Pros: Spectacular graphics, sense of speed, "real life" traffic.
Cons: The shock after creating a $30 million accident.
The bottom line: "Oh, how I get cold chills thinking about this game." ~Scott
We do not recommend that you try anything you experience while playing Burnout 2 in real life! Keep it on the screen and off the streets! ~game manual.

It's not every day you get rewarded for crashing your car into other vehicles while traveling over 150 mph. That's why Acclaim and Criterion Games have created a stunning video game called Burnout 2. Instead of just racing against opponents, you have to dodge traffic and power slide around corners in order to keep you position in first place.

As the title already says, Burnout 2 is the sequel to the original, multi-platform game Burnout. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in Official Playstation Magazine, it changed the way a racing game can be played; instead of avoiding obstacles and paying a huge penalty (like losing the race), you get points for ramming other cars and get a turbo boost if you nearly hit them.

Burnout 2 takes that same theme and is now a wonderfully spectacular arcade game. Before I get ahead of myself, let's see how the second game improves over the original.

*Instead of the sappy background music that supposedly raised your heartbeat while doing slaloms around traffic, the background music in Burnout 2 is more of a rock-type music. Surprisingly, none of the music comes from known bands, it's no-name like the cars being raced.

*The crashes that were key in Burnout has now got its own game mode. Instead of racing others, traffic jams are made on purpose while you have about 30 seconds to boost your car's speed and ram into the vehicles, creating major car accidents.

*The cars themselves; there are now more of them, including a police car, hot rod, SUV, old sedans and other secret vehicles.

*Gran Turismo-style, the Championship mode is overhauled to where you can unlock different races, trophies and new cars the more you progress.

*The boost meter has been changed a little as well. Instead of racing like heck to even fill it halfway in Burnout, it has now been changed so you can get the boost meter filled many more times. The boost is used like turbo in other car games. If you drive dangerously enough, the boost bar will fill. When it's full, press R1 and your car should gain 20-30 mph in speed.

*Weather effects are now more involved. It now snows and rains, as well as various weather as the race progresses.

The cars

All the vehicles in the game are not licensed so you might refer to the cars as real vehicles from their looks. Like "Get the Viper" or "I'll race the Focus with your Jag". They have a glossy shine to where sometimes you might think they are too shiny.

Tracks

There are about 30 tracks in the game and they vary in sizes.

Controls 10/10

It's easy to use the controls in Burnout 2 as it has not changed much from the original Burnout.

X is for acceleration.
Square is to brake, and to reverse when stopped.
Triangle is for first/third-person views.
Circle can sound the horn.
R1 lets you use the boost when the meter is full.
R2 is to shift up in manual mode
R3 is for the horn (two horn buttons)
L1 is the first-person rear-view.
L2 is to downshift in manual mode.
L3 is not used.
Start is to pause.
Select is not used.
Left analog/D-pad for steering.
Right analog for acceleration/brake/reverse.

I find that the controls are very easy to use. Once you get used to the controls, you can easily manipulate anything with your car without any frustration. I find that it is nicer to use the analog sticks because the D-pad doesn't feel "quite there" for use. Nothing seems out of place other than that, and I find it too easy to use. Very user-friendly for controlling the car and for main menu use.

Graphics 9/10

Like the original Burnout, the cars are not exactly as round as I'd like, as well as the bland undersides when the cars get flipped over. This is why I took a point off the graphics score. Other than that, the scenery is superb, almost Gran Turismo 3 good. The sunsets, the snow falling, the incredible buildings and traffic makes the game too good for racing. I've found myself losing races because I was paying attention to the water moving in the sea on the Big Surf levels(why didn't the water move in GT3?).

All graphics, including the airplanes flying overhead at Pacific International Airport and the cars moving, is stunning. The smoke from your tires when power-sliding is even more spectacular. It's like Criterion and Acclaim paid attention to all this detail. Definitely a beautiful array of colors in detail.

Fun Factor 10/10

I nearly cried in joy when I knew how insanely fun this game is when playing! In perfect harmony with the controls and the joy of the flying pieces coming off the car made me go "WOW" over and over again. With it's selection of game modes, I have loved all the neat things I've noticed in every race.

