About a year ago, Criterion Studios
launched Burnout Paradise for the Xbox 360, a stellar addition to the popular
Burnout franchise. The game took the series in a great new sandbox direction,
offering a large city to explore and new missions to take on however the player
wanted to. Additionally, the game featured some pretty nice multiplayer
features, allowing players to drop into the same environment and either take on
driving missions or simply mess around within the game’s environment. However,
the game was lacking in one area: it didn’t allow for more than one player on
the same console.
With the newly released Party Pack,
EA Games and Criterion Studios are looking to breathe some new life into the
year-old game. Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box is a compilation of the
original game and the new Party Pack (which is also available as DLC via Xbox
LIVE for previous owners of Burnout Paradise). While the original game is mostly
just as you remember it (save for a few nice new additions, but more on those in
a bit), the new Party Pack feature is actually a pretty fun new element to the
game’s multiplayer component. While the Party Pack isn’t likely to turn you into
a fan of the game unless you already were one, it’s still a nice touch.
Instead of going into the pros and
cons of Burnout Paradise, I’ll instead direct you to our review of the game from
last year (http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r30639.htm).
The rating still stands today, as Burnout Paradise was and still is one very
ambitious and engaging racing title.
There have been some new
improvements implemented into the original game, like the ability to restart an
event, which is an addition that was way overdue. Additionally, the Ultimate Box
features not only the new Party Pack, but the Cagney and Bikes updates on disc
as well.
The Party Pack is basically a
multiplayer suite that allows up to eight players to engage in several
pass-the-pad style games that only require the use of one controller. You begin
Party mode by selecting the number of players you want to play as, and then
customizing them with their own name and photo, if you have a USB camera hooked
up to your Xbox 360.
Party mode is divided into three
different game types: Skill, Stunt, and Speed. The event types are pretty
self-explanatory, as Skill events require you to drive dexterously and perform
drifts and other technically impressive moves, Stunt events require that you
perform tricks like barrel rolls while in air, and Speed simply requires you to
make the fastest time. There is a real random feel to the Party mode, as you
aren’t able to choose your specific events nor the win conditions as you play,
which could help newcomers take on seasoned vets in different situations.
As the added Party Pack feature is
available as a free download, there is no reason for current Burnout Paradise
owners to pick up the Ultimate Box. Additionally, the Ultimate Box is only
available at European retail, meaning that US gamers will have to settle for
buying the original game and downloading the new content from Xbox LIVE. Still,
the original Burnout Paradise is still one of the premier racing titles on the
Xbox 360, and the new Party Pack download is a nice touch for those looking for
a reason to pull their copy from the shelf for some multiplayer action.
|
Review |
Gameplay: 8.5
The basic elements of the gameplay haven’t been changed much from the
original title, but the new Party mode is a nice addition to the already stellar
racing title.
Graphics: 8.5
Pretty sharp graphically, but no noticeable difference from the original
game.
Sound: 8.5
Unchanged from last year.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.5
The Party Pack takes an element that was sorely missing from the original
game (same-system multiplayer) and implements it well.
Multiplayer: 8.5
The Party mode finally allows up to 8 players to take each other on via the
same system, and the random nature of the events works well in party situations.
Overall: 8.5
If you aren’t a fan of Burnout Paradise, then the Party Pack won’t change
your mind. However, if you’re looking for some fun, new multiplayer elements
(not to mention free), then give the Party Pack a download. Additionally, if you
skipped out on Burnout Paradise altogether when it released last year, then the
Ultimate Box is a worthy investment.
