Let me be frank about the AI in this game:
User Rating: 8 | Burnout 3: Takedown (Platinum Hits) XBOX
My playtime with this game was limited to about five days. I'd read about how great this game is, and for the most part, it really is a great, thrill filled game. The only real flaw I can find has to do with the game's artificial intelligence. The artificial competitor's are extremely pattern-based when it comes to challenging you, and this hampers the game a bit. It's not a big deal, but with all the accolades this game is getting, I thought I'd bring this one thing up. It isn't fun knowing when, where, and why you're losing a race; however, it's annoying knowing that you can't do anything about it. For example, say you're in a straight race with 5 other AI racers, and one passes you, and then you pass them, and so on - that'd be fine, if you both were all running on equal footing, in terms on driving skill. Now, say you crashed or were caused to crash at some point in that race by a computer-controlled competitor - that wouldn't be so bad, but let's consider if those four other competitors were all being controlled by the racer in the car you crashed in the same way not a second before. Yes, what I'm trying to say, if you can understand, is that the AI in this game attempts to stop you by any means necessary, including straight-up cheating, by using all any means to deliberately cause crashes in front of you to hamper your progress (by making you overly-cautious or way to reckless). Say you have the lead in a race by 20 seconds. You take a light turn, and all of a sudden, the game gives you a message that one of your competitors is on your tail - soon enough, said competitor is knocking you into a wall, taking you out for five seconds. After re-spawning, you're now in last place, and unable to catch up with the computer because it apparantly drives better than you do by default (fat chance of that...observing the computer's driving, it's just as clumsy as any human competitor).You're left in the dust, by twenty seconds and will never be able to take first place again because the AI will just start the whole pattern all over again, if you even get the chance catch up again (not a chance in Hades). This game is filthy with the giving itself a break when you kick its butt, pulling tricks that you, as a human being playing the game, could never pull. It's a real mother for you, I mean seriously! Other than the questionable AI, the game is flawless in my book...OH, the primary soundtrack isn't too great, IMO - it's just not varied enough, and the neo-punk rock/Heavy Metal grated on my nerves. The custom soundtrack option is apprecited by me. I just thought I'd give my one point on the game, and leave it at that. Don't consider this an actual review, just rambling from a person who has played the game. I've gotten pretty far in the game in just five days. Not because of my skill, but because this game is so fun, you don't want to turn you X-Box off while it's in there. Even with the goofy AI, I geared up to restart race after race, as I cursed the game out. It's like drinking your favorite flavored Kool-Aid with a taste of hot sauce. BURNOUT 3 is a hot game, despite the AI quirks. Knowing what I know about the game now, I would still gladly pay $49.99 for this game (I paid $44.99, used). 
