The title isn't a bit - I started playing Burnout 3 again a few nights ago because I wondered if it would help me pass better a somewhat bitter night...and well, it sure did.
While I already had talked about the first time I played the game on an Xbox 360, it occurred to me that I somehow hadn't talked more in-depth about the game the day I was able to give it another go through PCSX2 - mainly thanks to cleaning up the GPU off some dust and having a patch to remove the bloom in order to not only have a clearer image, but also improving the performance on my setup.
So yeah, more Burnout time.
Tackling the events
It's curious how most of the modes complement or just work well with Burnout's gameplay due to how it is essentially all about high-speed, high-risk and high-reward driving - and one such example would be Burning Lap.
Burning Lap is basically a time attack challenge where you have to beat the times on the track...but of course, traffic doesn't magically go away, so...
It can push your skills to the limit in later events with how it expects you to be a complete maniac and floor the booster as much as you can to get a fast time - which not only you can only do if you are gambling with near misses and driving over oncoming traffic [you can also get boost from drifts, but those two other ways can be done more often]...but again, since it is a time attack challenge, eating a crash will also eat up your time - potentially robbing you from the Gold Medal if it is an exigent time.
But of course, high-stakes can't feel any better when you kept trying until you get that one run where you dodged every single car and burned rubber through the streets at record time.
A more obvious mode that plays to Burnout 3's benefit is Road Rage: If you thought that doing Takedowns on races was a must because of both the benefits [taking down an enemy racer as well as increasing the boost gauge] and how it feels, then have a taste of a mode that wants you to go wild as much as you can before time expires.
It is both a rush of adrenaline to have more frequent targets to slam into walls and see them fly away turned into a pile of scrap - but since you are now racing with a timer and a set number of cars to take down for medals, you will have to also figure out how to consistently slam cars fast into the walls if you want to get it done quick or even at all.
And then there's the more expected normal races, as well as the occasional races on tracks that are a long one-way sprint of combined tracks.
Get your free cars by doing anything
Another aspect of Burnout's progression is how you'll get cars unlocked not only by playing through certain events which grant you cars, as well as progressing to the next phase of cars and getting three new ones by default [going from Muscle to Coupe and so on], but also by certain milestones you'll reach as you keep playing.
Like getting Assassin cars for a certain number of takedowns on your profile or a set number of Burnout points.
The funny thing is that at the moment, I haven't even unlocked the Sports cars yet - so these cars I'm getting will be waiting for me when I get there, and that's because I had already progressed far beyond the Assassin/Custom Coupe unlocks which I had got in this new session as well.
In regards to practicality, the Assassin and Custom cars may have higher top speed or weight - but it seems to vary which of each has the higher stat depending of the category. Either way, there's probably at least one that's higher in weight and more resilent to other cars as well as being more stable, while the other has higher top speed so it is...well, faster, at the risk of less weight to keep your drifts steady.
But admittedly, the purpose of these cars and how they are displayed when you unlock one...is to look cool. And that makes sense to see in this game in particular amongst other things.
Savoring the music once more
First time I talked about the game, I mentioned I was hooked to Stick that Bush Again - so in this occasion I'll take the chance to mention more songs, some that I already had got fond of back then, but also a few that I only listened better this time around and are now also on my top list.
- Paper Wings by Rise Against
- Orpheus by Ash
- Stay in Shadow by Finger Eleven
- Radio Up by Letter Kills
- Over the Counterculture by The Ordinary Boys
- Always You by Amber Pacific
And a glaring omission from my first B3 post [although I later referenced it on a post about 2000 racers with good music] would be none other than Shake that Bush Again by The Mooney Suzuki.
I call it a glaring omission because I can't believe that I may or may not have heard the song back then and didn't decide to highlight it instantly. That chorus is probably one of the best things ever while playing Burnout 3 in particular as you drive as max speed through the streets.
WOOOOOOO SHAKE THAT BUSH AGAIN
Anything else to say?
This game really speaks more of its own when you get to play it than in words - mainly when describing it may sound less exciting that...well, experiencing it yourself.
It is definitely a game that lived in it's day for being the peak of what people wanted to see in racing games on in the 2000s between the songs and the high-octane action, and lives on to this day [even if not in official avenues...] because of how much of a time capsule not only the style of the game is, but also because of how timeless it also feels in the approach it took to gameplay when there are virtually very few games that try to do what Burnout 3 did.
