World Tour, you'll travel to USA, Europe, and the Far East competing in all types of events, such as races, face-offs with other cars, crash junctions, road rage, eliminator race, and much more. his mode is important for it's the only way to unlock events and places for use in the exhibition modes, as well as many cars.

Race mode is the standard 6 player race, time attack, is where you race against the clock, road rage is a new mode where you try to get as many opponents to crash before the clock runs out, or until your car expires. It's one of the most thrilling of the game modes as it combines crash mode and race mode into one. Crash mode return this time, with more crash junctions then ever before. Crash mode was always exciting, and now it’s even better with more bonuses, multiplier bonuses, even bonuses that cut your score in half. It's like a live action puzzle mode, and you'll be going back to replay these levels to try to create the biggest, most damaging crash you can for sure. all 4 modes are available in single player mode.

In multiplayer mode, you get to do Race mode and Road Rage, as well as team Crush, Double Impact, and party Crush modes. In Team Crush mode you'll team up and find the routes to the biggest crash. In Double Impact, you'll go against each other to create the biggest crash, in a crash fight. in Party Crash you'll go one at a time to create the biggest crash out of them all.

*Hint: press the square button at the Multiplayer select mode to personalize your screen names.

A new addition, the play online addition, allow you and up to 7 other players to compete in various modes online. online, you can go right into a match, or use the quick match to search for a game mode, online rank limit, and language. In lobby select you can select you server, and you can also view the latest news, and your record from the online menu as well. You can also crate your own games, as well as keep a buddy list which is useful in finding a friend to challenge.

In addition to all these modes you’ll notice that the graphics engine is much much better and more detailed, and the areas you'll race in are much more elaborate and satisfying. The crashes are really detailed, as you'll see fenders fly, windows break, cars burn up, fall to pieces, the works.

You'll stats will be saved after every game mode, and it'll keep track of your burnout points, takedowns, crash damage an more. This is where you'll be able to win most of the cars (outside of completing goals in burnout world tour), so it's an important feature. Goals you have yet to complete will be grayed out till you achieve them.

The sound in Burnout 3 is also as awesome, as you'll hear every screech, crash, and beep as you go through each event. It's also accompany by some great music, through this radio station that you listen to accompany by a DJ named Stryker. He'll give you tips in each area, as well as add some witty commentary. He’ll also pop in on eh radio during the race to give additional comments. The game features close to 45 songs that randomly cycle through (or you can pick which ones play or when they play through the options menu). The "crash radio" might seem corny on paper, but plays out well when experienced while playing the game.

Burnout 3 is just a game you cannot turn away from. Everyone will find fun in this game. With all of it's modes, tons of unlockables, online play, and style. Burnout 3: the takedown, is not only the best game of the Burnout series, but one of the best games you can ever have on your PlayStation 2.