[avolee]

Thought we would start a review thread to get peoples views and score this game as they see.

I`m gonna give the game a 10, i think the game pushes what had mostly become a very stagnant genre in a new direction and for me it hits the spot perfectly. everything from the graphics to the gameplay makes this one of the most enjoyable games i`ve played in a long time. i know a lot of people had concerns about the lack of a restart option, but i really think the game works better for it, there is so much to do that by not having the option, you find yourself not trying the same race over and over but instead picking a different trial and that for me is why it works. one of the faults of most games is having to complete a set number of races before moving onto the next level, although you need a set number of points to upgrade your license, there are so many options, you dont feel trapped by it. overall a thouroughly superb game.

[Moogle]

You might want to vote again Avolee as it seems like your vote was lost in the creating of the thread by both you and me. The only reason i created a poll thread because it seemed like you had created one without actually adding a poll.

[avolee]

not sure moogle, its the first time i`ve done a poll so i may well have done it wrong, wouldnt be the first time.

[Wamphyri]

Gets a 9 from me. There are a few annoying things that keep it off the top spot imo.

[CAS FAN]

It defines the Arcade racing genre and is the best arcade racer i've played - 10

[Fifty]

9 from me.

It's as near as dammit to perfect as I've played, but one or two very minor niggles I have with it just keep it from a 10.

9.5 if you like.

The biggest (of the minor niggles) is the apparent ability of AI cars to appear from no-where on Marked Man events. And no mutlipliers other than buses on Showtime (although one of the Paradise Pictures is to get a '40 X' multiplier - yeah right !!!)

[CAS FAN]

The thing is that a 10 does not mean the game is perfect in this scale. If a game is genre defining (i.e. the best game of it's genre) then it gets a 10. I have a thread running in Other Chat about this subject as people (it happened in the 360 Burnout thread too) say that it's the best arcade racer they've played and is basically genre defining and then give it a 9.

I'd suggest that people ignore the numbers and just vote as per the written meanings (i.e. Genre Defining, Outstanding etc.).

[kevin_irl]

I gave it a 7. I think its a great game but let down by some annoying features. The free roaming map is one.

[Fifty]

Someone voted 2 ???

Is that genuine ???

[avolee]

Originally Posted by Fifty

Someone voted 2 ???

Is that genuine ???

i wouldn`t have thought so, looks like the village idiot has paid us a visit. you`d have to be pretty sad to come on here and vote 2.

[CAS FAN]

What I want to know is why anyone would buy a free roaming sandbox style game if they don't like them? There's been a demo of this game (and a pretty substantial one as well) and it's common knowledge the type of game it is so i'm just baffled when people criticise the game for being the type of game it is.

It's like criticising COD4 for being an FPS or GTAIV for being a sandbox game. For example you could easily say...Yeah, GTA is great, but I think a few things let it down, like having a big free roaming city to travel within.

Sorry for the rant, but somethings just get my goat. Sure criticise a game if it's got poor graphics or the car physics are rubbish, but don't criticise it for being the type of game that it is, just because you don't like that type of game.

Oh and for future reference, it's always a good idea to make Poll results public so that we can all laugh at the childish vote spoillers who give 1's & 2's to clearly very good games.

I'd always suggest that obviously silly votes are just ignored, unless the voter can actually post to explain their vote.

[HRL]

I'll give it a 9 because it's more generous than the 8.5 I'd like to give it.

It's a very good game but something is just missing, at least for me.

P.S. Can we stop using that friggin' Sandbox word. Is it the word of the month or something? Only it seems to be used in almost all the game threads at the moment.

[Mullet94]

It get's a 10 from me. Love the free roaming do anything you want style. I've never been a fan of racers whether they be arcarde or real so that fact that I'm hooked on this makes it genre defining for me.

[Bojanglez]

Originally Posted by kevin_irl

I gave it a 7. I think its a great game but let down by some annoying features. The free roaming map is one.

That is why I like the game so much, I guess that is what divides opinion, if the game didn't have the free-roaming map I would have not rated it so highly. In fact I would have probably not bought the game so would not have rated it at all. I would give it a 9 (although I think I clicked 8 by accident)

[CAS FAN]

Originally Posted by HRL

P.S. Can we stop using that friggin' Sandbox word. Is it the word of the month or something? Only it seems to be used in almost all the game threads at the moment.