And yes, I'll probably try out Burnout Revenge one day - as that game alongside Paradise are the only Burnout titles I haven't tried yet briefly or extensively. But yeah, if you can get to set yourself up a session of Burnout 3, you won't regret it.
Man, if I'm already feeling nostalgic for some of the stuff I had played many years ago, I can't imagine how it will be when more years pass and I eventually hit the 30s while I look back on the chances I had to play this game right now fondly.
No one really knows for sure what future may have in store for each one...so hey, if you got something to savour right now while you can, then go have a good one.
And in retrospective, it is sure a weird feeling to think that Electronic Arts was basically in the peak in the 2000s between the older FIFAs, having the most iconic NFS games in their hands, and then happening to really boost their success when they Criterion Games got them to publish Burnout 3 - not only for extra marketing but also having access to the licensed songs mentioned.
Too bad that Burnout has been basically left abandoned since Paradise though, but maybe in the future there will be a strong spiritual successor to take the mantle...or maybe somehow either EA decides to actually do a new Burnout game. But somehow the first may be more likely than the second, even if it has been years...
Thanks for reading, and see you next time.
Spanish translation with DeepL. All screenshots were captured by myself.
Español
El título de que volví a jugar Burnout 3 porque me hizo sentir mejor no es un chiste: Hace unas noches volví a jugar a Burnout 3 porque me preguntaba si me ayudaría a pasar mejor una noche un tanto amarga... y vaya que lo hizo.
Aunque ya había hablado sobre la primera vez que jugué al juego en una Xbox 360, se me ocurrió que de alguna manera no había hablado más en profundidad sobre el juego el día que pude darle otra oportunidad a través de PCSX2 - principalmente gracias a limpiar la GPU de algo de polvo y tener un parche para eliminar el bloom con el fin de no sólo tener una imagen más clara, sino también mejorar el rendimiento en mi configuración.
Así que sí, más Burnout.
Afrontar los eventos
Es curioso cómo la mayoría de los modos se complementan o funcionan bien con la jugabilidad de Burnout, ya que se trata básicamente de conducción de alta velocidad, alto riesgo y alta recompensa.
Burning Lap es básicamente un desafío contrarreloj en el que tienes que batir los tiempos de la pista... pero claro, el tráfico no desaparece por arte de magia, así que...
Puede llevar tus habilidades al límite en las pruebas posteriores, ya que espera que seas un completo maníaco y pises el acelerador todo lo que puedas para conseguir un tiempo rápido, algo que solo puedes hacer si te juegas el tipo casi fallando y pasando por encima del tráfico que viene de frente [también puedes conseguir acelerones derrapando, pero esas otras dos formas se pueden hacer más a menudo]... pero, de nuevo, como es un desafío de ataque al tiempo, sufrir un accidente también se comerá tu tiempo, lo que podría robarte la medalla de oro si se trata de un tiempo exigente.
Pero, por supuesto, las apuestas altas no pueden sentirse mejor cuando sigues intentándolo hasta que consigues esa carrera en la que esquivas todos los coches y quemas goma por las calles en un tiempo récord.
Un modo más obvio que juega a favor de Burnout 3 es Furia en la carretera: si pensabas que hacer Takedowns en las carreras era imprescindible tanto por los beneficios [derribar a un corredor enemigo y aumentar el medidor de aceleración] como por las sensaciones, entonces prueba un modo que quiere que te desmelenes todo lo que puedas antes de que acabe el tiempo.
Es un subidón de adrenalina tener objetivos más frecuentes contra los que chocar y verlos salir volando convertidos en un montón de chatarra, pero como ahora corres con un temporizador y un número determinado de coches que derribar para conseguir medallas, también tendrás que averiguar cómo chocar coches contra los muros si quieres hacerlo rápido o incluso hacerlo del todo.
Y luego están las carreras normales más esperadas, así como las carreras ocasionales en circuitos que son un largo sprint unidireccional de pistas combinadas.
