It's been a very long time since the last Burnout game from developer Criterion Software, which has long since moved on to the Need For Speed series and other projects at EA. However, former Criterion developer Alex Ward and his new studio, Three Fields Entertainment, have made their own spiritual successor to the action-racer with Dangerous Driving. Focusing on the classic fast-paced action and brutal wrecks shown off in slow-motion, the new racing game places a lot of emphasis on putting the pedal to the metal and coming away unscathed.
We got some hands-on time with the game at PAX East 2019 and were surprised to find how faithful it was to the Burnout spirit. If you've played previous Burnout games, then you'll feel right at home in Dangerous Driving. Not many racers have managed to evoke the same sense of speed and tension that occurs when narrowly avoiding obstructions and smashing into opposing drivers. However, one wrong turn of the wheel can result in a gnarly wreck--yet Dangerous Driving made me feel like I was right back in the driver's seat in a Burnout game.
One interesting feature that will likely get some use is the integrated Spotify playlists. If you have a Spotify Premium account you can stream your favorite songs in the game, allowing you to race and cause serious wrecks to your own soundtrack.
Dangerous Driving is shaping up to be a solid and fast-paced action racing game. If you've longed for the days of another classic Burnout game, and have been playing Burnout Remastered since its release, then this game just might be the next best thing to a new entry in the franchise, which is set to launch on April 9.
For more on the games we saw during PAX East 2019, be sure to check out our roundup of games that really impressed us during the show.