Burnout 3: Takedown

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Burnout 3: Takedown
Image:Burnout 3 - Takedown Coverart.png
Developer(s) Criterion Games
Publisher(s) EA Games
Engine RenderWare
Aspect ratio 16:9 / 4:3
Native resolution 480p (EDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
Release date Playstation 2, Xbox
USA September 7, 2004
PAL September 10, 2004
JPN October 14, 2004
Xbox 360
January 14, 2008[1]
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T
CERO: B
PEGI: 3+
OFLC: M
Media DVD

Burnout 3: Takedown is the third game in the high speed racing series, Burnout. Released on September 7, 2004, developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts (the first Burnout game EA published), the game drew critical acclaim and a large fanbase. A GameCube version was planned but was scrapped during development. It is also the only game in the series that received a T rating by the ESRB. This game has been followed up by Burnout Revenge and Burnout Paradise.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

There are five play modes, including two race modes and three crash modes. Before play starts, players choose their vehicle based on its speed and weight. In the race modes, the player gains "boost" by driving in the oncoming traffic lanes, narrowly avoiding traffic, and by causing competitors' cars to crash (called a "Takedown"). In "Race" mode, the object is to win the race around the track like a standard racing game, while in the "Road Rage" mode, the player must takedown a set number of computer-controlled opponents.

In the crash mode, the player is not racing opponents on a track. Instead, in each crash attempt, the player races at high speeds towards an intersection and tries to do as much monetary damage to the vehicles there as possible, while collecting cash and multiplier bonuses. The three crash modes are very similar. In some, you drive alone, in others you crash as a team with a combined score, etc., but the goal of doing the most damage remains the same.

In any mode, medals are awarded for achieving certain scores. These medals are used to unlock hidden tracks and vehicles.

Burnout 3 features 173 different events in the offline mode, and 67 cars to unlock, including a City Bus, Lorry Cab, Fire Truck, and a Garbage Truck for use in the Crash mode. There is also online play where up to six players can compete in a race, and eight players can compete in a Crash event. In online races, there is less aggression than in single player. Racers must focus on good drifts and avoiding traffic, not just takedowns, in order to win. This gives the online mode a different feel from single player. There is a racing variant known as Road Rage where players are divided into two teams. The blue team receives a three second head start and must drive a certain number of miles without being eliminated by being taken down. The red team attempts to takedown the blue team before they reach the finish line.

[edit] Locations

The game is split over three areas: USA, Europe and Far East. The exact locations of the tracks are just as differing as the tracks of previous Burnout series. A new asset to the race track environments are real-world landmarks and vehicles known famously to these locations: In the Downtown race track, Chicago's famous elevated subways can be seen, In the Waterfront race track, the San Diego Convention Center is seen, and in the Riviera race track, the Monte Carlo Casino is viewed briefly. As for the vehicular aspect, small three-wheeled taxis called tuk-tuks, which are found throughout Bangkok, can be seen in the Golden City track. The real names of these locations are never actually shown in the game, however.

The tracks are:

Location Track Name Real-life Equivalent
USA Silver Lake Rocky Mountain Nat. Park: a crystal-clear and silent lake surrounded by granite cliff faces and neighbored by a sleepy Main Street town.
USA Downtown Chicago: the tight alleyways and congested avenues of a major city and send your opponents into the elevated train track supports. A circuit built for precision thinking and fast reflexes against heavy traffic.
USA Waterfront San Diego: a fast-paced track filled with tight coastal turns, busy thoroughfares, and an intriguing tram system through the Gaslamp Quarter.
USA Kings of the Road A linear race from Downtown, through the highway section of Waterfront, and into Silver Lake.
USA Lakeside Getaway Silver Lake - Waterfront
USA Mountain Parkway Silver Lake - Downtown
Europe Alpine Autobahn: a long, wide highway system past glorious castles, snow-capped peaks and perilously constructed toll booths and gas stations. A long track with a fast glimpse of Europe.
Europe Vineyard Avignon: traversing the beautiful winding roads of southern France and zoom by the ancient Papal Palace and the surrounding sidewalk cafes of Avignon.
Europe Winter City Vienna: St. Stephen's Cathedral, the U-Bahn and the Hofburg Imperial Palace line the snow-covered track.
Europe Riviera Monaco: based on the fast based Monte Carlo circuit and filled with twisting roads and tunnels.
Europe Coastal Dream Riviera - Vineyards
Europe Continental Run Vineyards - Autobahn
Europe Alpine Expressway Winter City - Riviera
Europe Frozen Peak Winter City - Alpine
Far East Golden City Bangkok: a fast paced track through ancient and neon-clad marketplaces and modern, sleekly designed monorails and highways.
Far East Dockside Hong Kong: a track around the steep roads and winding scenic routes just outside of central Hong Kong, passing a busy docking harbor, a vulnerable ferry terminal, and the Lippo Centre towers.
Far East Island Paradise Ko Samui: a wide, scenic track featuring off-road areas through the jungle and packed coach terminals.
Far East Tropical Drive Island Paradise - Golden City