Consigue coches gratis haciendo cualquier cosa
Otro aspecto de la progresión de Burnout es cómo conseguirás coches desbloqueados no solo jugando a ciertos eventos que te otorgan coches, así como avanzando a la siguiente fase de coches y consiguiendo tres nuevos por defecto [pasando de Muscle a Coupé y así sucesivamente], sino también por ciertos hitos que alcanzarás a medida que sigas jugando.
Como conseguir coches Assassin por un cierto número de derribos en tu perfil o un número determinado de puntos Burnout.
Lo curioso es que, de momento, aún no he desbloqueado los deportivos, así que estos coches que voy a conseguir me estarán esperando cuando llegue, y eso que ya había avanzado mucho más allá de los desbloqueos de Assassin/Custom Coupe, que también había conseguido en esta nueva sesión.
En cuanto a la practicidad, los coches Assassin y Custom pueden tener mayor velocidad máxima o peso, pero parece que varía cuál de ellos tiene las estadísticas más altas en función de la categoría. En cualquier caso, probablemente haya al menos uno con mayor peso y más resistente a otros coches, además de ser más estable, mientras que el otro tiene mayor velocidad máxima, por lo que es... bueno, más rápido, a riesgo de tener menos peso para mantener tus derrapes estables.
Pero hay que admitir que el propósito de estos coches y de cómo se muestran cuando desbloqueas uno... es parecer guay. Y eso tiene sentido verlo en este juego en particular entre otras cosas.
Saboreando la música una vez más
La primera vez que hablé del juego, mencioné que me había enganchado a Stick that Bush Again, así que en esta ocasión aprovecharé para mencionar más canciones, algunas a las que ya me había aficionado por aquel entonces, pero también unas cuantas que he escuchado mejor esta vez y que ahora también están en mi lista de favoritos.
- Paper Wings de Rise Against
- Orpheus de Ash
- Stay in Shadow de Finger Eleven
- Radio Up de Letter Kills
- Over the Counterculture de The Ordinary Boys
- Always You de Amber Pacific
Y una omisión flagrante de mi primer post sobre B3 [aunque más tarde hice referencia a él en un post sobre 2000 juegos de carreras con buena música] sería nada menos que Shake that Bush Again de The Mooney Suzuki.
La llamo omisión flagrante porque no me puedo creer que pudiera o no haber escuchado la canción por aquel entonces y no decidiera destacarla al instante. Ese estribillo es probablemente una de las mejores cosas de la historia mientras juegas a Burnout 3 en particular mientras conduces a máxima velocidad por las calles.
WOOOOOOO SHAKE THAT BUSH AGAIN
¿Algo más que decir?
Este juego habla más por sí mismo cuando lo juegas que con palabras, sobre todo porque describirlo puede sonar menos emocionante que... bueno, experimentarlo por ti mismo.
Es, sin duda, un juego que vivió en su día por ser la cima de lo que la gente quería ver en los juegos de carreras de la década de 2000, entre las canciones y la acción de alto octanaje, y que sigue vivo hoy en día [aunque no en vías oficiales...] por lo cápsula del tiempo que es no solo el estilo del juego, sino también por lo atemporal que parece por el enfoque que dio a la jugabilidad, cuando prácticamente hay muy pocos juegos que intenten hacer lo que hizo Burnout 3».
Y sí, probablemente pruebe Burnout Revenge algún día, ya que ese juego junto con Paradise son los únicos títulos de Burnout que aún no he probado breve o extensamente. Pero sí, si puedes prepararte una sesión de Burnout 3, no te arrepentirás.
Hombre, si ya siento nostalgia por algunas de las cosas que había jugado hace muchos años, no me quiero ni imaginar cómo será cuando pasen más años y acabe llegando a la treintena y recuerde con cariño las oportunidades que he tenido de jugar a este juego ahora mismo.
En realidad, nadie sabe a ciencia cierta lo que el futuro le puede deparar a cada uno... así que oye, si tienes algo que saborear ahora mientras puedas, que te vaya bien.
En retrospectiva, no deja de ser extraño pensar que Electronic Arts se encontraba en la cima de la década de 2000, entre los FIFA más antiguos, con los juegos de NFS más emblemáticos en sus manos, y que su éxito se disparó cuando Criterion Games les encargó la publicación de Burnout 3, no sólo por el marketing adicional, sino también por tener acceso a las canciones bajo licencia mencionadas.
