Burnout 3 Takedown Review

Overview

Released in September 2004 for the Xbox, Burnout 3: Takedown marks a watershed moment in arcade racing history. Developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts, this third entry in the series completely reinvents the formula with the introduction of the takedown mechanic. The game belongs firmly in the arcade racing genre but creates its own unique subgenre by emphasizing vehicular combat alongside pure racing skill. Coming at the height of the Xbox's popularity and featuring Xbox Live support, Burnout 3 showcases both Criterion's technical excellence and EA's publishing muscle. The result is a perfectly polished package that would influence racing game design for years to come.

Graphics and Presentation

Burnout 3 pushes the Xbox hardware to its limits while maintaining a rock solid 60 frames per second presentation. The sense of speed is absolutely incredible, with perfectly implemented motion blur and camera effects that make high speed gameplay both thrilling and readable. Crash sequences feature unprecedented levels of detail, with cars breaking apart into countless pieces while real time deformation creates unique destruction every time.

The art direction emphasizes vibrant, colourful environments that span the globe from sun drenched coastal roads to neon lit city streets. While the car models aren't licensed, they're clearly inspired by real world vehicles and feature exceptional modelling and materials. The damage system is particularly impressive, with cars showing progressive wear before spectacular destruction in crashes.

The interface deserves special praise for managing to convey crucial information while maintaining the game's high energy presentation. The new takedown camera system creates dramatic moments without disrupting gameplay flow, while the boost and positioning indicators are perfectly positioned for quick reference during intense races.

Sound and Music

The audio presentation in Burnout 3 sets new standards for racing game sound design. The crash effects in particular are outstanding, with metal twisting and glass shattering presented in crystal clear detail. Engine sounds are appropriately aggressive, while the sound of boost activation provides perfect feedback for this crucial mechanic. The positional audio is excellent, helping players track rival racers and identify threats from all directions.

EA Trax delivers a licensed soundtrack featuring a mix of rock, punk, and electronic music that fits the game's high energy style perfectly. The addition of DJ Stryker as an in game commentator adds personality, though his repeated phrases can become tiresome during extended play sessions. The sound mixing is excellent, allowing players to customize various audio elements to their preference.

Gameplay Mechanics

The core gameplay loop of Burnout 3 revolves around the revolutionary takedown system. Players can now actively eliminate rivals through tactical collisions, adding a layer of combat strategy to the already excellent racing mechanics. The risk/reward boost system returns but is now tied more closely to aggressive play, rewarding players for both precision driving and successful takedowns.

Control remains accessible while offering tremendous depth. The handling model perfectly balances arcade accessibility with skill based mastery, allowing new players to enjoy the basic experience while providing advanced techniques for experts to master. The drift mechanics have been refined, working seamlessly with the new combat elements to create flowing, dynamic races.

Crash mode returns with significant changes, now featuring multiplayer support and new scoring mechanics including crash breakers and multipliers. While some purists prefer the simpler approach of Burnout 2, the new systems add welcome depth and variety to this popular mode.

Story and Setting

While Burnout 3 doesn't feature a traditional narrative, it creates an engaging progression system through its World Tour mode. This career structure takes players around the globe, introducing new event types and increasingly challenging scenarios. Each location features distinct visual themes and track designs that take advantage of their unique characteristics.

The game creates organic rivalry through its revenge system, where taken down opponents become more aggressive in seeking retribution. This mechanical storytelling adds personality to the racing while encouraging tactical thinking about which opponents to engage and when to focus purely on racing.

Content and Value

The World Tour mode offers over 30 hours of single player content, with additional time needed to achieve gold medals and complete all challenges. The variety of event types is impressive, including standard races, road rage events, crash mode scenarios, and eliminator competitions. Each track features multiple routes and shortcuts to discover, while the online multiplayer adds essentially endless replay value.

At a current pre-owned price point of £19.99, Burnout 3 represents outstanding value. The addition of Xbox Live support enables competitive online racing and leader board competition. Split screen multiplayer supports up to four players with minimal compromise to the visual quality. The game includes extensive statistics tracking and numerous unlockable vehicles, crash scenarios, and medals that provide long term goals.

Technical Performance

Loading times are remarkably brief for a game of this complexity, rarely exceeding 15 seconds even when loading large crash mode environments. The frame rate maintains a rock solid 60fps in all single player modes and most multiplayer scenarios, with only occasional drops in four player split screen during particularly chaotic moments.

The game demonstrates excellent stability in both offline and online modes, though some network disconnection issues can occur during extended multiplayer sessions. The save system is robust, automatically recording progress after each event and maintaining detailed statistics across all game modes.

The Verdict

Burnout 3: Takedown represents the pinnacle of arcade racing game design. The addition of the takedown system transforms an already excellent racing formula into something truly revolutionary, while the comprehensive suite of modes and online features creates a complete package that remains engaging years after release. While some design choices might divide opinion and the aggressive AI can occasionally frustrate, these are minor quibbles in what stands as one of the greatest racing games ever made. The combination of technical excellence, innovative gameplay mechanics, and comprehensive features creates an experience that every Xbox owner should have in their collection.

• Revolutionary takedown mechanics
• Outstanding visual presentation
• Comprehensive multiplayer features
• Extensive single player content

• Aggressive AI can frustrate
• Some network stability issues
• Repetitive commentary
• Divisive Crash mode changes

Final Score: 10/10

Burnout 3: Takedown sets a new standard for arcade racing excellence. Its perfect blend of speed, aggression, and spectacle creates an unforgettable experience that defines the genre.

By OGXbox Archive