Sandbox is just a word used to describe this type of game where you play in an open, non linear environment (ala GTA, TDU etc.) and can essentially just mess about doing what you like (within reason).

It's kind of shorter than having to write something like "free roaming, open play environment" each time.

If there are a lot of Sandbox style games being discussed then it's only natural that the word will crop up frequently.

[Darth_terra]

I give it a 10, it's the best burnout game to date imo and one of if not the best arcade racer that i have played.

the only minor gripe is the online disconnections to the EA servers, EA never seem to have great connections for their games, you would think they would considering all the money they make.

[HRL]

Originally Posted by CAS FAN

Sandbox is just a word used to describe this type of game where you play in an open, non linear environment (ala GTA, TDU etc.) and can essentially just mess about doing what you like (within reason).

It's kind of shorter than having to write something like "free roaming, open play environment" each time.

If there are a lot of Sandbox style games being discussed then it's only natural that the word will crop up frequently.

Hell, I know what the word means but we all already know that. I don't know why but it strikes me as a stupid term.

And you had to go and use it twice, didn't you.

[Tigerblade]

9 from me. One could argue that GTA could be played in the same way, albeit on a less OTT way so as the game seems to borrow alot from that I couldn't describe it as genre defining. There's many a time where I just went on a cross county wrecking spree in San Andreas, now if the new GTA is as graphically as good and smooth as this.......man......

Awesome game tho

[Moogle]

Originally Posted by Fifty

Someone voted 2 ???

Is that genuine ???

I bet I know who it is too. It's not really hard to figure who most likely gave it such a low score. As I don't have any proof I'm not going to mention any names.

[CAS FAN]

Originally Posted by HRL

Hell, I know what the word means but we all already know that. I don't know why but it strikes me as a stupid term.

And you had to go and use it twice, didn't you.

I quite like the term sandbox personally and feel that it describes this type of game reasonably well.

I wasn't suggesting that you didn't know what the word sandbox meant, just illustrating why IMO it's a good word to use.

Tigerblade mentioned an interesting point and although I do feel that this game is a genre defining arcade racer, I can see how games will move to being the ultimate sandbox experience eventually. You will basically live in your own little virtual world where fully realistic physics apply to everything and you can properly race, take on a life of crime, fight crime or pretty much do anything! I guess that GTA4 will take a good leap towards this but it will naturally still have the game geared towards the story, where as Burnout Paradise is geared towards the arcade racing experience.

[supahoops]

Originally Posted by Moogle

I bet I know who it is too. It's not really hard to figure who most likely gave it such a low score. As I don't have any proof I'm not going to mention any names.

Stains can be easily removed with Daz

[Fifty]

Originally Posted by Moogle

I bet I know who it is too. It's not really hard to figure who most likely gave it such a low score. As I don't have any proof I'm not going to mention any names.

Moogle you tease !!!

Nothing like a Friday morning witch-hunt to get the blood pumping.

Let me at 'em !!!!

[Moogle]

I know it's fun trying to guess who it might be but let's not get carried away. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place. For the record I was thinking of someone else. Anyway please let's get the thread back on topic and discuss the merits and criticisms of the game.

[kevin_irl]

Originally Posted by CAS FAN

What I want to know is why anyone would buy a free roaming sandbox style game if they don't like them? There's been a demo of this game (and a pretty substantial one as well) and it's common knowledge the type of game it is so i'm just baffled when people criticise the game for being the type of game it is.

It's like criticising COD4 for being an FPS or GTAIV for being a sandbox game. For example you could easily say...Yeah, GTA is great, but I think a few things let it down, like having a big free roaming city to travel within.

Sorry for the rant, but somethings just get my goat. Sure criticise a game if it's got poor graphics or the car physics are rubbish, but don't criticise it for being the type of game that it is, just because you don't like that type of game.

Oh and for future reference, it's always a good idea to make Poll results public so that we can all laugh at the childish vote spoillers who give 1's & 2's to clearly very good games.

I'd always suggest that obviously silly votes are just ignored, unless the voter can actually post to explain their vote.

What are you on about? In all the other Burnout games you didnt have to drive to a location to start a race or pick a car. This is the only one to have it and we have to right to give out about it if we want.
You'll probably say 'why bother to buy the game then, there was a demo out'. Well, I still really enjoy this game and im happy I baught it, but im still not happy that they didnt at least have the option of pressing select and doing it from there quickly.