Es una lástima que Burnout haya quedado básicamente abandonado desde Paradise, pero quizá en el futuro haya un sucesor espiritual fuerte que tome el relevo... o quizá EA decida hacer un nuevo Burnout. Pero de algún modo lo primero puede ser más probable que lo segundo, aunque hayan pasado años...
Gracias por leer y hasta la próxima.
Traducción al español hecha con DeepL. Todas las fotos capturadas por mí.
I think racing games have taken a hit in popularity, they were all the craze. Burnout, NFS, Grand Turismo etc... so many great series have seen their best games in the past.
Btw, your YouTube video is not work, maybe a broken link?
I had forgot that UMG stops videos with licensed songs from being played when embedded in other websites...oh well - I think that it lets you go watch it in Youtube when you try to do so [or can search the song yourself].
Burnout definitely seems like a tragic sudden disappearance, as I know that Revenge was a more aggressive sequel that was well liked as much if not sometime, and Paradise being super cool in the day with the open world.
Putting aside Burnout Crash [which is NOT a Burnout game...], I think the franchise didn't do much wrong actually - but rather was left to sleep by that little detail of the studio [Criterion Games] being bought by EA...and being put to work into future Need for Speed games, leaving no room for Burnout existing at all beyond Paradise's re-release.
I still have to take a look into the peak of 2000 NFS games to see someday in the future how do the later games compare and try to understand why their popularity dropped off compared to their prime, but Gran Turismo seems to have befallen more than anything to the aspects of microtransactions and live service features for the game [with how GT Sport lost the online support and livery editor when it was dropped].
Starting to wonder how it would be if an old racing franchise was able to do a strong comeback - mainly because of how there doesn't seem to be as much room for experimentation anymore.
NFS Unbound had a piece of idea to have stylized characters and car effects, but somehow that let to not just people that wished the cars and world to be stylized...but also people that were annoyed because of those stylized pieces of game instead of being completely realistic [which I know is the trend for these players...but there have been so many realistic looking racing games at this point, cook something new].
But oh well. Besides a possible future where I get to upgrade my PC into something suitable for modern AAA games to at least try those new racers, I'll probably stick to keeping an eye to the indie scene - both because of my current resources and because they often aim to fill that creative spark that hasn't been seen in a while.
Thanks for reading and for your comment :]
The game interface is no substitute for the beauty of the game. Car racing games are a little more beautiful. I myself have played a lot of car racing games but this is a new experience.
With the XBOX this was one of the first games I played on the console and how I got addicted to this fucking game. I don't think I've played any game LIKE THIS again after this title! Even its predecessor didn't seem the same to me, I think this title captures a magic in the destruction of the cars and the way they are implemented that is unique both in the races and in the mode where you had to destroy a certain number of cars hahaha. It really is an incredible game.
Yeah - I remember playing Burnout 2 on the Wii because I couldn't emulate B3 on PC, but I knew I was missing out on something way greater [mainly because I had played Legends on PSP, which was like a mini-sized Burnout 3 that ran at 30fps] until the day I could actually get my hands on it properly.
Needless to say, it is sure still impressive how much of a leap in quality B3 is, as where Burnout 1 was visibly a budget title [and Burnout 2 was more polished but still humble], Burnout 3 really felt like it had the extra experience of two games and a brand new idea...while at the same time it did not feel out of place at all when sitting next to the NFS series as Burnout was now in EA's hands.
It's still funny how this game even has in-game billboards that advertise Need for Speed Underground 2 [which I still have to try out one day, by the way].
Thanks for reading and for your comment :]
Yes, absolutely, B3 was a very revolutionary game for its time, and it also offered something quite different from what was being handled at the time. When I played it I had already gone through NFU2 (without a doubt it is for me the best freestyle racing, drifting etc game of its time for many reasons that I don't want to go into). GT4 was also out at the time, but B3 certainly offered something completely innovative for its time.
NFU2 is something from another world and is nothing like B3, and if I remember the advertising walls embedded in it, it's because NFU2 was really a milestone for its time, something that Most Wanted completely missed.
Thanks to you for the post, greetings!
Burnout 3 huh, that old but exciting car racing game. This game is so interesting to play. I played this game 3/4 times. That was fun
The only racing game I crave to return playing!
WE ARE THE LAZY GENERATION!