Games Database
PS2
Racing: Car
| Also for: | Xbox | ||
| Viewed: | 3D First-person / Third-person | Genre: | Racing: Car |
| Media: | DVD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Climax | Soft. Co.: | Climax |
| Publishers: | Eidos
(GB) |
Released: | 10 Dec 2004
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 3+ | ||
| Connectivity: | Network Adaptor (Ethernet) compatible | ||
| Accessories: | Memory Card, Analogue Control Compatible: all buttons | ||
| Features: | Vibration Function Compatible | ||
Summary
A late 2004 entry into the destructive driving fray, Climax's Crash'n'Burn follows the likes of Driven to Destruction and FlatOut onto the shelves, while the totally overrated Need For Speed Underground 2 sweeps all before it in the driving genre. What chance of success does Crash'n'Burn really have? Cynics would say that Eidos is simply boarding the bus because almost every other company has done the same. While there is an element of 'seen it before' about Crash'n'Burn, it's not wholly true. Combining the tuning factor from NFS with the fact that vehicles can be destroyed as part of the fun, as in FlatOut and the Burnout series of games, Crash'n'Burn will find its own little niche if you let it.
Track layouts start with simple ovals and basic figure eights, building up to more technically demanding, twisting, turning circuits. The truth is, none of these circuits are especially simple. As you race around, you'll soon see cars exploding, leaving wrecked shells on the track, walls of fire around blind corners, and oil spills all over the road.You'll also notice that the next lap will feature the same burned out cars in a different position. Yup, once a car is totalled, it stays on track; its position on track is dictated by how many running cars manage to run into it as they try to finish the race, thus making every lap different.
Car choice is pretty unspectacular at first, with a basic compact and pickup available from the outset. Make good progress in the first few events however, and you'll soon be able to upgrade your vehicle with body kits, turbos and the like. Progression also means opening up new components, patterns and paint jobs in the shop, and unlocking game modes such as Bomb Tag, Running Man, Kamikaze and Last Man Standing. Note, dear reader, that at the time of writing, we've been playing Crash'n'Burn solidly for a week, and barely made a dent in the progression percentage. And no, it's not because we're rubbish drivers. Crash'n'Burn has depth and longevity to spare.
While this game doesn't break any records for innovation, there are some nice touches that make it stand out from the competition. Your car doesn't magically repair itself after impact a la Burnout; there's no gimmicky ejector seat/ragdoll feature as there is with FlatOut. No, your car becomes knackered, slowly but surely, and there are no health pick-ups to help you - just a boost of nitrous for making it through the first lap and more nitrous if you manage to take out one of the other runners. It's tough to progress in Crash'n'Burn, but it's definitely worth persevering with as the entertainment value soars as you go along.
Track layouts start with simple ovals and basic figure eights, building up to more technically demanding, twisting, turning circuits. The truth is, none of these circuits are especially simple. As you race around, you'll soon see cars exploding, leaving wrecked shells on the track, walls of fire around blind corners, and oil spills all over the road.You'll also notice that the next lap will feature the same burned out cars in a different position. Yup, once a car is totalled, it stays on track; its position on track is dictated by how many running cars manage to run into it as they try to finish the race, thus making every lap different.
Car choice is pretty unspectacular at first, with a basic compact and pickup available from the outset. Make good progress in the first few events however, and you'll soon be able to upgrade your vehicle with body kits, turbos and the like. Progression also means opening up new components, patterns and paint jobs in the shop, and unlocking game modes such as Bomb Tag, Running Man, Kamikaze and Last Man Standing. Note, dear reader, that at the time of writing, we've been playing Crash'n'Burn solidly for a week, and barely made a dent in the progression percentage. And no, it's not because we're rubbish drivers. Crash'n'Burn has depth and longevity to spare.
While this game doesn't break any records for innovation, there are some nice touches that make it stand out from the competition. Your car doesn't magically repair itself after impact a la Burnout; there's no gimmicky ejector seat/ragdoll feature as there is with FlatOut. No, your car becomes knackered, slowly but surely, and there are no health pick-ups to help you - just a boost of nitrous for making it through the first lap and more nitrous if you manage to take out one of the other runners. It's tough to progress in Crash'n'Burn, but it's definitely worth persevering with as the entertainment value soars as you go along.
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