It's like criticising COD4 for being an FPS or GTAIV for being a sandbox game

What would it be like in the next version of COD that you had to drive or walk to each mission. Would we not have a right to complain? Of course we would if we didnt like it.

And correct me if im wrong, but hasnt burnout always been a racing game rather than a 'sandbox' game until now?

[Tigerblade]

Originally Posted by kevin_irl

What are you on about? In all the other Burnout games you didnt have to drive to a location to start a race or pick a car. This is the only one to have it and we have to right to give out about it if we want.
You'll probably say 'why bother to buy the game then, there was a demo out'. Well, I still really enjoy this game and im happy I baught it, but im still not happy that they didnt at least have the option of pressing select and doing it from there quickly.



What would it be like in the next version of COD that you had to drive or walk to each mission. Would we not have a right to complain? Of course we would if we didnt like it.

And correct me if im wrong, but hasnt burnout always been a racing game rather than a 'sandbox' game until now?

As I've mentioned in another thread, did you have the same issues with GTA? I can't remember ANYONE complaing there was no quick retry option on a failed mission, so I find it strange that it's suddenly a massive problem to some in this.

[CAS FAN]

Originally Posted by kevin_irl

What are you on about? In all the other Burnout games you didnt have to drive to a location to start a race or pick a car. This is the only one to have it and we have to right to give out about it if we want.
You'll probably say 'why bother to buy the game then, there was a demo out'. Well, I still really enjoy this game and im happy I baught it, but im still not happy that they didnt at least have the option of pressing select and doing it from there quickly.

Sorry but I did feel that what I wrote explained what I was on about, in answer to your first question.

My whole point is that this is a sandbox type game and your criticism is that it's not just the same as the others - i.e. go to a menu or map, select a race and car and then race before going back to said menu and map. Half the point of this game is what happens on the journey to the next race etc. in that you can set a road rule time, do a showtime, find some billboards, smashes etc.

It just seems that you are criticising the game for being what it is. This isn't Burnout 2, Takedown, Revenge etc. it's Burnout Paradise and is a completely different game. People constantly moan when devs just churn out the same game with the odd new feature and improved graphics and then when they produce something new some other people moan. Just goes to prove that you can never please everyone.

I love the way that Eden took the Test Drive franchise and I love the way that Criterion have taken the Burnout franchise. I just wish that more developers would have the balls to do different stuff with their franchises.

[sneeks]

Had it been like the previous Burnout games then I'd most likely not have bought it. I prefer the free roaming nature of this.

[Moogle]

Originally Posted by CAS FAN

Sorry but I did feel that what I wrote explained what I was on about, in answer to your first question.

My whole point is that this is a sandbox type game and your criticism is that it's not just the same as the others - i.e. go to a menu or map, select a race and car and then race before going back to said menu and map. Half the point of this game is what happens on the journey to the next race etc. in that you can set a road rule time, do a showtime, find some billboards, smashes etc.

It just seems that you are criticising the game for being what it is. This isn't Burnout 2, Takedown, Revenge etc. it's Burnout Paradise and is a completely different game. People constantly moan when devs just churn out the same game with the odd new feature and improved graphics and then when they produce something new some other people moan. Just goes to prove that you can never please everyone.

I love the way that Eden took the Test Drive franchise and I love the way that Criterion have taken the Burnout franchise. I just wish that more developers would have the balls to do different stuff with their franchises.

I have to agree with that. It's pretty much the way I feel about the game. As much as I loved the previous Burnout games I'm glad they had the foresight to do something different with this one. I love the free roaming sandbox nature and like you said you do an event and then whether you succeed or fail you keep driving and find other things to do.

Eventually you come across another event you want to take part in. I spent the best part of four hours last night doing just that. I never saw the time go by and it was 1am before I realized how long I'd been on the game and stopped.

[Darth_terra]

Originally Posted by sneeks

Had it been like the previous Burnout games then I'd most likely not have bought it. I prefer the free roaming nature of this.

It would have been the same for me had it just been the same Burnout formula, i'm glad it's not.

[yukichon]

Originally Posted by Moogle

I probably shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place.

So why did you??????? Will you give yourself an infraction??? I gave it a 1 btw.