Burnout 2: Point of Impact

Although it arrived last, how does the Xbox version of Burnout 2 rank in comparison to the other versions of the game?

Burnout was one of the most unappreciated games of 2001 with its solid racing engine and jarring crashes. Although the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of the sequel have been available for some time, the Xbox version nudges ahead of the other two as the best looking of the bunch.

The Junkman
In Burnout 2, only aggressive drivers need apply. Racers are rewarded for narrowly avoiding traffic and crashes with juice that?s added to their Boost meter; once the meter?s maxed out, you get a boost of super speed that pushes your vehicle ahead of the competition. The sequel is more striking than the original?everything?s bigger and louder. The trademark crashes are loaded with fine details?shattering glass, crumpled fenders, twisted metal?accompanied by sweet sound effects and awesome replay footage.

Burnout 2 is loaded with options. Aside from standard race-against-the-pack contests, there?s Chase mode (from behind the wheel of a cop car, you bash suspects to a halt) and the engaging Offensive Driving 101 that teaches driving techniques and the rules of the road. Crash mode, though, tops them all with a simple but addicting premise: cause as much monetary damage as possible by creating the biggest traffic pileup. It sounds simple, but the unique chain reaction strategy keeps you hooked for hours.

Rolling Start
Burnout 2 isn?t perfection: The game?s two preset controller schemes are hardly satisfactory, and the reward system is unforgiving?but once fenders start flying, you probably won?t care. For adrenaline junkies and wannabe masters of mass destruction, Burnout 2 delivers premium performance.

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