[edit] Soundtrack

Main article: Burnout 3 soundtrack

The soundtrack for Burnout 3: Takedown featured nearly 40 songs, including "(We Are The) Lazy Generation" by The F-Ups, I'm Not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance, and came complete with commentary from DJ Stryker from alternative radio station KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. Alternatively, Burnout 3 supported user created soundtracks on the Xbox with the usage of the Xbox hard drive.

[edit] Xbox Originals

As part of Microsoft's classic Xbox download service; in December 2007, Burnout 3: Takedown will be available for download for the Xbox 360 at a price of 1200 Microsoft Points.[2]. It was rumoured that the game's servers were closed and that it would prevent Xbox Live play but those rumours were likely based on an earlier temporary downtime problem as well as confusion because of the closing of the Burnout Revenge servers on November 1, 2007. Larry Hryb announced the game would land on the Xbox 360 on January 14, 2008.[1]

[edit] Awards

  • Fourth Best Xbox Game Ever - X-Play
  • Best Game; Art and Sound; Technology - IGDA Game Developers Choice Awards (2005)
  • Best Racing Game - G4 Video Game TV (2005)
  • Editor's Choice Award: Xbox; Editor's Choice Award: PS2 - GameSpot (2005)
  • 10 Essential Racers - Official Playstation Magazine (2005)
  • #2 of Top 40 Console Games - Pelaaja Magazine (2005)
  • Best Racing Game - Golden Joystick Award (2004)
  • Console Racing Game of the Year - AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards (2005)
  • #27 of Top 100 Games of All Time - IGN (2004/2005)
  • Game of the Year; Best Driving Game 2004 - Official Playstation Magazine (Feb. 2005)
  • Game of the Year - 1UP.com (Dec. 2004)
  • Achievement in a Racing Game; Technical Direction - BAFTA Video Game Awards (2004)
  • Best Racing Game - E3 Game Critics Awards (2004)
  • Best Driving Game - Cargo Magazine (Dec 2004)
  • Game of the Month - Boys Toys Magazine (Nov 2004)
  • Multiplatform Game of the Year - Electronic Gaming Monthly (2004)
  • Editor's Choice: Gold Award - Electronic Gaming Monthly (2004)
  • Gold Award (10/10), Hot 100 - Official PS2 Magazine (2004)
  • Can't Miss Holiday Games #1 - GamePro (2004)
  • Best Game of its Class: Driving; Best Xbox Game - GameSpot (2004)
  • Reader's Choice - PS2 & XBOX Driving
  • Racing Game of the Year: PS2; Top 10 Game of the Year - GameSpy (2004)
  • Game of the Month - GameSpy (Sep. 2004)
  • Game of the Month - IGN (Sep. 2004)
  • Best Racing Game - Jive Magazine (2004)
  • Best Racing Game - Lawrence.com (2004)
  • Editor's Choice - OXM (Oct. 2004)
  • Platinum Award - PS2
  • Must Buy Silver Award: Buy or Die - PSM (Nov. 2004)
  • #4 of Top 10 Games - Official Playstation Magazine (2004)
  • Best Driving Game; Most Addictive Game - Spike TV Video Game Awards (2004)
  • Top 10 Video Games - Time Magazine (2004)
  • Game of the Month - XBN (Oct. 2004)

[edit] References

[edit] External links