Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

100 or More Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Amazing"

As someone closely investigated Criterion's racing series for the last 3 weeks, my heart seem to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Burnout: Paradise. Back when Acclaim published the unassuming first Burnout for PS2, the racer instantly displayed a spark of ingenuity (not to mention a puzzlingly bombastic soundtrack) that couldn't be denied. Seven years later, that core driving gameplay remains mercifully unadulterated -- you'll find the same overly forgiving steering, wild stunts, and cringeworthy collisions that have always made Burnout stand out in a crowded genre. But while the most recent franchise offerings (Revenge and Dominator) feel like playin'-it-safe rehashes, Paradise brilliantly reimagines Burnout as a go-anywhere, do-anything open-world adventure in the vein of Grand Theft Auto.

From the game's outset, you're given free rein over a massive chunk of land encompassing fictional Paradise City and its outlying countryside. And oh, what a world it is: Whether you're careening through desolate urban alleys or rocketing across a rickety railroad trestle, the game looks nearly flawless and runs at a buttery-smooth clip. In fact, Paradise creates such a convincing and exhilarating sense of speed that the very act of traversal provides a rewarding thrill. And Paradise City offers so many cleverly hidden secrets to discover (Super Jumps, shortcuts, gas stations, targets to smash, etc.) that you need not even tackle the 120 instantly accessible events to get lost in the engrossing metropolis. This is a genius move: Casual players can have a blast while merely exploring the world, unfettered by the consequences of crashing or losing a race.