Awesome...Awesome...Awesome...Best in Series!
Ok...it is more open and free than the previous games and, to me, that is what makes it so engaging. The 'Gas' Stations (where you get boost), the Repair stations and the Junkyard concept is truly a nice innovation. This is by far the most creative and fun Burnout. Yes it does require that you use your head a bit when racing because the course is not scripted..meaning the winner is he who learns the shortcuts and is willing to take chances. The game also sports a novel way of awarding you new vehicles by having you shut them down before they are available in trashed format from your junkyard. Then you have to go to a repair station to get that car fixed. The truth is, though, Burnout is one of those games that has you making exclamations outloud. I had a crash the other day that made me laugh out loud and really had the spectators ohhhing and ahhhing. This is a really fun racing game with incredible stunts, races and metal mushing action. The metaphor is very creative. One big open city with widly varying terrain where you can drive anywhere to practice your stunts or engage in races. One can enter races from any traffic light depending on the vehicle that you are racing. I like the new 'Marked Man' mode where you have to race across town and survive the brutal assaults of your competitors. This game is a blast.
I think the reason that some people are not happy is because they prefer the more scripted approach of Revenge. Also I don't think Paradise has a crashbreaker mode...but I hear that the online is real fun. I have not played multiplayer yet.