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Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box

The Ultimate Factor

The PC version, being "The Ultimate Box", includes several add-on packs that were released separately for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the original Burnout Paradise. "Burnout Paradise: Cagney" includes several new game modes for both online and offline play. "Burnout Paradise: Bikes Pack" adds bikes, day/night cycle and dynamic weather. "Burnout Paradise: Party Pack" adds several multiplayer game modes designed to be played on one PC, taking turns.

"The Ultimate Box" also includes in-game browser for web-based community features and in-game online store for future downloadable content. Criterion has already announced several additional content packs which include additional cars, areas and game modes - most interesting ones being "Big Surf Island" which promises to add a whole new map area and "Cops and Robbers" which is going to bring police chases to the game.

Bikes - Extra content included with The Ultimate Box

Wipeout on a Bike hides the rider - no ragdoll carnage here.

The Bikes Pack contains just a handful of bikes and they are limited to bike-specific events. I guess bike vs. car races would be hard to balance as fair, but the lack of game modes on bikes is somewhat limited. Bikes Pack offers a new driving experience and a whole new set of goals for singleplayer "grinding" which counts for something, but otherwise it's a bit unimpressive addition to the game. Funnily while bikes do have riders (the only humans you'll see in the game), they always end up magically "off camera" when you crash your bike.

Choose Your Vehicle

Burnout Paradise includes over 70 different cars, all more or less recognizable, yet with completely fictional names. Cars are divided up into three categories; Speed, Stunt and Aggression. Each has it's own boost mechanic and each type is suitable for specific style of driving. Speed cars are great for breaking road records and for pure racing, Stunt cars excel in Stunt Run mode as boost is gathered from stunt driving while Aggression cars are tailor made for Marked Man and Road Rage - they might not be super-fast, but they can take more punishment and gain boost from takedowns. Generally all cars have a special unlockable variant accessible through the completion of model-specific Burning Route event.

Racing is further spiced up with numerous achievements (Paradise Awards - tracked only in-game, not tied to Games for Windows LIVE or any other achievement system) and even pure free driving can be competitive with best times tracked on every road.

Beat the best time to put your name on the road.

Paradise Awards stand in for Achievements.

In single player races, opposing AI is generally competent. In Marked Man the AI takedown attempts do get a bit predictable and in some cases AI cars can make some fairly silly moves, but in general the AI opposition is fine. Overall the playability is outright excellent and while there are some terrible cars with ugly handling characteristics (on purpose), most vehicles and bikes are fun to drive. The actual driving model keeps you going at breakneck speed even as the road twists and turns, but there is just enough realism to keep things fun. Crashes are just as spectacular as you might expect from a Burnout title, with glass shattering and panels crumbling in slow-motion.

Online play could use a "ping filter" that would allow you to kick out players with laggy connections and/or marginal computers. Currently it is a bit of a crap shoot if you get an enjoyable experience or not, as in worst cases competitors may end up warping and rubberbanding badly.

Page 1: IntroductionPage 2: GameplayPage 3: Visuals and PerformancePage 4: Summary, Scores

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