Oh, yea. What were those game modes again?

The first game mode you'll encounter in Burnout 2 is the Offensive Driving 101. This is a six-part training mode in which you learn how to raise your boost meter, as well as drive on the wrong side of the road and power slide in corners. "It's the only bad driving license in the world", like the game manual states. It's unique in it's execution, but I would have liked to have all the game modes unlocked instead of being forced to play this beforehand.

There is the Championship. In food terms, this is the "Main Course" of Burnout 2. The player drives through a series of Grand Prix races, unlocking additional courses, cars and modes as they progress. There are two main sections of the Championship Mode. I've already explained the first, but the second is the Custom Series Championship, earned after completing the standard championship. This is where you will earn modified vehicles with decal sets, improved handling, tuned engines and body kits. Sorry, they are built in and you can't change any modifications.

In Single Race mode, it's exactly what it suggests. You race against other vehicles in one race, and then brought back to the main menu when completed. It's like a practice mode before going into the championship modes.

Time Attack is also pretty basic. You race the clock on courses unlocked in Championship mode. There are no CPU opponents.

Pursuit is a nice touch to Burnout 2. For one player, you are the cop in a cop car, and you try to ram the target vehicle off the road ten times. Each time you hit the vehicle, a bar will be deleted of their hit meter. When the meter is empty, you win. However, in multi-player mode, you take turns being the target and cop.

Noted earlier, Crash is a mode in itself. You try to crash into purposely made traffic jams, then see how many points you get. Points (which is, coincidentally, money) can go over $30 million! There are three stages unlocked for default, but you must earn a bronze metal to open up more stages.

Multi-player is just another mode with Single Race, Pursuit and Crash opened for two players to four players.

The crashes in Burnout 2 are overhauled from the original Burnout. Instead of only a few minor bumps and shattered glass in Burnout, pieces actually fall of and your car can spin or even fly into the air as it can turn from a muscle car into scrap metal. The most fun is when you can jack knife tractor trailers and make your opponents smash as well, bringing you to pole position... most of the time.

It's ridiculously fun with the amount of detail that was put into this game. No simulation crud, as most of you might be thinking (even though I'd rather have sim over arcade). Just arcade thrills as you fly past traffic at high speeds. I found that I would reward myself for every game I won, and then do a few "Ooooo"s and "Owww"s if I lost. All in all, this is a game where you feel good about yourself even after losing a game, because no matter what, there is something that you'll enjoy.

Sound 10/10

The sappy music in Burnout has been trashed for some new, hipper and funkier rock music in Burnout 2. It even raises in sound when you use your boost meter. A nice touch. The cars sound great with the throaty growl of the mufflers. Even the screeching of the tires when the traffic slides head on into you is cool. Nothing is out of place, and so this is about as close as you'll get to Grand Turismo 3. Other than Stereo and Mono sound, you can select Dolby© Surround Pro Logic II, which even simulates better sound than normal Surround. The crunching of metal, the screeching of tires... Nice!


Conclusion

Oh how I get cold chills thinking about this game! This game was rated 4 out of 5 stars in Official Playstation Magazine. I rate it 39/40, or 97.5% overall score. I never enjoyed the normal Burnout, but at $49.99, it is a perfect game for hardcore players or anyone that enjoys racing. I, being a simulation freak, have loved this game even for it being an arcade racer. Nothing could be better from Burnout 2, except if Burnout 3* tops it. An excellent game that is far nicer than any other game that is in its genre.

Other games to try with ratings from OPM: Auto Modellista (2/5), Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (5/5), Ridge Racer 5 (4.5/5), Midnight Club (4/5) and Midnight Club II (5/5).

Burnout 2, as well as Burnout original, are multi-platform games that are on GameCube, X-Box and Playstation 2.

Happy Gaming :)

~Scott

* You may have noticed that I use references from OPM a lot in game reviews. Well, Clish MacLaver from the same magazine has some information that I thought you would enjoy:

"Burnout: A third one on the way. The popular Burnout franchise is set to spawn a third game next year. The development team is currently looking for more staff in the UK and we expect screens early next year" (OPM, Sept. 2003 issue, pg 51)